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 judges that it has improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the concerns that were identified at the last inspection. The children who have moved in since then have had impact risk assessments completed prior to their arrival. The manager consults with placing social workers and previous placements to inform admission decisions. This planning increases the chances of placements succeeding and children experiencing stability. The children and staff comment on the current mix of children as being positive. The staff are now receiving regular supervisions. The manager has made timely notifications to Ofsted that detail significant incidents. These are all improvements that have been made since the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children in the home have made progress since the last inspection. One child is now back in full-time education. An education professional spoke of how the child has excelled beyond expectation. She cites the support that the staff provide as being a key factor in this. Another child is due to move back with her family following a period of stability in the home. Children and professionals recognise the progress that is being made. One child stated, ‘It has sorted me out. My education has got a lot better. My behaviour is better. I get to do things. It has put me on the right road.’ A social worker said of another child, ‘She is now making plans for the future. She is beginning to think about the type of life she wants and how to achieve this. She is more engaged. She is just brighter in herself.’ However, one child has only had four hours of education a week since moving into the home. Although this initially reflected progress from her starting point, there has been a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

lack of robust challenge from the home regarding the prolonged nature of this minimal arrangement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers monitor the quality of care by reviewing and countersigning documentation. They seek feedback from key stakeholders, including families, placing professionals and children. An independent person visits the home each month and compiles a report. However, their reports do not routinely include the views of parents or relatives, as regulation requires. This means that opportunities to gain feedback about the quality of care from families are missed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection. The police are extremely positive about the way in which the service works with them to manage these incidents. The staff actively look for children when they go missing and are proactive in their contact with the police when there is an increased risk of a child going missing. An example of this is when a child is about to experience planned free time for the first time in a while. This joined-up approach increases the effectiveness of collective responses to children going missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the children’s needs. They are child focused in their approaches. As a result, the children and the staff have good, warm relationships and interactions are strong. Consequently, there have been few physical interventions. The staff manage behaviour without the need to intervene physically. Managers seek the children’s views on behaviour management, including restraint, and the children do not report any concerns. One child stated during the inspection, ‘They do it in a proper manner. They do it in the trained way.’ However, when children have made negative comments during or shortly after the interventions, the staff have not consistently followed the home’s own policy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from external professionals is consistently very good. An education professional stated, ‘I have records of her [child] from before, and what she has achieved could not have happened without the support and backup from the staff.’ A police officer said, ‘Working together is absolutely brilliant with them. Communication is great.’ A social worker stated, ‘They are brilliant, communicative and responsive.’

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It is registered for six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. It is registered for single-sex occupancy.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 30/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/08/2015 Full Requires improvement 12/01/2015 Full Adequate

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, with particular regard to ensuring that the staff advocate on behalf of children to maximise their educational engagement, the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iii) that staff understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. 30/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular regard to ensuring that when children raise concerns following physical interventions these are shared with safeguarding professionals, the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(vii) that staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 30/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 30/04/2017

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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 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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