Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Coventry

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds 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:

 Young people make admirable progress in all areas of their lives, benefiting from an exceptionally caring, nurturing and consistent staff team.  Consultation is a very high priority in the home and, as a result, practice is regularly reviewed and young people’s views are intrinsic to all aspects of the home.  Managers and staff learn from feedback from young people and make any changes necessary to improve the quality of care for them.  Feedback from young people and professionals is overwhelmingly positive about all aspects of care.  Specialist services work in close partnership with the home, providing young people with additional support, information and guidance.  Risk-taking behaviour, such as sexual exploitation, going missing from care and substance misuse, has significantly reduced since young people have been living in the home.  Research supports the foundations of practice in the home.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The interior of the home is decorated to a very high standard and is exceptionally well maintained.  All bedrooms are individualised. Young people said, ‘The home is fantastic.’

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is for single-gender occupancy only.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Outstanding

Young people form highly effective and trusting relationships with all staff. They are exceptionally dedicated to making sure that young people’s needs are at the centre of practice in the home. A young person said, ‘I adore living here… I have never been in a better place and I want to stay here until I am 18.’ Young people make excellent progress in all areas of their lives because of the bespoke care and nurturing provided by the dedicated and consistent staff team. Staff pay meticulous attention to welcoming young people into the home. For example, young people visit the home, enjoy dinner, have an overnight stay and attend young people’s meetings prior to moving in. Clear boundaries and routines help young people to feel settled and to feel part of the home. This level of support helps to minimise the anxieties of young people and promotes their social and emotional development. Young people thrive from the individual care and attention

p.5

Outstanding

that are given to them from their first point of contact with the home. Young people’s individual care plans are very detailed. Young people are fully involved in all aspects of their care planning, including the development of their personal placement plans and transition planning. Young people enjoy their ‘Jasmine’s experience and memories files’ (JEMs). JEM files have photographs and comments from the young people’s time at the home. A JEM is a detailed life story work for the young person to take with them when they leave the home. As a result, young people feel involved in their care and are able to have a say in what is important to them. These files make them feel that staff are interested in them as individuals and act upon their wishes. This exceptional staff interest gives young people a sense of being valued and cared for by all staff. Young people participate in all aspects of the home. Staff nominate young people

p.5

Outstanding

as ‘star of the week’ when they have done something exceptional. Young people nominate a ‘staff member of the month’ who, young people feel, has ‘gone the extra mile’. Sometimes they nominate all staff. One young person said that they feel that their ‘home is fantastic, and there is nothing that can make it better.’ This feeling is shared by all the young people in the home. Staff are highly effective in their liaison with schools and colleges and are willing to challenge teachers to make sure that young people benefit from their educational attendance. Young people’s attendance rates are high, and their academic progress is notable, given their starting points. A teacher commented, ‘Since [X] moved to the home, her appearance and her general attitude, contentedness and happiness [have] improved.’ Young people enjoy good health because they have access to the health support that they require, and this is constantly reviewed. The ethos of the home considers

p.5

Outstanding

young people’s emotional, psychological and physical health needs. Young people have regular access to appropriate specialist agencies, such as the Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC), and substance misuse services. These services help young people to recognise their often-traumatic backgrounds and the impact that these have on their emotional well-being, safety and welfare. This holistic approach to healthcare, coupled with emotional warmth from staff, ensures that young people’s development is consistently promoted. Young people receive excellent help to form, develop and sustain positive attachments to family members and friends. Staff do everything possible to re- engage families with young people and ensure that they receive all the support that is available to them. Staff arrange and facilitate supervised contact when necessary. Consequently, young people maintain links with those people who are

p.6

Outstanding

important to them. As a result, relationships with family members and friends of young people are very positive. Families and friends are most welcome at the home, enjoying dinners, including Christmas dinner, with staff and young people. This very welcoming approach helps to maintain all relationships in young people’s lives in order to maintain their identities. All young people have families that live close to the home. Young people are supported and empowered by all staff to develop skills to equip them in adult life. Activities such as budgeting, shopping, cooking and washing are just a few examples of their semi-independence work. Young people achieve their food hygiene level 2 and fire safety level 2 certificates. These give young people qualifications for their futures, coupled with skills for independent living. Staff learn from young people who have moved into independence about what could be

p.6

Outstanding

improved and implemented in practice. For example, young people used the home’s basic foods, such as bread, butter, tea and coffee during their independence work. However, when they moved into independence, the cost of these basic items was a shock for them. As a result, independence plans have been adapted to ensure that these are budgeted for in their weekly costs. Staff ensure that young people who move into independence are fully supported by telephone contact after their moves. Young people know that they can visit and ask for support at any time and, indeed, they do. Some young people visit the home, sometimes, just for a cup of coffee and to see staff and their friends. This enables young people to feel valued, with a level of valued and continued support. Young people enjoy a wide range of activities, for example visiting stately homes, ice-skating, going to rugby matches, photography and pamper evenings. Young

