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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was last inspected in October 2015 and was judged to be good. One requirement relating to ensuring staff are safely recruited was made. A further four recommendations were also made as a result of that inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has ensured that appropriate action has been taken to meet the regulation. All staff files are now up to date and contain all required information. The one vacancy in the staff team has recently been filled. Appropriate recruitment checks are in place. This ensures that young people are protected from unsuitable adults who may wish to cause them harm. During the period of having a staff vacancy, there has been no use of agency staff. Established staff in the home covered vacant shifts. This ensured that staffing was consistent and familiar to young people in the home. As a result, young people’s attachments have not bene unduly affected.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has also ensured appropriate actions have been taken to meet the recommendations. There is now a better understanding between staff and young people about when bedrooms may need to be entered without permission. Young people understand that this will only happen if there are justifiable concerns about their safety or wellbeing. This ensures that young people understand the reasons behind such measures and that their privacy and dignity are protected. The young person’s guide to the home has also been revised with all routines and key features of the home clearly explained. This ensures that young people new to the home are fully aware of all relevant matters to their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also improved staff access to training. Since the last inspection, staff have undertaken a range of additional training; crisis intervention training for sexualised behaviours, supervision training, additional first aid, partnership working and radicalisation awareness. As a result, staff are better equipped to provide safe and effective care to young people. This is further enhanced through a further improvement since the last inspection; young people’s files now contain all required information. This ensures that young people are afforded care that is consistent with the wishes of their parents, placing authorities and other relevant parties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are involved in positive education and vocational outcomes. The staff team ensure that high expectations are promoted and maintained. A young person’s school recently commended a young person’s behaviour as ‘impeccable’ and that they ‘conducted themselves with maturity.’ Attendance for young people is very good and progress is being made. Furthermore, young people continue to explore their hobbies, interests and vocational awareness. For example, young people are engaging in new hobbies and also starting to work part-time at weekends. This broadens young people’s experiences and equips them with transferable skills for adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no restraints since the last inspection. Staff are appropriately trained in the home’s chosen method of restraint and positive behaviour is actively promoted. The use of sanctions is rare. Where sanctions are used, they are fair, appropriate and understood by young people. This ensures that young people are encouraged to develop positive behaviour and this in turn, supports the good progress that they continue to make. There have been a few isolated incidents of young people going missing since the last inspection. Appropriate actions were taken on these occasions and robust risk management plans followed. Young people are safe in the home. This is reflected in a comment from a young person; ‘I feel safe here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy living at the home and value the progress they are making. A young person commented that ‘the staff talk to me.’ It is evident that relationships between staff and young people are fundamental to the home’s operation. Young people express positive comments about the staff providing care: ‘The staff do a good job. They look after me’, ‘the staff care because they like us. They want us to do well’ and ‘this is really starting to feel like home.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be well maintained and is a warm, familial and relaxing environment. A young person commented ‘it doesn’t look like a children’s home’ and ‘it just feels really cosy and comfortable.’ Staff clearly take great pride in maintaining a nurturing atmosphere and ensure that young people have access to a wide range of enjoyable activities. These include trips to the local and wider community, cinema, keep fit, swimming and listening to music. Where appropriate to do so, young people also enjoy caring for the home’s pet dog that spends time at both the home and with a member of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well managed by an experienced manager who oversees an enthusiastic and motivated staff team. Regular audits of the home by the manager are robust and identify weakness. These are swiftly addressed and there are clear plans for further improving the service to young people. Regular visits from an independent person also drive further improvement. Partnership working is strong and comments from stakeholders are extremely positive: ‘Thank you to the staff for looking after my young person and doing all you could to keep them safe whilst encouraging them to be independent’ and ‘it is clear to me that the young person has benefitted hugely from being in an environment where they are nurtured but also given clear and consistent boundaries by staff.’

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Information about this children's home

This home is part of a private children's care organisation and is registered to accommodate four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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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