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

Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 1 SC480854 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The young people receive exceptionally high standards of care from a dedicated and committed staff team. The young people have ‘grown up’ in the care of the same staff team, relationships are based on trust and close bonds have been established.  The young people have permanence and experience a sense of belonging. They make progress in all aspects of their lives and are exposed to a range of positive opportunities.  Consultation and participation with the young people are a key strength that sees active engagement in day-to-day decision-making and more complex decisions about their lives.  The young people make remarkable and sustained progress relative to their starting points. Living at the home enhances their life chances and is underpinned by the quality of care provided.  Risk-taking behaviours are clearly understood and managed well. Highly effective planning and positive responses minimise risk both inside and outside

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Key findings from this inspection

the home.  The manager is a strong leader and ambitious, with a vision that ensures the delivery of high standards of individualised care. Strong professional relationships have been established, ensuring effective multi-agency support for the young people.  The staff are champions for the young people in their care. The staff receive regular and purposeful supervision, experience a robust induction and have access to a range of training opportunities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/01/2017 Full Outstanding 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people make significant and measurable progress, relative to their starting points, as a result of living at the home. Living at the home enhances the young people’s life chances. The staff are supportive, responsive and attuned to their individual needs. One young person said: ‘I am very happy to be back. It’s better than anywhere else I’ve been. I have a great bond with all the staff. They care for you and are bothered where you go and always ring when I am out.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people experience exceptionally high standards of care that have promoted stability in the home for a significant period of time. The staff invest good-quality time with the young people, who feel nurtured, resulting in the forming of close attachments and bonds. The young people describe having ‘a real sense of belonging, like being in a family’. During a conversation with a social worker, she said: ‘Out of all the placements [Name] has been in, this home manages [Name] the best and really understands his needs and behaviours. They have the young people at the heart of everything they do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Encouraging and engaging the young people in understanding the importance and value of education have resulted in a significant increase in the young people’s overall achievements and attendance. The young people are being encouraged to do well and to fulfil their goals and aspirations. One young person’s confidence and self-esteem have grown immeasurably. She said: ‘I have achieved so much. I attend the children’s council and I have done work experience. I would never have done this without the support from my key worker.’ Another young person has successfully integrated back into mainstream school following a substantial period of non-attendance. The staff has gone above and beyond in advocating on behalf of the young person through effective liaison with the virtual schools.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people are exposed to a wide range of social, educational and vocational activities tailored to their individual interests. Showing an interest in and actively engaging the young people in activities of their choice have resulted in a marked decline in the young people engaging in negative behaviours. As a result, they enjoy aspects of childhood that previously they rejected and felt unable to take part in. For example, one young person attends the cadets and has guitar lessons and another plays rugby. Three young people went on holiday abroad and described it as ‘an amazing experience’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The overall ethos of the home is captured through the excellent relationships that have been developed and fostered with parents and extended family members. Contact is promoted and supervised by the staff, depending on individual plans, and the exchange of information with family is highly effective. One young person now enjoys regular visits and days out with his grandparents. Their comments include: ‘I am very impressed with the care that [Name] receives. There [are] structure and routines. Prior to this, [Name] had lots of placement breakdowns. I visit twice a week and take [Name] out. Staff actually talk to you and communicate. I think [Name] is receiving really good care here.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Due to the highly effective assessments, planning and professional practice, risks both inside and outside of the home are clearly understood and managed well. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are highly individualised. They are informed not only by past and current behaviour, but also by the current emotional vulnerability of the young people. The young people contribute to their plans and take ownership, resulting in behaviours such as missing from care, anti-social behaviour and drug misuse being at an extremely low level. One young person said: ‘My social worker and key worker know me really well. We are all working together and I have strategies that have helped me to cut down on smoking.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

The young people have a strong sense of keeping themselves safe. Innovative practice sees the young people being involved in all aspects of their care, and they participate in day-to-day decision-making and more complex decisions about their lives. The young people have responded to a restorative approach and are more accepting of restrictions being put in place, due to a greater understanding of the risks or consequences of such behaviour to themselves and others. Key-work sessions focus on the ‘here and now’. One young person commented: ‘I did some research with my key worker on the dangers of climbing on buildings and the tragic accidents that can happen. I definitely think twice now.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

New admissions to the home are considered and assessed through robust and vigorous impact assessments. Since the last inspection, two young people have been successfully transitioned into the home. Their risks and vulnerabilities have been clearly understood. In conversation with a member of staff, she said: ‘We will always use the impact assessment and [consider] what risks the young person may pose to others and vice versa. We go above and beyond and ring schools and ex-carers to get further information to assess the compatibility. As a result, we currently have a very settled group of young people.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since March 2016. He is suitably qualified and experienced, is self-driven and a highly effective manager. The manager is ambitious and innovative, using research-informed practice that makes a sustained and measurable difference to lives of the young people living at the home. One young person commented: ‘I came here earlier this year and I am very happy living here. It feels like a home. I feel very safe and secure and have lots of opportunities. I get on well with all of the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is exceptionally well supported both formally and informally. It has regular reflective supervisions and is exposed to a wide range of training that promotes its continuous professional development. One member of staff commented about their manager: ‘The manager runs the home really well. This is the best home I have worked for. He has individual relationships with each young person. We all do. Young people really like being here and stay in touch after they have left.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 5 The manager and staff promote a responsive and homely environment that the young people respond to. Professionals alike have welcomed the openness and close working relationships that have been developed, resulting in the best possible support to the young people in all areas of their development and well-being. In conversation with the nurse for children looked after, she said: ‘I have been involved with the home since it

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

opened. I love coming here. The level of communication is very good. I meet with the young people. We discuss each young person [and] their individual needs and identify if any referrals are needed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager utilises a wide range of tools, systems and processes that monitor the progress and care that the young people receive. Feedback from the young people, stakeholders and other professionals has been instrumental in reflecting on how care is delivered and whether different approaches should be considered. The manager and staff are quick to challenge decisions if they are deemed not to be in the best interests of the young people. A children’s rights officer spoke of the good relationship between the staff and the manager, stating: ‘They are very amenable and great at getting in touch regarding specific issues, [and they are] not at all guarded. We all essentially do the same job and ensure that children’s voices are heard.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Any gaps in staff practice or any safeguarding concerns are dealt with immediately. This ensures that the young people are protected. The manager anticipates well and will facilitate refresher training if there are gaps in staff knowledge, Examples of training include internet safety and use of social media for both the staff and the young people.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480854 7 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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