Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Lincolnshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people all have educational provision in place and engage well. From their starting points, they make very good progress and attain qualifications. They secure further education places and have aspirations and goals for their futures. This increases their potential to secure employment in the future and increases their self-confidence and sense of personal value.  The holistic health needs of all young people are very well met. Staff fully support them to ensure that they attend all routine and specialist health appointments. This has led to improved physical and emotional health and well- being for young people living in this home. It also prepares young people well for their eventual move to independence, as they learn how to meet their own health needs with minimal support and guidance.  Managers and staff work closely and very positively with a wide range of agencies and professionals. Feedback from other agencies is extremely positive

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The children's home provision is good because:

about how well the staff team engages with them in order to promote the needs of young people. Young people receive the care and support they need in a coordinated and timely manner. This leads to improved outcomes in relation to their health, education, social skills and behaviours. Some young people would benefit from having access to advocacy support, due to their limited external support networks.  Staff feel well supported by managers and receive regular supervision and comprehensive training and development opportunities. This leads to a staff team who are very competent, skilled and motivated to provide high quality care and support to young people.  Records relating to young people are clear and detailed but do not consistently contain full background information on young people. Managers have made some attempts to secure information, but more needs to be done in order to ensure that care and placement plans include full and relevant information.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of their responsibilities in relation to reporting any actual or potential safeguarding or child protection concerns. There has been one incident where reporting of information to the relevant authority was not carried out in a clear or timely manner. There was no adverse impact on young people as a result of this.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

7. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard

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Requirement Due date

(2) The standard requires the registered person to –

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Requirement Due date

(b)(iii) ensure that each child is given appropriate advocacy support 03/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff and managers notify relevant people of any incident which the is considered to be serious in a timely manner (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 03/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

ensure staff challenge a placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans (Regulation 5(c)) 03/08/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation (s):  Have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public bank holiday. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 14.13, page 63)

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered for four children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning difficulties. It takes single sex placements only, currently female young people. It is owned and managed by a large private organisation that have a number of other similar services nationally.

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Recent inspection history

This is the first inspection of this service, since it re-registered with Ofsted in December 2014 under a new organisation.

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good

Young people form very positive relationships with staff over time and report feeling very safe and well cared for by them. They feel able to discuss any concerns or issues with staff at all times and consistently refer to the feeling of the home and their relationships with staff as being ‘like a family.’

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good

Staff really know the young people well and act as strong advocates for them at all times. They work very closely with a range of other agencies and professionals to ensure the needs of each young person are known and met. This includes staff regularly attending meetings about educational needs, reviews and health appointments. This means that all young people have education in place, that their health needs are very well met and that they feel staff want the very best for them. Over time, they then take on more personal responsibility for ensuring that their health and other needs are met. This increases their confidence and prepares them for their eventual move to independent living.

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good

Young people report having a voice in this home and in being able to share their wishes, feelings and views with staff. Daily community meetings enable young people to discuss how their day has been with staff and to plan for activities, meals and other relevant matters. This ensures that they remain central to their care and have a strong influence on the care and support they receive. It also promotes a sense of ‘family’ and enables the young people to form strong and positive attachments with each other and the staff team.

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good

The complaints procedures are easily accessible to young people and they report confidence in being able to use it. They report total satisfaction with how concerns have been dealt with by managers and in how quickly any issues are resolved. Some young people have limited contact with family members and would benefit from the involvement of an independent visitor. This would offer support from someone outside of the staff team, to discuss any concerns or issues they may have.

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good

The educational attendance and attainment of young people in this home is very good. They all have education placements and attendance is very good. Some young people have moved on to college placements, with others having secured places for further education courses this year. From their starting points, young people make significant progress in relation to their attendance and attainment. This is attributable to the value that staff place on education and training and how well young people engage with staff to ensure that they meet their potential. Staff support young people to apply for college courses, ensure that homework is completed and attend all relevant meetings about their educational progress. Staff celebrate the successes of all young people. Young people receive rewards for specific achievements in education and training, including meals out and extra activities. Staff also proudly display certificates of achievement relating to young

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good

people throughout the home. Young people respond very positively to this and all see the value in achieving well in education.

