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

Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 1 SC480850 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 registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people. It is owned and operated by a private provider. The manager is experienced and appropriately qualified. She has been registered since September 2015.

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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

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2017 Full Outstanding 17/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/08/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy living in this welcoming, warm and comfortable home. The dedicated staff team has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Young people receive consistent and positive messages from the staff team. As a result, young people feel safe and trust the staff to take care of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people flourish and make exceptional progress during their time here. They are included and involved in all elements of their care planning. They are enabled to take some control and ownership of their plans and this builds their confidence and self- esteem. In addition, their behaviour, social interactions and school attendance have hugely improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is a high priority for the staff and management of the home. Prior to living here, many of the young people were not in any form of education. All young people attend some form of education provision and they are all making exceptional progress. Young people enjoy going to school and have clear ambitions for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff work hard with young people and their families. As a result, Young people have re-established important relationships. Contact that requires supervision is done sensitively and respectfully. This ensures the safety of young people while allowing them to enjoy quality time with their families. Family members hold the staff in high regard, a parent said, ‘With their [staff’s] help and support she has flourished. She’s now going to school and doing exams, which we did not think would be possible. [Name of young person] now has empathy and understanding. It’s repaired our relationship. This has to be down to the staff. They are brilliant.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff are strong advocates for young people. They rigorously challenge when services are not forthcoming and ensure that young people’s views are heard. Young people grow in confidence as a result of the care and tenacity shown by the staff team.

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

Risk assessments are simplified, easy to understand and highly effective. The majority of young people understand risk extremely well and are involved in the development of their assessments. The staff, who are not risk averse, consistently review and update the plans and support young people to take measured risks in line with their age and independence.

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

Individualised behavioural management plans are written alongside young people who actively contribute to writing these. Young people identify their potential triggers and how they are best managed. Such clear strategies help young people to feel safe and to receive a consistent response when they need help. From these plans, staff develop high-quality de-escalation strategies to manage difficult situations. As a result, the need for physical intervention is unnecessary and has not been used in over a year. Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 4 Young people rarely go missing. Staff work openly with young people about staying safe. Young people who did go missing from previous homes are not going missing from this home. Staff are, however, clear about their actions when a young person does go missing and they go to great lengths to find them and keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One recommendation made at the last inspection has been addressed. This inspection found no breaches of regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The experienced manager and staff team are ambitious and passionate about achieving the best outcomes for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads a stable and well-qualified staff team. Each staff member has areas of specialism that complement each other. Young people benefit from the range of expertise and knowledge. They are dedicated, committed and professional. As a result, young people enjoy high-quality consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The recruitment and induction practice of staff has recently been improved. Young people are now involved in the interviewing and appointing process. This ensures that young people are involved in the decision making about finding the right staff who they want caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly skilled at matching the young people together. Her approach is stringent and methodically looks at risks and strengths. This mitigates any potential risks and because of this young people remain safe and continue to flourish as a group.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, high-quality supervision. They say their manager is always approachable formally and informally. In addition, staff have many opportunities to reflect on their practice together using team meetings and peer supervision.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 5 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 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

Abigail Maspero, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480850 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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