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

Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 1 SC479654 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited 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 or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private company. The home was not operational between July 2017 and January 2018. The registered provider closed the home for this period to enable the necessary improvements and building work to be completed in preparation for accepting young people into the home.

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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: 20 February 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/09/2017 Interim Not judged 23/05/2017 Full Inadequate 22/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a supportive, nurturing environment where young people develop a sense of stability and belonging. The quality of relationships between the young people and the staff team is a real strength of the home. These excellent relationships play an important role in supporting the young people to understand and manage their emotions, worries and fears.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from young people is consistently positive. Comments include, ‘I think this is a great place to live. I’ve really turned things around and I am proud of how well I am doing. I like staff and we all get on really well.’ Another young person said, ‘Staff are respectful and helping me to explore important things in my life. I really like it here. It’s nice, friendly and relaxed.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people attend the on-site school and make good progress with their learning, taking into account their starting points. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with teachers and this supports young people’s educational achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people know that they will be listened to and that their views, wishes and opinions are taken seriously. Records of young people’s meetings demonstrate that staff actively seek young people’s views on menus, activities, their education and day-to-day matters affecting their experience of living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic approach with the young people is successful. The young people are very well supported through direct access to a clinical psychologist assigned to the home. In addition, staff are also trained and supported by the psychologist. The results of the therapeutic work are steadily helping young people to develop a greater understanding of who they are.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to maintain important relationships. Staff are aware of the importance of family contact and facilitate this in line with young people’s care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for young people and provide them with ongoing encouragement to engage in positive activities. Examples include quad biking, theme parks, walks and trips to the seaside. These activities allow young people to experience new things, to have fun and to grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A high standard of accommodation is provided for young people. This is a welcoming environment where the young people feel relaxed and safe.

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

Young people become increasingly safe in this provision. This is because they have a stable and competent staff team that fully understands safeguarding policies and procedures. Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 4 Many of the young people have moved on from other placements due to concerning or unsafe behaviour. In a relatively short space of time, the home has demonstrated considerable success in reducing young people’s high-risk behaviour.

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

Young people’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans clearly outline strategies to ensure that their welfare is promoted and protected. These plans are put into practice on a daily basis and effectively address young people’s needs and changing circumstances.

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

Behaviour is managed very well by the manager and staff team. Staff focus on incentives and rewards, and sanctions are not the preferred method of managing behaviour. The use of restorative techniques also helps young people to confront their unacceptable behaviours, to take responsibility and to reflect on how they can handle future situations more constructively.

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

Young people do not go missing from the home. That said, staff know how to respond should an incident take place where young people leave the home without authorisation.

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

Significant events relating to the welfare and protection of young people are reported to the appropriate authorities. This ensures that key professionals are informed and take action to safeguard young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since February 2018. She is extremely child- focused, dedicated and suitably experienced for the role. The home also benefits from the support and expertise of an experienced deputy manager who efficiently and effectively deputises in the manager’s absence. Managers lead by example and show excellent leadership and management, knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The positive influence of the manager and the deputy manager has made a significant difference to the ethos, culture and working practices at this home. Aspirations for young people are high, which also reflect the high expectations that the management team has for staff. Staff report that they feel well supported and buy into the ethos, culture and working practices that they are helping to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has high expectations of the staff team members and motivates them to be imaginative in their work. The whole staff team, along with the registered manager, champions the young people’s needs and works tirelessly to make sure that young people get the best opportunities to achieve their potential in life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about working at the home. One member of staff said, ‘Staff morale has massively improved. I look forward to coming to work. Managers are extremely supportive and child-focused. We have all worked hard to improve the service so that young people can do well and progress.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 5 The leadership team values the individual strengths and skills brought by each team member. Staff continue to access regular internal and external training that helps them to develop their knowledge of specific issues relating to the young people in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision is regular, purposeful and progressive. Staff confirm that this helps to expand their competence and confidence in all areas of work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The quality of relationships between the manager and partner agencies is excellent. Professionals report very high levels of satisfaction with the care that young people receive and the professionalism of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective internal monitoring identifies shortfalls and actions to drive improvement. Managers demonstrate a thorough understanding of the home’s strengths and there is a clear focus on continuous improvement and development.

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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: SC479654 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

Ceri Evans: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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