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

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress and have positive experiences during their time living in this home. From their starting points, they develop in confidence and there is a noticeable reduction in concerning and risk-taking behaviours. One young person has remained in placement for a number of years. She is now 18 years old, but managers have committed to continue to care for her until a suitable adult service provision can be identified. This provides continuity for vulnerable care leavers. This young person has clearly stated that she would happily remain living in this home until she is 21, if this were possible. Managers work closely with placing authorities to try to secure suitable adult service provisions and advocate strongly for relevant young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A key strength of the work done by staff relates to independence planning and skills. Detailed work is completed with relevant young people. They learn budgeting and self-help skills. One young person is now able to visit family members on public transport unaided. This promotes their confidence and provides them with the skills needed to make a successful transition to adult life. Staff also welcome family members to visit young people at the home. This provides young people with a real sense of belonging and being valued. At the last inspection, a requirement was made in relation to assessing the effectiveness of independence work carried out with young people. New systems have been implemented which clearly evidence the starting points and progress made by young people in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff meet with young people each month to consider their placement plans. Staff seek young people’s views, wishes and feelings about their plans. Key work sessions evidence how young people’s comments and requests have been responded to. Young people read and sign their plans to reflect their agreement and understanding of them. The requirement set at the last inspection has been fully met in this regard. Staff demonstrate a real commitment to ensuring that young people feel central to their care at all times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people report feeling very confident in being able to raise any concerns or complaints they may have. Managers now ensure that records reflect all actions taken to address concerns and that young people are encouraged to share their views on how complaints have been investigated. The requirement set at the last inspection has been fully met in this regard. Managers are also in the process of changing their recording systems for complaints, in order to further improve on how they are recorded and responded to. This reflects the learning ethos of staff and management and their desire to continually make improvements in how they provide care and support to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing from care are minimal in this home. For some young people, there has been a significant reduction in their missing incidents since coming to live at this home. They learn to consider their risk-taking behaviours and consequences of their actions and engage very positively with staff to reduce such risks. Staff work very closely and proactively with placing authorities and local police to ensure the safety and protection of young people at all times.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have formal education and employment in place. One young person has successfully completed a college course and now has a full-time job in the local area. This reflects the commitment of staff to ensuring that all young people successfully complete their formal education and are able to gain paid employment. For those young people who do not have a formal educational placement on admission to this home, tutors come in and provide the necessary support. Staff and managers have formed very positive relationships with local education providers and have used this to assist placing authorities in securing placements for young people. There is a very positive learning ethos in the home and young people engage well and make good progress as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers monitor and review the care and support provided to young people regularly. They use the independent visitor monthly monitoring visits and reports to further improve the services they provide. At the time of this inspection, a new kitchen was being fitted. There are plans to make further improvements to other areas of the home. This provides young people with a welcoming and well- maintained home to live in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two placement endings since the last inspection. Managers worked closely with the placing authorities to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for those young people. They demonstrate sensitivity in trying to ensure that any moves fully include young people. They also advocate strongly for young people in ensuring that their stated wishes and feelings about placement moves are shared with the placing authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No shortfalls were identified as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered for four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. It takes single sex placements only, currently female young people. It also has a condition to reduce the number of children by the number of people aged 18 or over for which it also provides care and accommodation. It is run by a large private organisation which has a number of other similar services nationally.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/05/2016 Full Good 21/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/06/2015 Full Good

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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 whom 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 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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