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 who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

A registered manager has been in place since 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection, and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/10/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/09/2017 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 3

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outstanding

Young people live in a safe and structured environment. Young people build safe and secure relationships with staff and with other young people. Support for young people is structured around a well-researched therapeutic programme. The integration of the therapeutic model, alongside the day-to-day care provided by staff, gives the young people the opportunity to engage successfully and safely in the wider community. Young people fully invest in the programme. Young people can reflect positively on their own progress and are proud of their achievements.

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outstanding

All young people have a sense of ownership over their private space, for example they have added personal touches to their bedrooms. One young person has a keyboard in his bedroom, as he is learning to play the piano. Prompt action to address any repairs to walls, changes in decor and furniture replacement is important to ensure that young people have comfortable and homely private spaces.

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outstanding

Young people engage in a range of positive life experiences and activities in the community. This helps young people to develop their social skills in the community and have fun. Young people enjoy a range of activities such as horse-riding, theatre and attending gaming conventions. One young person travelled with a member of staff to see his favourite football team in another city. During the inspection, young people spoke to the inspector and said lots of positive things about living in the home. One young person said, ‘It’s amazing that homes like this exist. It’s a good placement. All staff are good.’ Another young person said, ‘It’s a really good home. It has helped me a lot. Therapy has really helped. Staff have also helped me, too.’

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outstanding

Young people don’t have free access to the designated communal recreation area within the home, as the games room is not always accessible during holidays and after education. The home has an on-site education facility that provides a safe and secure environment for learning. Young people who were previously not in any education are now in full-time education. One young person said, ‘School is brilliant. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s quiet and we all get on with our work. I used to want to run away from my previous school.’ Another young person said, ‘I love science and anything to do with physics. I love the school here.’ Young people engage in their education with passion and interest, and aspire to go to university or pursue a vocation. Young people’s education plans are not all up to date.

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outstanding

Young people are beginning their journey into adult independence. Over the coming months, they will be offered support with a detailed independence plan that supports their transition to independence.

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outstanding

All young people are registered with local health professionals and all young people have had a local authority health assessment. For those young people requiring medication, this should be recorded clearly in the medication book, including the dosage and administration details. Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 4 Where appropriate, all young people maintain links with their place of birth and have regular contact with family. Professional relationships are maintained, and parents and professionals spoke highly of the progress that young people make. Young people have strong links with the in-house therapist, who works closely with staff to ensure an integrated and comprehensive approach to the care of young people.

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outstanding

Young people arrive at the home with highly complex emotional and/or behavioural needs that require close supervision. All young people engage in their therapy sessions and research-informed practice ensures that staff integrate the therapeutic model into the day-to-day arrangements of the home. Young people said that they have a good understanding of the social integration model that assists them to be confident individuals and make better choices.

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outstanding

Effective planning alongside the therapy team provides therapeutic support that is bespoke to each young person. The therapy team assists in the production of detailed safety plans. Detailed risk assessments, and behaviour management plans, are integral to safety plans. These plans help young people gain a better understanding of their triggers. Young people have a good understanding of the house rules and boundaries and why these are necessary to keep them safe. All young people reported that they feel safe. Young people benefit from constructive direct key-work sessions that have direction from the therapy team. This consistent approach towards young people’s needs provided by the therapy team and staff helps with the ongoing emotional and psychological development of young people.

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outstanding

Alarms on bedroom doors are necessary and compliant with the statement of purpose of the home. Restriction of liberty is proportionate in keeping young people safe and set out in young people’s care plans. Occasionally, this is an aspect of the bail conditions as set out by the courts. Staff will help a young person to understand complex and difficult decisions after a professionals meeting. This ensures that young people have a good level of understanding of their care plans and, if necessary, can voice any worries and concerns.

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outstanding

Staff are restorative in their approach and there is strong emphasis on positive rewards. This helps young people to feel good about themselves, raising their self- esteem and confidence. One young person received an achievement reward as recognition for his overall progress during his time at the home.

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outstanding

All young people can express their wishes and feelings through regular young people’s meetings. There is a formal complaints procedure that is accessible to all young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of this home is an experienced and qualified manager. Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 5 Senior leaders and managers have changed the focus of the home over the past 18 months. This is clearly set out in the home’s statement of purpose. The manager and her deputy have worked hard to develop the home’s new procedures and systems. This ensures that all staff have clear guidance to enable them to support young people in their care. Senior managers and staff have good knowledge of the needs of the young people in their care and address care needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all young people are suitably supervised during their progress through their programme of care. One young person had several episodes of being missing from the home. The manager was able to reflect on this and has learned from the experience. She now ensures that there are detailed impact assessments and further research at the point of referral before any child comes to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy at work and feel supported by their managers. The open-door policy enables staff to seek support and guidance whenever it is required. Staff work well alongside the therapy team to provide a consistent therapeutic environment in the home. Staff receive clinical support and guidance from psychologists who are part of a multi-agency team. The manager has introduced multi-disciplinary meetings that involve all key professionals. The meetings track the progress and development of each young person effectively, before they move on to the next stage of their individualised programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes good use of internal and external monitoring. External monitoring is provided by an independent visitor who is suitably qualified to make recommendations for any improvement to the home. The manager makes effective use of the recommendations to ensure ongoing improvements to the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5). This is with specific reference to the games room being available for young people during their leisure time and holidays.  Children should be given a choice about how their personal space is decorated in accordance with regulation 7(2)(a)(i). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19). This is with specific reference to the supply of appropriate furniture and decoration in young people’s bedrooms.  Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the

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Recommendations

registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15).  For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 7.15). This is with reference to ensuring that up-to-date education plans are kept

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Recommendations

on the young people’s records. Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 8

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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: 1 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC479654 9 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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