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good

Health needs are very well met. Staff ensure that young peoples’ holistic health needs are known and met. Young people increasingly take personal responsibility for making and attending their own routine health appointments. This promotes their independence and skills, in preparation for their eventual move to independent living.

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good

Young people take part in a wide range of stimulating and fun social activities in the local area. This enables them to form positive peer relationships through their engagement in local clubs and events. Some young people remain living in the area of the children’s home when they leave care. This reflects how well they have integrated into the local community and their sense of belonging.

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good

Young people feel safe living in this home. They report feeling that the staff really care about them and that staff work hard to ensure their safety and welfare at all times. For some young people, concerning and risk taking behaviours have significantly reduced since they moved to live at this home. This is due to the detailed awareness and understanding staff have of their needs and how they respond to them.

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good

Any reported incidents of bullying are well responded to. Detailed logs outline the concerns and key work and group work is undertaken to address the issues. One young person stated that they felt very happy at how the staff responded to concerns about bullying they had on one occasion. They said ‘it was dealt with really quickly by staff and we have all learned from it and I no longer worry about bullying.’

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good

Young people receive the support and services they need as a result of the staff working closely with other agencies. The local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) reports a very positive working relationship with this home. She stated that the staff contact her and ask her to visit to meet with the young people to discuss such things as bullying or missing incidents. This promotes a real sense of caring for their welfare and has led to a noticeable reduction in missing and offending behaviours. Young people learn to take personal responsibility for their actions and emotions over time, leading to a reduction in anti-social or risk taking behaviours.

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good

There have been very few incidents of young people going missing from the home. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of missing protocols and procedures and ensure that they are followed. Return interviews are conducted with young people, and managers monitor missing incidents to ensure that they reduce. This enables young people to increase their sense of security and to work with staff to minimise or eradicate risks to them that may be posed in going missing.

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good

There has been one recent incident of staff failing to follow up a notification to a placing authority of an historic abuse concern in a timely manner. Correct procedures were followed at the time of the incident, by a very experienced member of staff, with there being mitigating reasons for the delay in following up the notification. The Registered Manager has ensured that this issue has been fully discussed with all staff members to prevent a further similar issue arising. All staff have received training on safeguarding and child sexual exploitation and present as highly competent and skilled. Managers and staff also have very positive working relationships with the local authority designated officer (LADO) and refer all relevant concerns on to them. There has been no adverse impact on the safety or welfare of young people as result of this shortfall. Clearer systems and awareness by all staff of the need to ensure that all notifications are promptly followed up

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good

would reduce the potential for this to happen again.

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good

All agencies spoken with praised the staff team for how well they communicate relevant information about young people. Placing authorities, police and youth offending services all commented on how diligently staff share relevant information with them. One agency stated ‘this is one of the better homes I work with; in relation to how well they share information with me and take action to ensure the safety and well-being of the young people.’

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good

Daily community meetings provide an opportunity for all young people to share any concerns or issues they may have with each other and the staff team. Young people chair these meetings and take records of them. This enables any issues to be resolved at an early stage and promotes a sense of inclusion and active involvement for all young people.

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good

Clear and detailed behaviour support and placement plans identify the needs of young people and how they will be met. Risk assessments reflect any concerns and how they will be met and addressed. A key strength of the home is in how well it uses key work sessions to discuss any relevant issues with young people. A health professional stated ‘I have been really impressed with how key work sessions are used by the staff to work on specific issues with young people. This leads to improvements in their behaviours over time.’ The use of restraint in this home is minimal. This reflects the skills and competence of the staff team. They fully understand and follow all risk assessments and plans, to support young people to consider and address any concerning or risk taking behaviours. The frequent and planned use of key work sessions further supports young people to consider and modify their behaviours. They learn strategies to

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good

address their behaviours. One young person, when asked how the staff have helped them stated ‘I have learned how to manage my behaviours better, I have matured over time and feel ready now to consider the next step of moving to independence. I couldn’t have done that without their support and help.’

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good

The recruitment and vetting procedures for new staff are robust and help to prevent unsuitable adults from being able to work in this home. Managers oversee the recruitment processes and undertake detailed checks. There have been no reported allegations of concerns about any member of staff working in this home at time of this inspection.

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good

The physical environment of the home is safe and secure. External door alarms enable staff to monitor the movements of young people, without this being intrusive. Young people clearly feel that they are well supported and that their safety is paramount to the staff team at all times. They respond well to such care and attention and over time, learn to keep themselves safe and protected from harm.

