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 make good progress through living at the home. They establish routines in attending education, develop trusting relationships with staff and value highly the time and advice they are given. One young person said, ‘They help you so much with everything. They constantly egg you on and they never take a step back. They make you feel nice inside and on the outside all the time. I’ve been at other homes and they are nothing like this one.’ Young people feel safe at the home and enjoy a caring environment. This supports their growing confidence in their own abilities to achieve and develop aspirations for their futures. Young people speak highly of the staff and the ethos that ensures that each young person is valued as an individual. A social worker commented, ‘She has changed, as previously she would not have accepted any of the boundaries and routines and never listened. But now she can take instructions; she

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is getting there and moving forward and moving in the right direction.’ Through the continuous concern that staff express for their safety and consistent messages, young people over time make better choices, such as, choosing not to: take drugs, commit criminal offences, misuse alcohol or associate with people that may pose a risk to their safety. One young person reflecting on the progress he had made commented, ‘Staff do everything they can for you. They treat us like their own kids. I can trust staff now with anything. I used to be missing every night, I was constantly arguing, getting drunk, in trouble with the police … I could have been in prison by now.’ When asked what had made the difference for him, he added, ‘Staff drilling my head every day.’ Another young person commented, ‘I used to smoke weed and got drunk every day, but this place stopped that for me.’ The safety of young people is important to the staff. They are proactive in ensuring

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people are quickly located when they are not where they should be. Through recognising and working with young people’s growing sense of independence, staff over time secure young people’s cooperation. As a result, incidents of missing from home decrease and for many, cease altogether. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Physical intervention is required infrequently and only used when all other means of de-escalation have not been successful. The manager and staff work well with other agencies to ensure that young people access the services and support they need. These agencies include education, sexual health workers, children’s rights, youth offending teams, counselling services and children’s social care. For example, staff successfully advocated on behalf of one young person for more appropriate educational provision. The children’s rights service are active within the home and staff support and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

encourage young people’s access to this service. The manager has appropriate systems in place to monitor the quality of care. In response to the recommendation made at the previous inspection, paperwork better reflects young people’s views and now includes management evaluation. The two requirements have also been met. The first related to the fabric of the home and in response to this, the home has been substantially renovated. This includes new carpets throughout, new bedroom furniture, new curtains and blinds, complete redecoration, re-tiling in the kitchen and bathrooms being completely re- fitted. Young people appreciate these improvements and now feels welcoming and homely. The second requirement related to recommendations made at young people’s independent reviews being followed through in a timely manner and the home securing the services young people require. This requirement has been met and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people have the recommended help that is advised.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home providing accommodation for up to six young people of either sex with emotional and or behaviour difficulties between the ages of 11-17 years. The home was registered in September 2014. Contractual arrangements are such that it currently only cares for young people from the Kirklees local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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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