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

Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 1 SC482683 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

The home is privately owned and may provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is for single gender occupancy only.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 9 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff keep young people safe.  Young people are confident in sharing their wishes and feelings.  Staff have warm and established relationships with young people. This means that young people develop positive relationships with others.  Feedback from young people, families and professionals is very positive.  Incidents of physical restraint are very low due to the positive approach of staff.  The staff team follows missing from home procedures well.  Young people receive personalised care that reflects their needs and vulnerabilities. This means that young people make good progress.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 There are some areas for development. These include making sure that young people improve their attendance in education, training and employment. The manager should ensure that all young people’s mattresses are clean.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/10/2016 Full Outstanding 03/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure -

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1) and 2 (a) (i) (iii) (ix)) 15/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (2) (d)) 17/11/2017

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large terraced house close to the town centre. It is decorated with modern furnishings and has a homely feel. There are photographs of young people throughout the lounge, including young people who have previously lived at the home. Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to the home. The damp wall in the lounge is completely repaired, some new carpets have been purchased and a new bathroom floor has been added. There are further plans in place to redecorate the kitchen. Young people take pride in their home and look after it well. This means that the home environment is well respected by young people and enables them to feel that they belong. However, the inspector observed that one young person’s mattress was Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 4 dirty and not of an acceptable standard. The registered manager advised that this was recently purchased. This could affect young people’s experiences if belongings are not

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from warm and trusting relationships with the staff. The staff team is small and stable and this maintains consistent care for young people. Staff have a good understanding of young people’s needs. This is demonstrated in the young people’s detailed individual care plans. They make progress from their starting points because of the warmth and care that they receive from the team. For example, staff have supported one young person to reduce her anger. A young person told the inspector, ‘Yeah it’s nice here. I like it. They have helped me and I have made changes to my behaviour.’ Staff make sure that young people receive a warm welcome to the home, and a smooth transition that provides reassurance. Young people receive a detailed welcome pack. The young person’s guide is very well written. Information is personalised with bright animation to welcome them into the home. This alleviates any worries about what to

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

expect. Young people are able to decorate their bedrooms as they wish and they are provided with new items such as towels and bedding when they arrive. This helps them to settle in and provides a warm welcome. They are encouraged to share their wishes and feelings in one-to-one sessions, on a daily basis and in young people’s meetings. Young people benefit from visits from the fire service and the police to improve awareness on issues such as fire safety and substance misuse. In addition, a number of agencies visit the home and talk with young people about issues such as sexual health and relationships with young people. Young people’s files are well organised and placement plans clearly identify the aims and objectives set to enable progress. This helps staff and young people to work towards longer-term placement aims. The registered manager has a strong focus on the achievements of young people as well as their positive attributes. This helps young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

people to develop their self-esteem and to improve their behaviours. Statutory documents are up to date and are signed where necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make and maintain very good relationships with young people’s families and friends. Young people receive emotional and practical support to enable them to keep in contact with the people who matter to them. For example, staff regularly welcome family members to the home or assist in transporting young people to see their families. Staff are flexible and prioritise contact arrangements to help young people. This enables young people to maintain family links. As a result, this adds to their sense of emotional stability and their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage young people’s education attendance and ensure that young people attend meetings about their education. This helps young people to understand the importance of education and assists them in improving their confidence. However, staff are not making sure that young people attend education, employment or training all of the time and in line with their care plans. This shortfall means that young people’s achievements and attainment could be affected in the future. Further, as a result of not attending, young people are not benefiting from a consistent routine and are missing out on the social opportunities of education, training or employment. One young person who Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 5 is above statutory school age is not in further education, training or employment after refusing to attend college. Staff have not made sure that other recreational opportunities and persistent practical help is provided often enough. This shortfall means that the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

young person is not developing important skills and experience to enter adulthood.

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

There have been no safeguarding concerns since the last inspection. However, managers ensure that staff understand safeguarding processes. During this inspection, staff members shared knowledge about dealing with safeguarding concerns promptly and professionally. This enables staff to prioritise the safety of young people.

