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

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:

 The home has a strong and committed manager who is clear about how to provide individualised care to young people and how to improve their outcomes continually.  Young people’s life chances and opportunities improve through living at the home. This is underpinned by staff prioritising young people’s education and learning experiences.  Young people’s views are sought and they are listened to. This makes them feel valued and cared about. Staff advocate on their behalf and ensure that they receive services from other agencies.  Through the consistent care they are offered, young people begin to build trusting relationships with staff. They learn from the positive role models that staff provide and learn how to manage their emotions and disagreements in a positive way.  Staff support and nurture relationships that are important to young people and work hard to maintain safe and appropriate contact with their families.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 8 July 2016

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (5)) 31 October In particular, that young people’s bedroom furniture is repaired or replaced; young people’s bedrooms are redecorated, taking into account their preferences; the exterior of the property is maintained and repaired and communal living areas are repaired and redecorated.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2). In particular, that monitoring includes educational attendance for young people in post-16 provision.

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Recommendations

 The importance of understanding who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, for example through undertaking life story work or other direct work. Staff in children’s homes should play a full role in work of this kind (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14). In addition, for staff to assist young people to develop and maintain photographs and memorabilia of their time at the children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company and provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Good

Young people are appreciative of the individual attention and care that staff give. Over time, young people respond to the advice and support, and begin to make positive choices and decisions. One young person commented, ‘I have come a long way, like behaving, listening to people, accepting the word no. I was crazy when I moved in. Now I’m just calm. Staff have helped me develop my personality. Everyone just talks in the house.’

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Good

Through the persistent and patient encouragement of staff, young people learn to value the purpose of education in their lives. Although young people’s attendance can fluctuate over time, staff work hard at establishing their commitment and identifying suitable provision. One leaving-care worker commented, ‘He has managed to stay on his course, which is a real bonus.’ A social worker said, ‘They are trying hard to get him to school. They are patient with him, they set rules and boundaries, they are consistent and coherent and he gets the same message from all the staff. That has been pretty good.’ Staff give individual attention to young people’s emotional needs and help them to resolve any difficulties they may face positively. Through regular consultation and spending time with young people, staff understand the things that are important to them. For example, one young person who is unhappy with his educational

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Good

provision has been able to make a complaint with the support of the staff. One social worker, commenting on the emotional support given to one young person, said of the staff, ‘They have been good for it.’ Young people experience living together as something positive. This is achieved through the role modelling of the staff and the genuine regard that each young person receives. Group activities, such as playing football in the local park, support and maintain this cohesiveness between young people and staff. One young person said, ‘We are all close, you don’t look at them as carers, but as mates, you can have a laugh with them.’ Another young person said, ‘Staff are sound, all quite good and my key worker is proper sound.’

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Good

Young people learn skills that they will require into adulthood, such as self-care, cooking and looking after their personal space. Outside specialist agencies are encouraged into the home to support this aspect of their development. For example, one young person, who did not want to complete aspects of this work with staff, is now successfully working with a housing provider in preparation for his independence. Young people are fully supported and encouraged to maintain safe contact with their families. One parent commented, ‘I feel that since X has been there that staff have gone above and beyond to support X and myself. We are in constant contact with each other. They give me lots of support.’ An independent reviewing officer (IRO) commented, ‘They have taken him some distance to ensure it (contact) happens, and really promote it in between times in getting him to phone his mother.’

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Good

Staff do not currently undertake life story work with all young people at the home and there is no routine gathering of memorabilia such as photographs, tickets or items from celebratory events. Development of these would assist young people to reflect on their experiences and develop a greater sense of their achievements.

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Good

Most young people, over time, share their whereabouts and keep in contact with staff when not at the home. This occurs through the trust that develops between young people and staff and, as a result, any perceived risks are understood more fully. For example, one young person who previously had a high level of missing from home episodes regularly stays in contact with staff and his whereabouts are known. Staff were able to gain his trust successfully. This led to establishing contact with his friends, ensuring that assessments for risks were carried out and he was given suitable permissions to stay out. When young people’s whereabouts are not known, staff are proactive in searching for them and liaising with other agencies. Individual risks are understood well by the staff, and any causal factors that may have led to the young person going missing are understood. For example, staff are alert to events in young people’s

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Good

lives that cause emotional upset, such as unsuccessful family contact or historical events that young people are beginning to explore. Staff give consistent caring messages to the young people and the rules and boundaries are understood well by them. There is a high level of respect that is given and maintained between staff and young people. As a result of the relationships that develop, and the approaches taken by staff, physical intervention is rarely required. There has been only one instance of this measure being used since the last full inspection. Staff, however, do not currently employ a restorative approach to managing young people’s behaviour. As a result, young people are not always able to transfer their understanding across different contexts and situations. In addition, recording of incidents is not always objective in tone. One young person, describing the manager said, ‘She’s like a mum to everyone.

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Good

She’s the one you listen to. I’m good mates with everyone and it’s like being in a family. It’s been good for me here. We are all close and there’s no bullying.’ Another young person said, ‘I get on with everyone in the house. Everyone gets on with everyone.’ Young people say they feel safe living at the home. Professionals consider that the staff act appropriately and promptly in response to any concerns that may arise with regard to a young person’s safety. One IRO commented, ‘The home is meeting his needs, especially considering his starting point. He was constantly getting into trouble, low attendance at school and things were just getting worse.’ Staff support young people to access and attend specialist services, such as drug and alcohol advice workers and counselling services. On the whole, serious incidents are appropriately notified to the relevant agencies. However, one incident, although notified to children’s social care for investigation,

p.8

Good

The registered manager was registered to manage this home in February 2015. She has previously been a registered manager for children’s homes for over eight years prior to this, is suitably qualified and has worked for over 30 years in childcare services.

p.8

Good

The manager is enthusiastic to improve continually the care offered to the young people and leads by example. She is respected by the staff and professionals alike. One social worker commented, ‘I like the home a lot. I think they are very good and the manager and deputy are very proactive and always in contact with me. They are great and I can’t really fault them.’

p.8

Good

Staff are well supported by the management team and there is regular formal supervision. Staff report that the managers are present within the home and form an integral part of the staff team and, as such, are available for advice and support on an informal basis. There is suitable challenge given to staff by the managers, in order to ensure that young people continue to receive care that meets their needs. The manager is aware of both the strengths of the home and the areas for development that are required in order to drive forward improvements.

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Good

The manager and staff have a good understanding of each young person: their needs, personalities, strengths and vulnerabilities. Through this understanding, care is adjusted and personalised to ensure that progress by young people is maintained. When the progress of young people falters, this is swiftly addressed through the manager and staff meeting with other professionals. There is appropriate challenge from the staff to other agencies and this ensures that young people are provided with the services they need.

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Good

Young people’s care is suitably reviewed and there are a range of areas that are monitored in order to measure progress. However, educational attendance for post-16 provision is not routinely included in the home’s reporting. Although there is an informal awareness of this, it is not afforded the same status as educational attendance of young people for whom it is compulsory.

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Good

The home is a large spacious property that offers good facilities for young people to both spend time together as a group and to accommodate separate activities. However, the home requires maintenance to ensure that it remains comfortable, homely and fulfils its statement of purpose. For example, there are few soft furnishings in the communal areas, repairs to walls have not been repainted, young people’s bedrooms require redecoration and either new furniture or repair of existing furniture, the outside of the property is unkempt and the broken gates compromise the garden’s privacy and security.

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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 children looked after 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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