Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report children’s home: 1269215 1 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

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people. The home specialises in working with children and young people who have social and emotional difficulties. The home is registered for single-gender occupancy only (female).

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 1 August 2018 and registered with Ofsted on 24 October 2018. He is undertaking the level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

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 improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most children and young people living at the home have made measurable progress relative to their time in placement. The care that they receive is tailored to their specific needs and vulnerabilities. The registered manager and staff make it their priority to understand how childhood experiences and trauma impact on current behaviour. Where placement stability is a concern, the registered manager challenges professionals effectively. This ensures that clear plans are in place that identify suitable transition arrangements for children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: 1269215 2 The children and young people spoke positively of things that they enjoy at the home. They have trusting relationships with a staff team that understands their individual needs. One young person told the inspector, ‘We have everything we need here. Staff are great and care for us very well.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate well the importance of children and young people feeling valued and listened to. Children and young people attend regular house meetings, during which a variety of topics are discussed. Children and young people feel listened to and can see that staff act on their wishes when possible.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of care is improving outcomes for the children and young people, enabling most of them to reach their full potential. Most of the children and young people are doing extremely well in education and their attendance is good.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people said that they feel safe living at this home because the staff look after them well. Children and young people can speak to staff if they are worried or upset. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and they have completed safeguarding training. Children and young people have comprehensive individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans in place. These plans help the staff to work consistently to keep the children and young people safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries. They understand and are sensitive to the children and young people’s emotions and can de-escalate difficult behaviours. Staff are trained to understand and respond to self-harming behaviours displayed by some of the children and young people. There have been no incidents of children and young people going missing from the home. Where physical intervention is used, the records show this to be proportionate and include debriefs with the children and young people and staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to receive regular and good-quality formal supervision and they contribute to team meetings. These sessions are practice-related. Staff use these sessions to reflect on their performance and identify their own learning needs. The needs of the children and young people are at the centre of all practice-related discussions.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and responsible individual continue to develop the home and the services provided to children and young people. They monitor the quality of care and support provided by staff. They identify clearly where improvements can be made and prioritise these as areas for development. Good examples of this include ensuring that there is always a stable staff team caring for the children and young people. This provides the children with stability and consistency. Another example is working closely with the independent person to drive improvement in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working arrangements between the registered manager, staff, placing social workers, education professionals and parents are effective. The registered manager is thorough in his assessment at the point of a referral for a child or young person. These arrangements ensure that key information that was previously unknown is revealed. An Inspection report children’s home: 1269215 3 example of this included a serious concern regarding the behaviour of some family members. The registered manager and staff use this information to inform risk assessments. This ensures the safety of the children and young people during agreed supervised contact arrangements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff have met the three requirements from the last full inspection. No requirements or recommendations are made at the interim inspection.

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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: 2nd Floor, 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ Inspection report children’s home: 1269215 4 Responsible individual: Jeanette Swift

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1269215 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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