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

Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 1 SC479649 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 children’s home is one of a number operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection of the home in May 2017, a new manager has been employed to manage the home. She is suitably experienced and qualified, having undertaken the role of responsible individual in a former employment. She had only been working in the home for four weeks at the time of this inspection. She has yet to complete the formal registration process with Ofsted. A deputy manager is employed to assist her in the management of the home. There have been a number of serious incidents over recent weeks that have demanded the attention of the new manager. These include serious incidents involving young people, as well as a number of significant staffing issues. These events have demanded the manager’s immediate attention. She had already identified many of the concerns identified at this interim inspection but has had insufficient opportunity to remedy them. Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 2

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of young people have moved on from the home since the last inspection. Some young people have made a planned move to independent living, with support from staff. One social work professional commented in feedback taken by the home, ‘[Name of the young person] has progressed well in many areas. I do not think this would have been as positive if it were not for his placement at [Name of the home].’ However, action has also been necessary to terminate the placement of some young people sooner than planned, due to their negative influence on other young people living in the home. This is not a positive ending for those involved and causes insecurity for those who remain. There have been some staff changes. Approximately half of the staff team is new, with staff members joining since the last inspection. The high turnover of staff has been a feature for this home over recent years. It had stabilised at the time of the last

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection, but is once again a feature. However, staff report that morale is currently good and that they are eager to work alongside the current manager to improve outcomes for young people living here. The last full inspection of the home concluded in the making of five requirements. Action has been taken to sufficiently address two of these. Improvements are evident in relation to the safe storage and administration of medication, and staff have made efforts to engage young people in discussions about leading a healthy lifestyle. However, concerns remain in relation to the remaining three requirements, which are repeated at this inspection. Weaknesses in staff recruitment processes continue to be a concern. While the specific issues identified by the inspector at the last inspection have been actioned, further issues were evident at this inspection relating to newly recruited staff. For example, despite an employee declaring a historical police conviction, no risk

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessment was evident to demonstrate that the matter had received further exploration. Consequently, managers are unable to satisfy themselves about the circumstances of this offence and to ensure that it has no implications for the individual’s current role. Concerns in relation to staff recruitment have been apparent at the last three inspections of the home and continue to remain a concern. The standard of accommodation also remains a concern. Some improvements are evident, for example the living room has been redecorated and new furniture purchased. This is now a pleasant environment in which young people can relax. A new kitchen was also in the process of being fitted during the inspection. However, a number of improvements are still required, mainly to the exterior and the upstairs of the property. These improvements include holes in walls; the toilet overflow running; bedrooms with no blinds or curtains; a broken window; shards of glass in the laundry room; and loose

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

roof tiles. These issues distract from the homely environment that the organisation is aiming to provide for young people. They also give young people a poor message about acceptable living standards. However, the provider has now formulated an action plan to ensure that these issues are rectified in the immediate future. The third requirement to be repeated at this inspection relates to the manager’s monitoring of the home, although the issues largely relate to practice prior to the arrival of the current manager. Poor-quality records, inconsistent practice and a lack of management oversight has not enabled practice to improve in the home. Poor communication has, on occasion, resulted in young people receiving mixed messages Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 3 and have led to incidents of negativity from young people, which could have been avoided. Good-quality monitoring by managers would highlight and address these issues

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and reduce the negative impact on young people. This requirement is the subject of a compliance notice at this inspection. Managers complete impact risk assessments when considering a new admission. These documents demonstrate the needs and behaviours of the young person being considered for placement in the home, and consider their likely impact on the current group of residents. However, poor-quality assessments have resulted in newly admitted young people having a negative impact on those already living in the home. Little consideration has been given to preventative strategies and, as a result, incidents have escalated. Following young people’s admission to the home, individual risk assessments should help to alert staff to the specific risks for each young person and highlight what action they should take to alleviate these risks. However, these documents do not always highlight young people’s specific risks and have received no update following recent incidents. All

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

the current residents in the home smoke. However, their risk assessments do not address this issue. Inconsistent practice in relation to smoking procedures has meant that young people have lighters and matches in their possession and there have been incidents of young people smoking in their bedrooms. However, the risk assessment for one young person who had a history of fire-setting had been updated and this matter was removed. Furthermore, because of disruptive behaviour in the home, staff have removed the emergency firefighting equipment and stored it in a locked room. This practice does not ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect young people. There has been a decline in young people’s behaviour since the last inspection. This includes risk-taking behaviour, such as the use of cannabis and anti-social behaviour in the community. While some serious incidents have been reported to the police and to

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted, others have not been. One example is a break-in at the home and theft of a significant amount of money. This compromises the safety and security of young people. In addition, it makes it is difficult for Ofsted to evaluate the incident and the actions the provider has taken. Staff speak positively about the arrival of the new manager and the support she gives. The manager is keen to reward good practice and support the career progression of staff. A number of staff have yet to complete their level 3 qualification, but the manager is keen to prioritise this. The vast majority of staff have completed their mandatory training. However, staff have received no specific training on substance misuse, which would help them meet the needs of current young people resident in the home. The current manager is keen to make a difference in this home. She demonstrates a clear commitment to the young people in her care. For example, the home is not

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

currently at full capacity given the needs and demands of the current residents. Any further admission would be likely to impact negatively on the current residents. The registered manager has highlighted this to senior managers, who have in turn agreed not to admit more young people at this time. This period of stability will allow her to implement positive change.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/11/2016 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

12: The protection of children standard 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 the child is at risk of harm, taking account of information in the child’s relevant plan, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 09/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard 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 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(1)(2)(d)) In particular, repair holes in the wall, replace curtains or blinds, ensure that roof tiles are secure, that toilets are in working order, and remove broken glass. 09/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 5 13: The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the

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Requirement Due date

registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(h)) 09/03/2018*

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Requirement Due date

25: Fire precautions Ensure that after consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25(1)(a)) In particular, that firefighting equipment is accessible and that young people’s risk assessments contain details of their history of fire-setting and the preventative strategies that staff should employ. 09/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers Ensure that the registered person recruits staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. In particular, that the individual is of integrity and good character and that full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(3) 09/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) 09/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have access to the appropriate facilities and resources to Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 6 support their training needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) In particular, information and training for staff on working with young people who engage in substance misuse.

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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

Unique reference number: SC479649 Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 7 Provision sub-type: Children’s home

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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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Inspectors

Mandy Williams, social care inspector Jessica Forshaw, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC479649 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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