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

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Leadership and management at the home are robust and effective. The registered manager is committed to driving forward continual improvements.  Relationships between young people and staff are extremely positive. These focus on building strong and effective relationships based on trust and mutual respect.  Young people make excellent progress in education. Staff support young people very effectively to overcome any barriers to learning that they may encounter. This gives young people confidence in their skills and abilities, and promotes their self-esteem.  Young people are safe and feel safe. Risk assessments are very detailed and personalised. Staff use these very successfully to help young people to develop strategies to manage their own behaviours.  Staff provide diligent and sensitive support to young people to help them move towards independence. A new annex area of the home is used to develop young people’s readiness for living independently.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people are fully involved in their care planning, and their views are incorporated into internal support plans.

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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 11/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good

p.4

Outstanding

Young people are extremely settled at the home and are making excellent progress, as a result. The outcomes for young people are outstanding and all young people have made, and continue to make, significant progress.

p.5

Outstanding

The home is very well presented and provides young people with a warm, comfortable and homely environment. It is evident that the nurturing environment benefits young people and enables them to develop their sense of identity and group belonging. Young people’s personalities are keenly reflected in their choices of decor, and the home is a busy, vibrant environment full of laughter and discussion. Young people are encouraged to develop their skills to live harmoniously, and any tensions between young people are quickly and effectively resolved. As a result, young people live together positively, and are developing their skills in tolerance and understanding when living in a group. A young person commented, ‘Staff give me strategies to help me calm when I am upset. It really helps.’

p.5

Outstanding

Since the last inspection, a new annex area is being used to support independence. This connected area of the home was previously unused and has now been developed as an appropriate area for young people to live with increasing independence. The organisation ensured that this was properly planned and implemented. This has been well managed and is now seamlessly integrated as a discreetly separate area of the home. In those who use this annex, there has been excellent progress with developing their readiness for adulthood. Staff closely support young people to develop their budgeting, cooking, cleaning and wider independence skills. This support results in young people developing their maturity and also equips them with the necessary skills for moving on. Excellent support from staff ensures that young people can be safely independent. Regular and effective discussions about progress ensure that any issues are considered and

p.5

Outstanding

resolved. A social worker commented that ‘[young person] has made significant progress with their behaviour and attitude towards others. [Young person] has also become more independent.’

p.5

Outstanding

Young people’s health is actively promoted and all young people benefit from swift access to services, should they need them. The staff are confident in discussing health matters with young people and this engenders a trusting environment where young people openly discuss their health needs. Medication arrangements are robust. Regular reviews with health professionals ensure that medication needs are consistently assessed. As a result of increased healthy lifestyles and activities, some young people have had their medication reduced successfully. Staff encourage young people to play an active role in the wider community. All young people enjoy a wide range of hobbies, including horse riding, kick-boxing, swimming, other types of exercise and regular trips to places of interest.

p.5

Outstanding

All young people are engaged in education and are making excellent progress. Some young people have made significant progress in relation to their starting points. One young person said, in relation to their education, ‘I’m more settled now’. All young people are aware of what is expected of them and are making realistic plans for their future. When young people are beyond school age, they are involved in accessing local colleges for appropriate vocational and academic courses. Their ambitions are keenly and realistically supported by staff. Consequently, young people are genuinely excited about what the future could hold.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people are also making significant progress with their emotional development. For example, when young people have not had regular contact with their families, this is now in place and supported by staff. The staff are similarly supportive of young people’s friendship groups, and support adolescent relationships with peers from the local and wider community. This, in turn, supports young people in developing the skills to socialise, interact and form networks of support and companionship.

p.6

Outstanding

Staff and young people enjoy exceptionally positive relationships. Consequently, young people feel valued, respected and listened to. This is a key strength of the home. A social worker commented, ‘I have observed the staff to be emotionally warm towards the young person, which has helped. The young person has made significant improvement with both behaviour and attitude to others.’ Staff engage in regular and highly effective consultation with young people about their views, wishes and feelings.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people have extremely positive views about the home. Comments included: ‘I feel like I have really settled down now’, ‘staff listen to me’, ‘I used to be late to school all the time before I lived here. Staff help me to be organised and to be where I need to be’, ‘What I like about this home is that I get a lot of help and support and advice when I need it’ and ‘It’s fair here. The staff really try hard for you.’

p.6

Outstanding

Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints from young people. Should young people have a concern, they are enabled to raise this with confidence that it will be resolved. Regular key-working sessions further explore young people’s views on a wide range of matters, including relationships, health, education, and their plans for the future and their emotions. Young people use memory books to record their achievements and key events, for example young people leaving school, attending their proms and going on their first holiday. This progress is also reflected in comments from social workers: ‘[the young person] has made significant improvement with both their behaviour and attitude towards others’ and ‘the staff have a very good understanding of the young person’s needs and support her in achieving her goals.’ A young person commented: ‘I enjoy my time here and never want to leave.’

p.6

Outstanding

Young people are safe and feel safe in the home. This is because young people feel a strong sense of attachment to the home and have excellent relationships with staff. Consequently, incidents of challenging behaviour are rare and young people do not engage in risk-taking behaviours. All young people’s vulnerabilities are carefully assessed by the staff team using bespoke screening tools, shared with placing services and when required, the local police. Young people who have previously been at risk of sexual exploitation benefit from robust management plans and are now considered at far less risk. For some young people, this amounts to significant progress. A young person told inspectors, ‘I feel safe.’

