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

Inspection report children‟s home: 1212094 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is part of a large private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been three new admissions to the home and three discharges. Staff managed these transitions well. For example, planning for new admissions is thorough, with staff ensuring that they speak to young people‟s social workers and previous placements prior to their admission. As a result, staff understand how best to meet young people‟s needs from their first day in placement. This means that young people settle quickly, helping them to develop a sense of stability and security.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The personalised care provided by the staff ensures that young people make progress in respect of their emotional, behavioural and social development. For example, staff have learned about one young person‟s interest in horses. As a result, equestrian activities are in place, both as a social activity and to promote her educational and emotional development. A social worker told the inspector, „[Young person] has come on amazingly well.‟ Inspection report children‟s home: 1212094 2 Staff are successful at meeting young people‟s health needs. For example, the staff‟s relationships with one young person have meant that she has attended health appointments that she was previously too anxious to attend. This is a significant step for the young person. Another young person is being supported to achieve a target weight loss. As a result of the staff‟s daily encouragement and the incentive of an electronic

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

fitness watch, the young person is eating in a healthier way and exercising more. Staff support young people to develop the skills to be healthy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of young people‟s vulnerability to risk, and take decisive action when required. For instance, young people who self-harm are supported to access specialist services, including child and adolescent mental health appointments. Staff are proactive in helping young people to develop strategies for managing their emotions better. For example, where appropriate, young people are provided with personalised stress-relief boxes that include a range of colourful sensory items. This is helping some young people to reduce the need to self-harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not fully considered the appropriateness of using bedroom door alarms for young people. As such, these alarms are in continuous use for all young people. Although young people have not raised any objection to the use of these alarms, they detract from the otherwise domestic feel of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager leads by example, promoting a culture in which young people‟s needs are at the heart of everything that staff do. This means young people feel well cared for. One young person said, „It is nice and homely, staff are very supportive.‟

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager uses monitoring systems effectively. As a result, she has a good understanding of the home‟s areas of strength and areas for development. Despite this, the manager has not ensured that Ofsted has received a copy of the home‟s statement of purpose within expected timescales. The impact of this is low because the document has been reviewed regularly, and therefore is available to local authority commissioners so that they can understand the services being offered to young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, two recommendations were raised. Both of these have been completed. This means that that the recording of the administration of medication is now detailed and clear. Furthermore, young people now have access to a computer, to support their education and learning.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/05/2017 Full Good 27/09/2016 Full Good 02/08/2016 Full Inadequate Inspection report children‟s home: 1212094 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 registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(1)(3)(b)) 30/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— the privacy of children is appropriately protected; and any limitation placed on a child‟s privacy or access to any area of the home‟s premises— is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate; is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(a)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the use of bedroom door alarms should be assessed and reviewed to ensure that they are only used to meet the needs of specific young people. 30/03/2018

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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

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

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out Inspection report children‟s home: 1212094 4 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‟.

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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

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1212094 5 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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