Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in North Yorkshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 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

This privately run home was registered in March 2019 to provide care and accommodation for up to two children. The manager is registered to manage two children’s homes with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 10 September 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 2

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children 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 sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are settled and are making good progress in line with their care plans. There is a reduction in the duration of one child’s missing from home behaviours which means that the risk associated with being missing is also reducing. Staff speak to the children about their risk-taking behaviours and they are responding to these discussions positively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are supported by the therapy team to improve their own knowledge and awareness of the children’s primary attachment styles. Monthly therapeutic team meetings help the staff to understand the child’s functioning. This is helping the staff to align their practice to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the children and contributing to their progress and development. Children’s engagement with therapy is mixed. One child has completed a full programme and, consequently, this is contributing to their return home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff stated that they feel supported and love working at the home. One member of staff said, ‘It feels like home. It’s just an extension of my caring duties that I have at home.’ The home will be fully staffed when a newly appointed individual starts in post. In the meantime, the staff take on extra hours to cover this vacancy. This avoids the provider having to use agency staff to care for the children. Recruitment checks for new staff are followed up to ensure that staff are safe to care and support vulnerable children. However, there is no rationale for why a referee’s details have changed on one application. This does not impact on the care afforded to children or the safety of new staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular supervision that addresses practice and personal issues and the staff feel supported and valued. However, not all of the new staff have received supervision at a more frequent level in line with their experience and development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is significant delay in the manager receiving some information following a child’s health assessment. The manager does follow up and chase records from the local authority, but this is not always escalated in a timely way when the information is not forthcoming. This can impact on the actions taken by the provider in relation to meeting the children’s health needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s care plans are detailed and thorough and include the known risks that make them vulnerable to harm. However, these records are not always updated in a timely way following a change in children’s circumstances, for example when a child is excluded from school or to reflect a reduction in children’s free time. Not all records provide a true reflection of the progress made by children. This relates to risk assessments that still show the potential for risk, even when there have been no missing from home or child sexual exploitation concerns for one child during their Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 3 stay at the home. This risk-averse record does not give the child a true picture of their progress which should help to motivate them to stay safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The nurturing care, good relationships and consistency of practice from staff promote children’s stability at the home. There have been no restraints or serious incidents warranting notification to the regulator apart from a medication error, which the provider has responded to appropriately. Issues relating to how or why the error occurred have been reflected on and discussed in team meetings and in supervision. Staff have tightened their practice to ensure that such errors are not repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have trusting relationships with the staff and feel safe at the home. The rural location means that there is often very little for children to do in the local area, but they understand that the location is contributing to their safety. The home environment exudes warmth and nurturing care. The children personalise their bedrooms and are supported to respect their belongings. One family member said, ‘He used to kick off every day, now it is not that often. He has respect for the home and the staff.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 5

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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, the 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(v)) In particular, ensure that care plans and risk assessments are updated immediately following any incidents and that they are a true reflection of the risks posed and progress made by children. 20/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The standard in paragraph (1) of the leadership and management standard requires the registered person to— 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. (Regulation 13(2)(a)) In particular: - improve communication with parents/family members so that they are informed of any incidents and their outcomes - ensure that supervision for new staff is undertaken in line with the home’s policy and statement of purpose - ensure that references are in accordance with details on application forms and that there is a rationale for why this may differ. 20/03/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make the best use of information from independent monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.24, Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 6 page 55) In particular, ensure that the independent visitor gives their opinion about whether the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.  The registered person must challenge (under Regulation 5) any placing authority who asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without the necessary information would go ahead (in circumstances other than an emergency) is inadequate in relation to their role. It is essential that the home understands what will be required of them before they accept responsibility for a child’s placement, to avoid

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Recommendations

disruption and instability for the child in future and for other children in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 11.5, page 56)

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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

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: 2509365 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: 1 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on- Ribble, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Parveen Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2509365 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 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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