Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479649 1 SC479649

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Hexagon Care Services Limited

Monitoring visit 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 for six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. One child lives at the registered children’s home address, and five other children receive outreach services in houses across the county. Each property has its own staff team, but the whole service is managed by one registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

The service offers short-term, emergency placements for children from around the UK. Placements are generally for 28 days, but some can be longer.

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Information about this children’s home

The home forms part of a large social care company. The home has had a permanent and qualified registered manager since January 2016.

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This monitoring visit

On 15 September 2020, an assurance visit was completed at the home. Significant concerns were identified regarding the safety and well-being of a child and a lack of rigorous leadership and management of the setting. Two compliance notices were issued to the provider in response to these concerns. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to monitor the provider’s compliance with the notices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken positive steps to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to reporting and acting on any safeguarding concerns. Staff knowledge has been improved as a result of additional training, group and individual supervisions, and written guidance and clear information for staff about how to escalate concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Staff reported that the manager and senior managers are approachable and responsive. They said that this enables them to raise issues and concerns, confident Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479649 2 in the knowledge that they will be listened to. Better reporting systems and open channels of communication have improved the safety and welfare of children.

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This monitoring visit

Although improvements have been identified as a result of this visit, the independent monitoring of the service requires further improvements to ensure that visits are undertaken by someone who has the knowledge, skills and experience to undertake visits to this unique service.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted is satisfied that sufficient measures have been taken to address the shortfalls identified at the assurance visit in safeguarding and leadership and management. No further enforcement action is being taken following this monitoring inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/11/2019 Full Good 28/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479649 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 independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspectors

Elaine Clare, social care inspector Christine Scully, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479649 4 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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