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

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . At the last inspection, two requirements and four recommendations were made. All have been fully addressed. This demonstrates the home's commitment to improve the quality of care provided. Notifications are now sent to Ofsted as required, and the home has been fully redecorated. Work is underway to capture photographs and other memorabilia, to remind young people of their time at the home. There is now closer monitoring of attendance at post-16 educational facilities, and recording overall has improved. There is a greater focus on ‘restorative’ justice, but staff would benefit from further training. Young people say that they feel safe here. They feel that they have positive relationships with the manager and staff and spoke highly of them. One young

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

person described staff as ‘spot on’. These basic, good relationships help young people to develop strong attachments to the home. As a result, the number of ‘missing from home’ incidents are low. Young people’s commitment to education can vary, but staff persevere in keeping them interested and involved in the choices available for them. Staff help young people to look for alternatives, keeping them firmly grounded and supporting them to achieve realistic outcomes. As a result of this approach, some young people are doing very well in the early stages of their careers, and enjoying new activities such as going to drama club. Safeguarding practice is effective. Risks around child sexual exploitation are well understood, but among the current group of young people, this is not a cause for concern. When young people may present a risk to others, focused key working helps to reduce the chance of reoffending.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Arrangements are in place to support and prepare young people for adulthood. Close links are forged with placing authorities so that initial thinking and planning for young people’s future lives is underway. Since the last inspection, the quality of monitoring has improved. Staff continue to have positive relationships with relevant professionals, agencies and services. Regular and purposeful communication and partnership working ensures that services such as health and education work with staff to deliver effective care to young people.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/06/2016 Full Good 28/04/2015 Full Outstanding

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Staff should understand factors that affect children's motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13). Specifically, provide training for staff on the principles and application of restorative justice.

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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, 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 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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