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

Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 1 SC482517 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered for five young people. The home provides care for young people aged between 11 and 17 who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. The registered manager is appropriately qualified and is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 27 to 28 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/10/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Outstanding 11/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 3

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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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(a)(d)) 15/04/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 15/04/2019

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments, however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that staff and the manager undertake meaningful consultations with young people about decorating and personalising their bedrooms. Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide young people with individualised care, which promotes their welfare and progress. They receive specialist training to enable them to do so. For example, staff undertake Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy training with a specialist mental health support service to enable them to care for young people effectively in a way that meets their needs. As a result, young people’s emotional and mental health improves and young people report feeling settled and happy at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people attend education and most are making progress with their learning. Since the last full inspection, four young people attained GCSE qualifications and progressed to college. This created career pathways and future employment opportunities for them. When young people are struggling with their education, staff work well with partner agencies to identify appropriate support to re-engage them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to participate in a range of opportunities and have different experiences. For example, one young person took part in a Channel 4 documentary about the experiences of children looked after, expressed through words and performances. Subsequently, the young person was given an achievement award by her placing authority for her contribution to the city. The young person felt valued and heard, and took great pride in participating in such a worthwhile project.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff undertake regular key-work sessions with young people and there are further opportunities for young people to express their wishes and feelings at young people’s meetings. As a result, young people contribute to their daily care and the running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy various leisure activities, such as going to the cinema, going out for meals, going shopping, going on holiday and attending drama and football club, as well as fundraising for and working with local charitable organisations. Young people develop hobbies and interests as well as build their social skills, self-esteem and empathy. Furthermore, young people feel part of the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The communal areas of the home are beautifully decorated to a high standard and provide a living environment that is warm and homely. However, three young people told the inspector that they do not like the décor in their bedrooms and this has been chosen by young people who lived at the home before them. One child’s bedroom is pink, and another is black and grey. Staff have not given the young people clear timescales for when they can have their rooms decorated in a colour that suits their individual tastes. This is despite one young person living at the home for over six months. This does not help young people to invest in their bedrooms and develop their own personal space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage young people’s transitions from the home extremely well. With support from staff, young people gain good independence skills that prepare them well for their Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 5 next steps. Young people who have moved on from the home have maintained their education and continue to do well.

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

Staff know young people well and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. Consequently, staff can identify and act on any safeguarding concerns to keep young people safe. Staff receive relevant training, and clear policies and procedures provide them with guidance to follow whenever there are concerns about a young person’s safety. As a result, staff confidently promote young people’s safety and welfare.

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

Young people have undertaken some training to help them to understand the risks related to county lines, child sexual exploitation and the potential implications of offending behaviour. Consequently, young people better understand such risks and are empowered to reduce risk-taking behaviours.

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

Staff use physical intervention as a last resort measure to safeguard young people. They use sanctions that are restorative in nature and help young people to understand and improve their behaviour.

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

When young people go missing from the home, staff make efforts to contact them and follow them to try to get them to return safely. Young people also have return home interviews with an independent person to talk about why they went missing and what happened when they were away.

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

Staff recruitment is generally safe. However, on one occasion the manager did not follow safe recruitment practice by making a record of gaps in a member of staff’s employment history.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has extensive experience and knowledge and has worked at the home for several years. She is child-focused and has high aspirations for all the young people. Staff understand the home’s ethos and implement well-informed approaches when caring for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with partner agencies, such as designated officers, local authorities, health services and police, and with parents. This ensures that young people are provided with the best level of care to help them to make progress. Partner agencies report that the manager keeps them updated on the young person’s progress and day- to-day care. This contributes to young people receiving coordinated care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring and reviewing of the service is generally good. However, on one occasion she did not make a clear record about how she had followed up on a complaint raised by a young person. This was a missed opportunity to show how she had addressed a shortfall in staff practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 6 The home has a stable staff team, and this provides consistency for young people. Staff report that they feel well supported by the manager. They receive high-quality supervision, which is focused on their well-being, development and practice.

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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: SC482517 7

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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

Rumbi Mangoma, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC482517 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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