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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 1 SC480086

p.1

Hexagon Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to six children who have social and emotional difficulties. The manager has been registered since 2014.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to follow up on concerns that Ofsted had received about the home. The monitoring visit did not follow up responses to the requirements or recommendations made at the full inspection on 15 May 2019. Therefore, these are restated.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit found significant shortfalls in the management and staffing of the home. These shortfalls have placed the children at risk of harm.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit found that since the last inspection, in May 2019, there have been at least 13 shifts when there have only been agency and probationary staff working. The staffing levels are consistently low, despite the likelihood of children going missing.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The manager admitted a child to the home in June 2019, despite the ongoing staffing challenges that the home was experiencing. The impact risk assessment did not consider the staffing levels and competence of staff to ensure the children’s safety and well-being. The home’s management has failed to sufficiently consider the impact that the newly admitted child’s placement would have on other children who were already living at the home. This put the child being placed and children already accommodated at an increased risk of harm.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The number of incidents of children going missing increased following the new admission. During these incidents, children have been exposed to serious risks to their safety and well-being. Despite this, when children are missing at night staff do Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 2 not routinely try to contact them or continue to look for them. The staffing levels do not allow for this, and managers’ oversight has not identified and remedied this shortfall. This inaction does not help to safeguard children and shows a lack of understanding of the risk of harm posed to children who have gone missing.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home’s management has failed to ensure that records of incidents of missing from home are detailed. The records do not demonstrate that return home interviews have taken place. In addition, missing-from-home protocols and placement plans have not been updated promptly following incidents. The home’s management has failed to ensure that all documentation is complete to provide staff with the necessary information to assess risk effectively and take preventative measures to protect children.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Managers have not acted to address issues with the local environment that present challenges when dealing with incidents. For example, despite children being picked up by cars, the hedge has not been cut back to enable staff to see a car arriving. Failure to review risk and take necessary action to reduce this puts children at further risk of harm.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Because of the concerns identified throughout this inspection, Ofsted is likely to take further enforcement action.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/09/2018 Full Good 15/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

p.3

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the location area risk assessment mitigates risks in the local area and that incidents trigger a review of children’s individual risk assessments. 21/06/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.3

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 19/07/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 4 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.3

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(h))* The registered person must—

p.4

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 21/06/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25(2)(b))

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that fire doors are not propped open and that fire drills are undertaken in line with the home’s procedures. 14/06/2019

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out— the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.4

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.4

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

p.4

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate;

p.4

Requirement Due date

and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered 21/06/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 5 person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(1)(b)(3)(a)(iii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which—

p.4

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(1)(a)(b)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This is with particular regard to ensuring that full records of missing incidents and that associated plans and risk assessments are updated when incidents occur. 19/07/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. In particular, a record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child the child’s address immediately before being accommodated in the home, the child’s address on leaving the home and the statutory provision (if any) under which the child is accommodated. (Regulation 37(1) Schedule 4(1)(c)(d)(f)) 21/06/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 21/06/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the submission of reports to HMCI is timely. 21/06/2019

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months.

p.5

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’).

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must— 21/06/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 6 supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(3)(4)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 Staff should provide a nurturing and supportive environment that is homely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the grounds of the property are clear of rubbish and debris.

p.6

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.6

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to review practice at the home following concerns received by Ofsted.

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

p.7

Inspector

Ashley Hinson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC480086 8 to 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8