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good

The Registered Manager is a very experienced, skilled and suitably qualified person. She oversees all aspects of how the home is run and provides clear and strong leadership to the staff team. She has recently successfully completed the relevant management qualification and is awaiting receipt of her qualification certificate.

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good

The home is fully staffed and includes a diverse and well qualified team. Training and development plans are overseen and led by a particular member of staff. They ensure that all staff undertake all mandatory training and complete their induction satisfactorily. Systems for ensuring that staff complete and update all relevant training are in place and overseen by a member of staff within the home. She ensures that all staff and managers’ training and development needs are identified and met throughout the year. As a result of this, young people receive care from a well-trained and competent workforce at all times.

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good

Managers carefully monitor and review the quality of care provided to young people. Outcome measuring tools are used to identify the progress young people have made since moving to live at this home. Managers record and track the educational and other outcomes for young people on a regular basis. Action is then taken if young people are not meeting expected goals, such as arranging meetings with schools or making health appointments. The home is able to clearly demonstrate the starting points for each young person and progress made since they moved to live there. Young people respond well to such measures, as they can see what progress they have made and take pride in their achievements over time. They feel central to the care they receive and are encouraged to read and consider their records and plans regularly. Such inclusion means that young people feel motivated to achieve to their full potential and that they understand what they

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good

Feedback is regularly sought from other agencies, stakeholders and parents on the care and support provided to young people. This enables managers to make any necessary changes to care and placement plans. This leads to plans for young people which reflect their current and changing needs over time. Young people also consider and make comments on their individual placement and care plans on a regular basis. They demonstrate an impressive awareness of what their plans are and feel highly motivated to work with staff to achieve the stated goals and objectives in them. This has led to noticeable improvements for young people in relation to their confidence, engagement with services and preparedness for moving to independence.

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good

The home has a detailed and comprehensive development plan in place. The Registered Manager regularly reviews this to ensure that it remains valid and is addressing identified areas of need or plans to develop services. The plan includes the views and expressed wishes of young people, reflecting managers’ commitment to their full engagement and inclusion.

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good

Involved agencies report consistently high levels of satisfaction in the support and care provided by the staff team to young people. This has led to noticeable and positive outcomes for the young people living in this home. They improve in relation to their education, social skills and understanding of their backgrounds. Reductions in offending and concerning behaviours are evident and reflect the close multi-agency working and commitment to improving the outcomes for all young people.

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good

Managers consider placements carefully and demonstrate a positive awareness of the need to ensure that matching of young people in this home is undertaken sensitively. This has led to some very long and secure placements of young people and a real sense of ‘family’ within the home. New admissions are considered carefully, and in consultation with young people placed wherever possible. Information provided by placing authorities is not always sufficiently detailed. Staff and managers within the home have made some attempts to gain background information on young people moving to the home, but more consistent approaches are needed to ensure that staff have all necessary information. This should include rigorous chasing of placing authorities for any necessary missing information and escalating concerns to senior managers within local authorities by the Registered Manager when needed. This would further assist the staff team to provide the

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good

Staff receive regular supervision, which is of a high standard and report feeling very happy in their roles. Staff retention in this home is very good, with involved agencies seeing this as a contributory factor in how well young people do. Young people feel able to build and sustain positive relationships with staff over a long period of time and form meaningful attachments with them. Several young people who have moved on from the home remain in contact with the staff team. They call staff to discuss how their move to independence has gone and some visit the home from time to time. Staff really welcome these contacts, seeing them as a positive reflection on how well they supported young people to move to independence with confidence. This reflects the strong attachments they form and their desire to remain in contact once they have moved to independence.

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good

Records relating to the care and support provided to young people clearly set out the plans for them and how their needs will be met. Staff encourage young people to read and consider their records and to make comments. As a result of such inclusive practice, young people feel central to the care they receive. They feel motivated to work with staff to consider and meet their individual needs and take great pride in their achievements and progress over time. One young person stated ‘I have written to the Prime Minister to ask that I be allowed to stay here until I am 21 years old, as I don’t want to have to move out.’ This reflects how much young people value the care and support they receive from the staff team in this home and the positive progress they make.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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