p.6

Outstanding

people have also enjoyed a summer holiday together at Butlins. They are actively encouraged to make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community. Young people have enjoyed undertaking fund-raising events, for example a ‘race for life mud run’. This gives young people a sense of community and builds their self-esteem and confidence. Judgement grade

p.6

Outstanding

Safeguarding young people is the highest priority for managers and staff. From the point of referral, staff contact all appropriate professionals to seek comprehensive information about a young person. A professional commented, ‘This is done to ascertain all information as to how best to support the young person and to ensure they are aware of all risks to fully inform risk assessments.’ As a result, impact risk assessments and comprehensive risk assessments fully reflect all known risks and preventive strategies to safeguard young people. Young people are provided with a range of support from external agencies to help to reduce identified risks. For example, staff work closely with sexual exploitation professionals, the police, the Positive Youth Foundation and substance misuse teams. Consequently, young people benefit from discussing personal matters in a safe environment and learn about the impact of their behaviour. From the start of

p.7

Outstanding

placement, young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour, such as drug misuse and going missing from home. This reduction in risk-taking behaviour is due to staff applying consistent boundaries and to excellent partnership working. Staff are attentive to the individual vulnerabilities and emotional characteristics of young people. A young person said following an incident, ‘They really cared, and all the staff wanted to know when I had returned safely, even when they were not working.’ Staff know how to promote young people’s safe return, if they are missing, by following detailed, individualised plans. A professional commented, ‘An excellent example of a care home in the city. We have worked in the city for over 10 years and have been exposed to the inner workings of many care homes. The home is by far the best maintained and managed that we have had the joy to work in partnership with.’ Staff are highly instrumental in ensuring that they and other partnership agencies

p.7

Outstanding

meet the safeguarding needs of young people. The manager arranges strategy meetings when a risk arises. A sexual exploitation police officer stated, ‘The managers sometimes push for strategy meetings when other professionals are somewhat reluctant. They are always open to suggestions and work very well within the multi-agency forum. They try their best to engage the young people and sometimes have the difficult task of communicating some recommendations which the young people clearly would not like, but they seem to take this in their stride .’ An independent reviewing officer stated that staff ‘are excellent in terms of stickability and consistency.’ A sexual exploitation worker commented, ‘The move to this home for two young people has been incredible… Risks significantly reduce, and when young people have blips it is seen as natural and the home [works] with them on them… Staff have aspirations for young people that go well beyond their

p.7

Outstanding

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified, and has a level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare. The registered manager is supported by a strong deputy manager and a consistent, dedicated staff team. Managers promote a positive culture of improvement in the home that is forward thinking, inspirational and dedicated to meeting the individual needs of young people. Research forms a strong foundation in respect of changing and improving practice in the home. This ensures that young people receive the most up-to-date research-based care, particularly relating to child sexual exploitation. Managers actively and consistently challenge local authorities and other agencies when young people are not receiving the service that they need and deserve. They act like a ‘pushy parent’. Staff advocate strongly for young people, ensuring that plans are effective and that young people are happy and progressing in all areas of

p.8

Outstanding

their lives. Managers actively pursue an excellent service for young people. An independent reviewing officer stated that managers are ‘dogged’ about making sure that all young people receive individualised care and the best service possible. This ‘dogged’ approach makes sure that young people’s needs are met now and prepares them for the future. Professionals reported exceptional working relationships with managers and staff. Records maintained on young people are exemplary. They contain all relevant information and include young people’s input. The records comprehensively detail all aspects of young people’s time while they are living at the home. The manager makes sure that young people are involved in all aspects of their care and that they actively contribute to the young people’s guide, thus ensuring that it remains relevant and up to date for all young people. Staff receive regular supervision and attend team meetings. Professionals, for

p.8

Outstanding

example from CRASAC and Barnardo’s, attend staff meetings to help to inform practice and strengthen partnership working. Staff undertake training that meets the needs of young people and the ethos of the home. Most staff are qualified. Those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales to obtain their qualification within two years of starting work. As a result, young people receive excellent care from competent staff who have the skills and experience to meet their needs. Managers regularly monitor the quality of care and make improvements when necessary. They can clearly demonstrate the positive impact that the care is having on young people’s progress, experiences and achievements. The home has a detailed statement of purpose that clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the service. Placing authorities and partnership agencies report a high level of satisfaction in how managers and staff meet the home’s aims and

p.8

Outstanding

objectives. The registered manager recognises the strengths and developmental areas of the home. The home is well resourced and staffed appropriately. Vigorous internal and external monitoring of the quality of care by the registered manager is highly effective and ensures positive progress for all young people.

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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 that 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 that 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 whom 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, 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

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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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