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

Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 1 SC480847 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

This is a privately run children’s home. It was registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. In June 2018, a variation request was submitted to the regulator and by July 2018 the provider closed the home. In October 2018, the variation approved the provision to provide care for four children and young people who have autism spectrum disorder. The home’s manager has been registered since 2018. He is experienced and knowledgeable about the needs of children and young people who have autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 February 2019

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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 good

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Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2017 Full Outstanding 22/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/07/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(5)) This is with particular reference to only allowing staff that are suitably trained to use physical restraint on a child. 05/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children— receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b)) 05/04/2019

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Recommendation

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have recently moved in to the refurbished home. The staff help the children to take little steps that lead to big outcomes. Despite some of the children’s complex and challenging needs, the children make very good progress. They are developing independence skills and taking responsibility for elements of their care. Comments from parents and carers include, ‘(Name of child) is making brilliant progress’, ‘(Name of child) always looks happy’, and ‘(Name of child) will now get a bath or shower, he always used to refuse.’ The children attend school regularly. They have individual timetables that reflect their needs and help them to overcome any barriers to education. The staff ensure that any learning from planned activities is implemented. Children take part in a variety of Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 4 activities including walking dogs, baking and swimming. The children have good relationships with the staff and the interaction observed is

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

positive and warm. The staff listen to the children and their wishes are heard. Communication with children is personalised and includes the use of simple sentences, picture exchange communication system and social stories. The staff created a social story for one child to inform him that another child was moving in to the home. The children live in a home that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of children who have autism spectrum disorder. The home is safe and very homely and that provides children with space to grow and develop. Staff have paid attention to detail in respect of furnishings and design, and the children can personalise their bedroom. One child’s bedroom was decorated with ‘Fireman Sam’, which reflects his individuality. Following the variation and change of statement of purpose, the children have experienced a planned and well-thought-out admission to the home. The manager

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

identifies each child’s individual needs and risks, and he ensures that the staff have the relevant knowledge and skills to meet these. However, before the home reopened, admissions were not carefully planned and matching of children was not conducive to them making progress. The staff could not meet the children’s complex and challenging behaviours or address their underlying needs. This had a direct impact on the outcomes and stability of the placement for some children and young people.

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

The children are safely cared for. The staff review the children’s behaviours and routinely supervise them in the home and in the community to manage their risks effectively. The staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs and use well-written and clear risk assessments that support children’s safety inside and outside of the home. One child’s progress means that they no longer need two staff members supporting him in the home. The staff and manager regularly review the agreed strategies for intervention with children to ensure that these are up to date and effective. Lessons have been learned after a child displayed significant challenging behaviours during a family contact. In collaboration with the child’s social worker and parent, the staff amended the contact arrangements, which resulted in improved relationships. The staff access practice advice from a clinical psychologist to help them to better

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

understand and intervene when children present in crisis. Staff have been consistent in their approach with one child whose mental health had deteriorated to the point that staff could not safely meet his needs. The resilient staff continued to nurture and care for him until a more suitable placement was sought despite the child’s aggressive behaviours. In these instances and to promote the safety of children and the staff, physical restraints have been necessary. The records of these interventions are clear, but there are concerns about the ability of those involved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 5 The registered manager is appropriately qualified, experienced and has a strong commitment to improving the outcomes for children who have autism spectrum disorder. He leads a team of staff who have high aspirations for the children and who are motivated and passionate in the support that they provide. Relationships between the children and staff are sincere and positive. The manager knows the strengths of the home and what this means for the children. External monitoring provides an independent overview of the home and the manager responds proactively to any findings. Staff receive regular and effective practice guidance. This is in addition to team meetings where the manager recognises the positive work of the staff. Staff feel supported, valued and motivated as a result. One staff member said, ‘The support we received from our manager and deputy manager when (Name of child) was experiencing crisis was

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

fantastic.’ Partnership working is effective and there is regular consultation with parents, carers and professionals. The feedback received was very positive, as all parties identify how proactive the staff are. Families report that they can talk to the staff and their involvement in their children’s lives is promoted. Additionally, when families visit the home they feel very welcome. Professionals receive well-written reports that provide a clear overview of the children’s progress. However, there is limited evidence that children actively review and understand what is written about them.

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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: SC480847 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: 2nd Floor, 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Jennifer Fenlon, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC480847 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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