Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has continued to improve the lifestyles of and outcomes for young people. Managers have demonstrated effective partnership in overseeing and improving the home. They use their own and external monitoring that includes feedback from young people, parents and professionals. Good progress has been made regarding the external fire escape that had been decommissioned. A new structure has been built and will be installed in the near future. Preparatory work has been completed on the exterior of the building. Young people are safe during the installation period, because they understand the alternative measures in place should they be required to evacuate in an emergency. Managers ensure that there are clear actions to improve conduct at the home. Comprehensive development plans are shared with staff, who enthusiastically respond to the leadership message of joint responsibility for improving care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Targets such as gaining an excellence award for the positive behaviour support approach that they use are clearly set out, with measureable goals for achievement and regular progress reports. The revised recording and evaluation system, piloted around the time of the last inspection, is now embedded into staff practice. Professional feedback about the regular reports that this generates regarding young people’s targets, progress and difficulties has shaped this much-appreciated document. Staff provide practical help, such as working with young people to improve outdoor space and individualise bedrooms, to reflect their needs and wishes, and to increase their sense of ownership of their home. Young people speak confidently, expressing their opinions and sharing planning with staff. They are proud of the individual progress that they make. They say that, as a result, they feel safe, secure and happy in their home, and enjoy contributing to its

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

development, including sharing their views with Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers model good practice, and use their observations of staff and records about young people to inform reflective discussion in daily handovers and regular supervision. Managers carefully oversee consultative practice. Staff prepare a holistic review of young people’s progress from week to week in each aspect of their care, education and therapy. This is underpinned by a review of targets arising from the home’s specific programme, ICOPE that addresses their growing sense of understanding risk, responsibility, accountability and independence. The review drives change, because young people are partners in the review and contribute their thoughts and feelings about their experiences and progress. When asked about how the home could improve, young people told the inspector that there was little that they wished to change, because they talked to staff regularly about their care and they understood the rules that helped to keep everybody safe

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and happy. Staff demonstrate clear enjoyment in their work, and say that this is in large part due to happy teamwork and the way that managers continue to support their understanding of how to deliver safe care that empowers young people and meets their needs. They have participated in training and reflection that has helped them to develop their practice regarding positive behaviour support and understanding of the risks associated with radicalisation. Staff and the manager have identified that further training is required to help them to understand better the impact of past trauma on the lives of young people, but no arrangement is in place to address this. Staff are also unclear about the terminology and pathways used by the therapy team. This limits their understanding of the regular reports provided by the therapists and impacts on their ability to create the most effective plans to support young people best in every area of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved from, and one into the home since the last inspection. Both moves were completed following effective planning and liaison with all those involved with the young person, and included appropriate risk management and assessment of need. The home is monitoring the progress of the young person who has moved to adult provision, as it is still early days. One young person spoke passionately about his experience of moving into the home. He said that because staff had clear expectations and all said the same thing, they helped him to understand the impact of his behaviour on the feelings of other young people. He said, ‘At first I was angry and didn’t know how to behave. I was isolated. Staff and the others have helped me to see that this is a place that can really help me to make progress.’ This level of honesty and insight is modelled and encouraged by all staff, and young people thrive on an effective balance of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

challenge and support. Records demonstrate that staff take action to ensure young people’s safety and welfare, both in the home and when they are enjoying family contact. They liaise effectively with appropriate professionals to ensure that contact arrangements are safe. They take direct action to prevent unsuitable people having access to them. They are flexible about how they offer support to families, so that young people’s experience is positive and meets their emotional needs. Similarly, staff review and balance young people’s right to community and internet access against legally imposed restrictions and risk management. They are engaging with placing authorities to review any arrangements which may constitute a deprivation of liberty. Managers are complementing this by leading change in refreshing the rules and expectations of the home to modernise staff action, in line with a recently implemented positive behaviour support approach. Consequently, sanctions and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the physical management of young people are minimal. Young people are encouraged to express their choices and opinions, and staff promote this self- determination where possible. This is evident in the way that young people’s personalities and interests shape the home that they live in and the increasing range of activities that they enjoy.

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Information about this children's home

 The home provides accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.  The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/1/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  In order to enhance joint working further, ensure that staff participate in training so that they are helped to understand the impact of trauma on young people’s lives, and that they become familiar with the language used by the therapy team in their work with young people. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 ‘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 0300 123 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 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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