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

Incidents of physical restraint are low. There have been only two incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. This is because staff have open and trusting relationships with young people. In addition, staff are experienced in using distraction techniques and talking approaches to ensure that situations do not escalate to aggression. This has resulted in the number of episodes involving emotional and physical harm having significantly reduced. This demonstrates appropriate responses to young people and helps them to develop suitable responses to others. When physical restraint is used, it is a last resort.

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

Managers verify staff references and qualifications, and they ensure that all necessary Disclosure and Barring Service checks are in place. Risk assessments are undertaken if checks highlight potential safeguarding issues. This means that young people receive care from appropriately checked and monitored adults. Information sharing at a strategic level ensures that managers and staff have up-to-date information about the risks posed to young people from sexual exploitation in the area. This enables staff to foresee any potential risks or issues to young people and make effective plans to safeguard them. Incidents of young people going missing from the home are managed competently. When young people go missing, staff respond well. They follow procedures, by looking for young people and liaising with the police. Staff also make sure that they complete regular safe and well checks when young people have unplanned stays with friends. The

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

registered manager makes sure that return home interviews are completed. Staff have strong links within the local community and stay in touch with young people when they leave the home. This helps them to ensure that young people return home promptly. This activity promotes young people’s safety and demonstrates that staff care about them and want them to return home safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is extremely experienced. She has the necessary skills and qualifications for the role. She has completed the levels 4 and 5 diploma in leadership and management. The registered manager encourages staff development within the team. She is very dedicated and passionate about her role. She is well supported by an experienced and committed deputy manager whom staff respect. One staff member told Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 6 the inspector about the deputy manager, ‘She works with us more so she has that relationship. She will make a brilliant registered manager. She works with us in such a close capacity, and if you are worried you can ask and she explains things.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are up to date with all mandatory training, and new starters are working through a well-supported induction process. Young people are part of the recruitment process and have a say about who cares for them. This makes them feel at ease, strengthening their belief that this is their home. Training records are very well maintained. Staff receive very thorough training in relevant areas such as child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. Nearly all of the staff team hold the level 3 diploma in residential care. New starters are closely mentored and are well supported. One staff member told the inspector, ‘The registered manager is good. She is hands on. She is really, really good at challenging agencies and speaking to them’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and practice-related formal supervision. Staff are encouraged to develop their practice, and the culture in the home is to provide a high standard of care to young people. Staff feel well supported and enjoy their work. One staff member told the inspector, ‘I love it. I really enjoy it. Yeah I love the job.’ Staff retention is very good. Annual appraisals take place with staff to further develop their skills and training. Senior managers within the organisation have agreed for staff to complete the diploma in leadership and management. This means that young people receive care from well- trained and skilled staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has highly effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care that young people receive. The manager makes sure that she gains feedback in a variety of ways from young people, professionals and parents. The manager evaluates the feedback to make improvements to the service. She understands the strengths of the service and gives effective challenge to other professionals when needed. The statement of purpose reflects the aims and objectives of the service. Managers and staff make sure that they provide care within the ethos of their statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Impact assessments for new young people highlight risk factors relating to each young person. The manager clearly evaluates and analyses whether a placement is suitable. This means that staff are more likely to meet the complex needs of some young people. The registered manager ensures that staff are provided with regular team meetings to consider shortfalls in practice and to develop knowledge. Managers invite guest speakers to staff team meetings to share current knowledge and research about issues such as childhood trauma and substance misuse. This allows staff to ensure that a consistent and safe level of care is provided to young people. The manager uses books and articles on subjects such as mental health issues and child sexual exploitation to develop staff knowledge and awareness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff have strong working relationships with partner agencies, including specialist voluntary agencies, social workers, independent reviewing officers and the police. This enables the best possible care and experiences to be provided to young people. An independent reviewing officer told the inspector, ‘There are good links with the police and child sexual exploitation workers. Professionals and Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 7 agencies come in on a regular basis and I am impressed. This is one of the better residential units I go into.’

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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 differences 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: SC482683 8

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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

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482683 9 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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