Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Preston

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know who to talk to when they have a problem and value the relationships with staff. One young person said:’ The best thing about living here is spending time with my key worker and giving the manager hugs, she is awesome.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make progress from their starting points. Most young people make progress and engage with education. Staff support young people so that they maximise their potential. For example, staff help young people to revise for exams. Staff understand young people and encourage them to engage in activities which interest them. Some young people attend police cadets and others engage in gardening and making models. Staff encourage young people to choose their own décor and decorate their bedrooms themselves. This develops their skills for adulthood and gives them a sense of belonging and pride in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote young people’s contact with their families and friends where it is in their best interests. Young people sustain their identity as a result. Where young people travel long distances to see their family on public transport this develops their self-confidence and independence skills. Young people recognise their progress. One young person said: ‘Staff support me with everything I do, I am able to get the train on my own to visit my family.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are proactive in working in partnership with the police and other professional stakeholders. This ensures there is a well co-ordinated response when young people go missing. Staff follow young people when they go missing and look for them, when they return staff welcome then and endeavour to understand any risks they may have been exposed to. Placing authorities recognise staff’s efforts to safeguard young people. One social worker said: ’The staff couldn’t have done more to keep my young person safe.’ Staff work with the police, child sexual exploitation teams, youth offending teams and placing authorities to develop plans to safeguard young people. Where these plans are not able to keep young people safe the registered manager ensures that placing authorities are challenged to review young people’s care plans. Staff consistently promote positive behaviour. They are effective in their use of de-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

escalation techniques and as a result physical intervention is rarely necessary. When physical intervention has been used the registered manager ensures that there is a thorough debrief and young people understand why they have needed to be held.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection three young people have moved on to new placements. Staff ensure that young people benefit from careful planning and support them through these transitions. Some young people progress to semi-independent living and staff ensure that they have the practical skills and emotional resilience to make this a positive experience. Staff remain in contact with young people when they have left providing them with a sense of security as they progress to adult life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager reviews and monitors the quality of care provided and tackles identified shortfalls, including placing authorities’ failure to complete return interviews when young people have been missing from home. This has some impact and results in placing authority managers completing these.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that most of the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. This is evident in the notifications sent to Ofsted regarding serious incidents and also the increased robustness with which she is tackling placing authorities where young people continue to engage in risk taking behaviours such as going missing. There has not been progress in ensuring that risk assessments are detailed and relevant to young people’s care including clear guidance as to when young people should be reported missing to the police. This does not ensure there is consistency of care or ensure that care can be evaluated to drive forward improvements.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for five boys with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home forms part of a social care company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to keeping children safe and enabling them to keep themselves safe, the registered person must -

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) ensure that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. With particular reference to the quality of information within risk assessments and missing from home protocols. 31/03/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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