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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been further deterioration in the management of this home and in keeping young people safe. At the last inspection, six requirements and two recommendations were made. Leadership and management were found to be inadequate. This inspection found that, although the registered manager had taken steps to address some of the deficiencies identified at the last inspection, one of those requirements is not met. In addition, the registered manager failed to promote the welfare of a child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection on 16 November 2015, a requirement was made to ensure that safeguarding procedures were adhered to following allegations made by young people at the home against staff. This requirement was repeated, following concerns in the home, on the interim inspection on 24 February 2016 and at the full inspection on 26 April 2016. Despite the repetition of this requirement, staff and the registered manager at the home have continued to fail to follow safeguarding procedures. This does not safeguard young people and leaves them vulnerable to harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During this inspection, it was found that a complaint had been made by a young person at the end of September 2016. He said that a member of staff had hit him. He spoke of his concerns to the deputy manager, who failed to act in the young person’s interests. Furthermore, additional poor practice by the manager associated to this matter led to physical intervention of the young person due to the young person feeling aggrieved. The registered manager failed to listen and act on the concerns that the young person was vocalising. The registered manager provided the inspector with incorrect information linked to this incident in that she stated that the staff member went home following the allegation. This was incorrect. The registered and deputy manager had not followed the organisation’s safeguarding policy and failed to maintain the safety and welfare of the young person. Failure to follow safeguarding procedures means that there is potential risk to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager fails to lead a culture in the children’s home that promotes young people’s welfare. Previously on 26 September 2016 the same young person had been involved in a dispute with a staff member over his request to have his television in his room. This led to a staff member using a non-approved team-teach technique. During this inspection the registered manager discussed the incident. She stated clearly that the staff members involved in the restraint had written the account incorrectly and that they hadn’t used non-approved techniques. The registered manager stated that she had concluded this following a group supervision, which she had logged. When asked to view the document, to support the account, the registered manager stated that she had not undertaken the supervision and that her earlier declaration, saying that she had, was a mistake. Again, the manager provided the inspector with incorrect, misleading information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the second incident, the young person requested paper to write a complaint. The registered manager and staff failed to assist him with his request. However, the manager did support the member of staff to call the police so that the young person could be charged with assault. A few days later the staff member withdrew his allegation and the young person was moved to another children’s home. This poor practice does not safeguard young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some progress has been made for other young people who remain at the home. One young person is supporting war veterans in the local community and is to receive an award from his local authority for his charity work. All young people attend school, which is situated within the children’s home, and undergo therapy for their behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant work has been completed with young people on keeping safe and bullying. Individual and group workshops have taken place so that young people have a clear understanding of what bullying is, what things upset them and how the things that they do can sometimes upset other people.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care for up to six young males who experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is part of a private company which has a number of children’s residential services throughout the UK. The home provides therapeutic input to the young people via an external contracted service. There is an onsite registered school.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 16/11/2015 Full Good

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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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. In particular, this is in regard to the need for effective care planning and risk management. 31/12/2016

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that: (b) promotes their welfare. 31/12/2016

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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 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 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, 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

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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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