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

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC480086 1 SC480086 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

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to six children. The home looks after children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

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. The management and staff create a welcoming atmosphere, and this is reflected in the positive, homely environment. However, some improvements at the home are necessary. For example, the external fascia and internal hallway carpets are worn and require attention. There are strong relationships between the staff and children, and the staff work well with external agencies. Contact between the children and their families is both promoted and facilitated by the home. As a result, children develop and maintain positive relationships with their families. These foundations provide the children with opportunities to make good progress. The management team has worked to address the areas of concern that were identified at the last inspection. Risk assessments, both generic and child-specific, stipulate what

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC480086 2 staff must do if a child goes missing during the night. However, individual children’s risk assessments do not analyse specific risks in sufficient depth, for example a child’s use of their mobile phone. Lack of detail about specific risks leaves staff unclear about the rationale behind decisions made and can lead to inconsistent approaches to safeguarding children. The staff speak positively about and feel supported by the management team. The staff say that they receive regular supervision. Supervision records show that the needs and experiences of the children are discussed alongside staff performance and development. However, supervision sessions are not always recorded in a timely way or stored in relevant staff files. This risks staff being unclear about what has been agreed and advised during these important meetings. The staff manage the children’s behaviour effectively. As a result, there have been very

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

few physical interventions used since the last inspection. The arrangements to monitor incidents have improved. All incidents of control, discipline or restraint are monitored by managers and the effectiveness of the measures is commented on in the relevant record. Children’s views are recorded within 24 hours of the incident. The sanctions used by the staff in respect of negative behaviour are often restorative, and the home regularly uses positive rewards for good behaviour. Children recognise the effect that this has. One child said, ‘The staff keep us safe. I used to lose my temper all of the time, but I am a lot calmer now.’ Monthly reports from the independent visitor lack rigour as they do not contain the opinions of family members about the care that their children receive. The manager’s most recent report on the quality of care at the home gives a comprehensive review and assessment and identifies strengths and areas for development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has good relationships with external professionals. Managers challenge professionals and advocate on behalf of the children. Professionals appreciate the care that the home provides. An external professional said, ‘They [the staff] are very supportive, and the support always remains regardless of any negative behaviours that the child displays.’ The children are encouraged in their education and this is reflected in positive feedback from the children’s family members. One child’s grandfather stated, ‘They’ve [the staff] done really well with her education. We’re happy about that as she wasn’t going [to school].’

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2017 Full Good 23/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 30/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/08/2015 Full Requires improvement Interim inspection report children’s home: SC480086 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child and help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) Specifically, ensure that individual risk assessments are clear and detail all known risks and risk-reduction strategies, such as mobile phone use. 20/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

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)) 20/03/2018

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This is in particular regard to the external fascia boards and internal hallway carpets.  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with Regulation 33 (4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3) Interim inspection report children’s home: SC480086 4

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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 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

Ricky D’Arcy, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC480086 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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