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

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager in charge of the home. He has managed this home for a number of years and he demonstrates a real commitment to this home and the young people living here. An experienced deputy manager supports him in this role. Together, they provide strong leadership and have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has remained stable since the last inspection. Staff enjoy working in this home and appreciate the support they receive from the registered manager. Staff speak positively about staff morale. This consistency allows young people to establish relationships with staff and for staff to gain a better understanding of the young people. This enables them to address young people’s individual needs successfully.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff act as good advocates for young people. The registered manager has made appropriate challenge to placing authorities when issues have been allowed to drift. Young people also have access to independent advocates if they are unhappy with proposed changes to their care plans. As a result, young people feel that staff are listening to their views and that they care about what happens to them. There are a number of instances where staff have gone the extra mile to ensure positive outcomes for those in their care. For example, purchasing a bed so that one young person could have overnight contact with his birth family. Young people appreciate these actions. They frequently say that the best thing about the home is ‘relationships with staff’, and describe the staff as ‘kind and caring’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The group of young people has also remained largely settled since the last inspection. One young person has made a successful transition to independent living with the support of staff, despite this being geographically a long distance from the home. Staff worked well with the placing authority to ensure the best timing for this important move. Following a planned introduction, a new young person is now living in the home. Young people get on well together the majority of the time and they are learning to respect each other’s differences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are engaging with some form of education or training. While they are not all attending full time, they are making progress from their starting points. This is also subject to regular review. Staff are mindful of the importance of education in relation to young people’s future employment opportunities. Some young people have part-time jobs and they are enjoying the financial independence that this brings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to promote positive behaviour and successfully de-escalate the majority of difficult situations. There has only been one restraint since the last inspection and this incident originated within the on-site education facility. Staff in the home were quickly able to calm the young person and resolve the situation. Staff reward positive behaviour in the home and young people respond well to this approach. There is minimal use of sanctions, with these reflecting the young person’s behaviour and being largely restorative in nature. Staff also complete key worker sessions to ensure learning from these events.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has taken action to address the one requirement made at the last full inspection. The home has undergone some considerable redecoration and refurbishment over recent months. The installation of a new kitchen and modern lighting makes this a welcoming and hygienic environment. A change of use of the reception rooms in the home, at the request of young people, also ensures best use of the facilities available. Young people benefit from a dedicated games room where they have a new pool table and electronic games consoles. They appreciate and make good use of this facility.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Action has been taken to address the recommendations resulting from the last inspection. This includes the introduction of young people’s views to help inform staff appraisal, as well as those of social work professionals. A reorganisation of filing systems in the home means that these are now more streamlined with less need for repetition. This makes it easier for staff to locate and file information correctly. The introduction of a separate file for the recording of young people’s achievements also ensures that young people will be able to recall these special events in the future. However, while agreements relating to young people’s mobile telephone use are in place and staff do undertake safeguarding checks on these devices, they are not currently recording these systematically. Consequently, it is unclear when a check has last been undertaken and may result in staff completing these unnecessarily or them not undertaking checks for a lengthy period. Hence,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

they are not providing the reassurance that they are designed to achieve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to liaise effectively with other professionals involved with young people. Many positive comments are evident in feedback taken by the home. These include:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘Staff are motivated and tailor services around the young person’s specific needs.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘Staff are very approachable and supportive and provide good communication.’  ‘Staff are working really hard to support the young person and his family.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘Staff have promoted contact between the young person and his family and have done more than is expected in terms of transporting and frequency.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 ‘The quality of care is very positive and staff know their young people well.’

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of a number owned and managed by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young males who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/11/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/01/2016 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, that records indicate when staff have completed agreed safeguarding checks on young people’s mobile telephones.

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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, work- based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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