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

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

Some progress has been made since the last full inspection in July 2016. The one requirement from the previous inspection is met and the home has undergone a programme of refurbishment including new bathrooms. A recommendation from the last inspection has not been actioned and is to be repeated following this inspection. This is with regards to risk assessments. For each area of concern identified, there should be a risk management plan in place which staff regularly review and update. In practice, this has not always happened, and staff have not had a written plan to follow.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four young people have left the home since the last inspection. This does not provide stability in the home. The registered manager spoke about how the home has improved its referral and admission process. Impact risk assessments show better consideration to the needs of existing residents when new referrals are considered. The manager further explained that the organisation had given the home more time to make the considerations on who would be best placed in the home. Staff commented on how this improved the ability of the home to manage young people safely and give them the attention that they need to make positive progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff recognise that education is an important part of young people’s lives. They support and encourage young people to attend and have regular contact with education providers. Staff are proud of what the young people have achieved. The staff understand that the transition into a more formal education environment can be difficult and are working with young people, the teaching staff and social worker towards establishing a regular education routine. For other young people who may not be accessing education at this time, the staff at the home are challenging the education provision to ensure that a return to school is made as quickly as possible, with staff at the home offering their support to enable the school to do this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is working hard to provide a homely and welcoming environment in which young people feel safe and secure. The home is comfortable, well decorated and well furnished. The home was taking delivery of new furniture for the games room, which the young people were looking forward to receiving. Staff at the home were observed in handover referring to young people as their bedroom numbers. For example, staff commented, ‘Bedroom one has had a good day in education.’ Staff do not always refer to young people by their names when they discus them. In addition staff use an overly formal approach to their writing for example referring to young people as Mr [name].This is the culture of the home and it does not demonstrate respect to young people. Left unchallenged it may result in conditions that might lead to an individual in the home abusing their position.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people in placement are making excellent progress from their starting points. For example, one young person arrived at the home taking regular night- time medication to aid sleep. However, the staff have actioned an effective bedtime routine which has seen the young person settle and sleep throughout the night, and the medication has not been required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of young people going missing have significantly reduced in this home. While part of this is attributable to the mix of young people in placement, it is also down to the hard work and impact of staff and managers. For example, they have thought more carefully about matching, and have ensured that relationships are quickly established with the young people, their family and their friends.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are engaged in key-work sessions and residents’ meetings. They have built positive relationships with staff, who understand their individual needs and support them to continue to make satisfactory progress in all aspects of their lives. Young people have choices in activities, and although they are of an age where they tend to want to make their own choices, they have enjoyed a variety of options, such as holidays, a trip to Flamingo Land, and more regular trips to a roller-skate rink, a local football club and boxing matches.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works well with parents, supporting their role and encouraging positive contact. The home has maintained good contact with previous residents, for example chatting to them over the phone and asking about their well-bring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent monitoring of the home identifies areas for improvement and allows the management team to work on improving the service. The manager has completed a six-monthly review of the home, which shows a good understanding of service provision and what needs to improve.

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide accommodation for six male young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 26/07/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/10/2015 Full Outstanding

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 Where children are listened to, respected and involved in the development of the home's ethos and culture and in decisions about the way the home is run on a day to day basis, the conditions that might lead to an individual in the home abusing their position are less likely to arise. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 40, paragraph 9.12)

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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

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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