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

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people are constructively engaged in a range of activities that help keep them motivated and active.  Positive and respectful relationships are evident between staff and young people.  Young people respect each other’s differences and get on well together.  The vast majority of young people engage well with education and have goals for the future.  Young people talk warmly and positively about the home and say that this is the best place that they have lived.  Young people receive support to maintain relationships with their family and friends. Young people’s parents praise the home’s commitment and resilience.  Staff work in partnership with other agencies. Communication between them is excellent.  Managers drive forward improvement and are keen to involve staff, young people and stakeholders in this.  Staff training is prioritised, ensuring that staff have the skills they need to care for young people effectively.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Managers request regular feedback from young people, their family members and social workers in order to improve the service they provide.

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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

ensure that individuals who are employed at the children's home satisfy the specified requirements and that full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(2)(3)) 08/01/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of a number owned and managed by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six male young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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outstanding

Young people respond positively to living in this home. They experience a period of stability here, where they receive reliable and predictable care. This enables them to focus on improving a number of areas of their life. For example, some young people have made significant improvements in their attendance and attainment at school and others in their relationships with their families. A number of young people say that this is the best place that they have lived. Positive and respectful relationships exist between staff and young people. One young person said, ‘The staff are great. I get on well with all of them.’ Staff show respect to young people and they demonstrate respect to staff in return. Similarly, young people learn to respect each other’s differences and for the majority of the time live harmoniously together. Young people are learning about socially acceptable behaviour that will help them when they are living independently in the

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outstanding

Young people are healthy and have ready access to a range of health services appropriate to their need, including psychological support. A range of health information is available for young people and health professionals visit the home on a regular basis. Young people are aware of the risks of smoking and effects of drug taking. Staff discuss these issues within the home and regularly cover them in keyworker sessions, despite this, some young people continue to participate in these risk-taking behaviours when they socialise outside of the home. Staff remain committed to educating them about the long-term implications in the hope that they will make better choices.

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outstanding

Young people engage in a range of recreational activities. They enjoy playing golf, riding their bicycles, going to the trampoline centre, swimming, rugby and going to the gym. One young person said, ‘It’s fun living here. I get to do loads of activities.’ This helps ensure that young people are fit and healthy and plays a significant role in improving their self-esteem. Young people are proud of the new skills that they have acquired and of the things that they have achieved.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that young people are able to maintain contact with their family and friends. They demonstrate a good understanding of the individual circumstances of each young person. Staff will facilitate contact, even if this involves transporting the young person some distance away. This ensures that these important connections are maintained. Staff work pro-actively with parents, ensuring that they are working together in the best interest of the young person. One parent commented, ‘They work with you and make you feel involved in your child’s life. As far as the children are concerned they believe in them and never give up. I am entirely grateful to the staff for their time and patience.’

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outstanding

Staff support young people to learn the skills they will require to live independently in the future. Young people start by learning to keep their rooms clean and doing their own laundry. They then follow a more formal programme when they are approaching transition, so that young people feel prepared for their move. Judgement grade

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good

Young people say that they feel safe living in the home. They are confident that staff will take any problems that they raise seriously and can identify staff that they would be happy to approach in these circumstances. One young person commented, ‘staff always listen to me when I have a problem or if I am upset.’ Young people also say that get on well with each other and that bullying is not an issue here.

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good

Staff understand and implement missing from care protocols. Partnership working with the police and other safeguarding agencies is effective. Young people rarely go missing from the home, on the occasions that they have done, staff undertake an appropriate search of the local area and attempt to contact the young person through their known associates. Good quality records are kept outlining the actions that they have taken. They also ensure that the young person is welcomed on their return and that they have the opportunity to meet with an individual independent of the home. Staff also complete work with the young person about the vulnerable position that they place themselves in on these occasions. There has been a significant improvement in episodes of missing for some young people following their placement here, as they have begun to invest in and enjoy spending time in the home.

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good

Personalised risk assessments identify the risks pertinent to each young person and ensure that staff understand the most appropriate method of dealing with these. These receive update immediately following any incident, so that staff are aware of any heightened behaviours of concern. Additional staffing is made available if risk assessments indicate this is required to ensure the safety of the young person.

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good

Young people benefit from consistent behaviour management strategies. The ethos of the home is to value young people and focus on their achievements. Young people are successfully learning how to manage their own behaviour. Staff work with them to develop alternative and more effective strategies to manage their emotions, they do not use sanctions as a means of managing behaviour. Young people respond well to this approach and believe that staff really do understand and want to help them. Similarly, physical interventions are very rare and only implemented as a last resort, because staff are able to skilfully de-escalate the majority of situations.

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good

Good quality staff recruitment policies and procedures are in place. However, some weaknesses were identified in following these procedures, in relation to some staff recruited since the last inspection. The inspector found that gaps in employment were not always thoroughly explored. In addition, when inconsistencies between an individual’s application and information given by referees was apparent, it was not clear how the manager had risk assessed this situation and made the decision to offer the individual employment. This has had no significant impact on the safety of young people to date and the Registered Manager took action to address the issues identified during the inspection.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager has been in post for almost 12 months, completing the registration process with Ofsted in June 2015, he was the former deputy of the home, which allowed for a smooth transition. He has the necessary skills and experience and has recently obtained a level five management qualification. A deputy manager is employed to support him, who also has a management qualification. Together they set clear expectations for both staff and young people, providing visible leadership and demonstrate a commitment to deliver good quality care to young people.

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outstanding

The home, although continuing to be operational, is now being operated by a different provider. The re-registration process means that the home’s last inspection was over 12 months ago. The home received an overall effectiveness judgement of outstanding at the last inspection. The internal and external monitoring of the home has been effective at ensuring that the home has continued to deliver an exceptional quality of care to young people since this time. Managers audit records regularly and are pro-active in challenging local authorities for missing documentation. Managers know the young people well and are clearly able to demonstrate the progress they have made since moving into the home. A new system for monitoring the progress of young people has been recently introduced. This directs young people’s keyworkers to a range of resources to help them focus on particular issues. This ensures that young people continue to meet

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outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. This provides staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and decision-making. The organisation is keen to use the skills of the staff team to best effect and they receive encouragement and support to consider their career development. Staff training is seen as a priority and a range of training opportunities are available. All staff members have achieved a minimum of a level three qualification, or are in the process of obtaining one. Staff speak positively about the support and training that they receive and appreciate this investment in their development. As a result, the staff team has been largely stable since the last inspection. The home has a comprehensive Statement of Purpose that outlines the aims and objectives of the home. This is subject to regular review and update. A child friendly young people’s guide also helps those moving into the home to develop an

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outstanding

understanding of the operation of the home. This helps to reduce their anxieties. All staff and young people have recently produced a laminated profile of themselves to help familiarise those new to the home. These are on display in the communal area of the home. The home is warm and welcoming. It is located in a pleasant residential area with good access to public transport, enabling young people to engage in activities in the community.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager has a targeted development plan for the home. The views of young people, staff and others involved in the home help to shape this. For example, there is now a table tennis table as young people specifically requested one. Managers regularly seek feedback on their performance. Comments received from social workers are overwhelmingly positive and include, ‘I am totally impressed by the staff’s commitment and how the home is managed. I am very impressed with the service offered and delivered.’ All social care professionals contacted during the inspection shared this opinion, saying that communication by the staff and managers is excellent. Some highlighted this home as one of the best that they know. Similarly, young people’s parents are equally positive. Their comments include, ‘Staff have supported my son through some very difficult times and moulded him into the lovely lad he is today,’ and ‘With the support of staff my

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outstanding

son has reached his full potential in school.’

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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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