p.7

Outstanding

The registered manager is not complacent and has a realistic view that the current situation could quickly change. For example, young people new to the home are carefully assessed to ensure that there is no potential risk to either the young person or others already in the home. The staff team, including young people’s key workers, is fully involved in assessing potential young people. As a result, great care is taken to ensure that young people’s needs are actively met at all times. Regular reviews of young people’s vulnerabilities also underpin this process. The staff team is aware of any potential issues from an early point and this is reflected in excellent records of any changes to behaviour. This means that young people live in a home where any slight changes to behaviour are quickly noted and discussed, with actions being taken if required. This means that the staff team is responsive to the needs of young people and is ready to tackle any emerging

p.7

Outstanding

All staff are trained in safeguarding and are aware of their responsibilities. Furthermore, the staff team has supported young people to attend training on preventing sexual violence. This supports young people in recognising potential risky situations, for both themselves and other young people. As a result, young people are being equipped very well with the necessary skills to enhance their own sense of personal safety.

p.7

Outstanding

Fire safety is well managed and all required checks are in place. The home environment is safely maintained and the staff team ensures that regular audits note any defects. Restraint has not been used in the home for several years. However, all staff are up to date with their restraint training, should a situation arise that requires this level of intervention. Young people’s behaviour is managed through highly effective individualised approaches. For example, some young people have visual aids to help to manage their behaviour, while other young people require no additional support. This differentiated approach ensures that young people are given support based on their needs and preferences. Young people are exceptionally well supported in managing their behaviours and emotions. Some young people have made significant progress to reduce their challenging behaviour and, as a result, the home remains settled and calm.

p.7

Outstanding

This home was last inspected in March 2016 and was judged to have improved effectiveness. No requirements or recommendations were made at this time. Since the last inspection, the provider has increased the number of young people. An annex to the home is now used as a training area for young people to develop their independence. This annex is working well, despite being a relatively new addition to the home’s offer of service. The registered manager has fully planned the use of the annex and regularly reviews its effectiveness.

p.8

Outstanding

The management of this home is strong and drives further improvements. Robust checks of the home’s records ensure that any shortfalls are quickly identified and, when necessary, amended. A strong and dedicated management team supports the experienced and qualified registered manager. This was clearly demonstrated when the registered manager was absent for a period of time earlier in the year. Robust interim arrangements, supported by the equally strong and dedicated staff team, ensured that the home continued to make and sustain improvements.

p.8

Outstanding

The staff team is continually looking for ways to improve the home and promote positive outcomes for young people. Consultation with staff, young people, parents, social workers and other involved professionals is actively sought, considered and implemented swiftly. For example, an independent visitor commented that there could be a less formal way of recording positives for young people. This was quickly actioned by the staff team, and the young people now enjoy a well-used book that celebrates a wide range of positive events. This ensures that young people’s achievements, both big and small, are recognised and then can be used for later reference. In turn, young people receive instant feedback from staff and this gives them a strong sense of understanding their excellent progress.

p.8

Outstanding

The home is exceptionally well managed with a strong a culture of forward planning and proactivity. The registered manager ensures that there is consistency of staff, and unfamiliar staff are not used in the home. This ensures that young people benefit from absolute consistency and familiarity with staff. New staff join the home in a planned and measured way. This ensures that the dynamics of the group is not unduly affected, and changes to the staff team are carefully considered and implemented. The views of young people underpin key decisions in the home and are fully considered at all times. Regular reviews by the manager continue to drive improvement.

p.8

Outstanding

Relationships with partner agencies are extremely positive. The registered manager robustly challenges any shortfalls and ensures that the needs of young people are central at all times. A member of staff commented that ‘We stand in the kids’ corners when we need to.’ For example, when young people have been involved in incidents in school, the staff ensure that strong advocacy is provided to ensure that third-party processes are conducted fairly. When it is evident that young people are not being treated fairly, the staff are vigorous in ensuring that there is equality. This gives young people a strong sense that they have adults who care for them and are prepared to advocate when necessary.

p.9

Outstanding

Staff training is of a high standard and draws on research. For example, a model of working with young people who may have experienced exploitation has been implemented in the home. This model draws on learning from police and local authority reviews of services to young people. As a result, the staff team is equipped with recent learning from events and is able to reflect on how this translates to the young person group. This is further supported by recent awareness training in areas such as female genital mutilation, radicalisation and cyber safety.

p.9

Outstanding

Staff recruitment is robust and designed to ensure that only suitable adults work at the home. Interviews with potential staff are comprehensive and are not afraid to explore key issues. This ensures that prospective staff are thoroughly vetted. This is supplemented by rigorous pre-employment checks, overseen by the organisation.

p.9

Outstanding

The home’s development plan is regularly reviewed, and amended when necessary. There are clear and detailed plans for further improving the home. For example, a recent successful holiday has led to plans for further, and more ambitious, holidays for the young people. Similarly, recent staff training is being built upon with plans for more in-depth training over the coming months. The registered manager is committed to enhancing the service to young people continually.

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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’. 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 looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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