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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC480847 1 SC480847

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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

This is a privately owned and managed children’s home. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have learning disabilities. The manager has been registered since 2018. He is experienced and is suitably qualified for the role.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last visited in September 2019, when a full inspection was carried out. Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this monitoring visit was carried out off site. The visit was carried out to investigate potential breaches of regulations in relation to how children’s complaints and allegations are managed. The visit included review of documents, and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation has a procedure for managing allegations, and this is clear and comprehensive. Children know how to complain and are listened to. The manager investigates complaints and allegations thoroughly and shares information with others, including parents, social workers and the local authority designated officer, where relevant.

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This monitoring visit

Following allegations and investigations, managers debrief staff, and learning from the incidents is shared with the staff team. This helps to prevent repetition of incidents and identifies any gaps in the staff’s skills. Staff have restorative discussions with the children about incidents, to promote the continuation of their positive, trusting relationships.

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This monitoring visit

On two occasions, however, staff did not pass concerns to the manager quickly enough. The manager has since arranged more guidance and training for the staff concerned. There is a lack of accuracy in one of the written records in respect of the Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC480847 2 exact words used by children and staff. This has resulted in those involved having a different understanding of what has happened and will influence any conclusions drawn.

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This monitoring visit

Some complaints about staff have not been notified to Ofsted because the manager has not judged these as serious or substantiated. While the manager has investigated these appropriately, this leads to a lack of adequate oversight of management practice by the regulator. This does not support the safety and well- being of the children.

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This monitoring visit

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a high number of staff have been absent due to sickness or self-isolation, or because they left employment. Staff have worked additional hours and the manager is actively recruiting more staff. However, there are still periods when staffing levels are insufficient to provide care that is in line with the children’s plans. This prevents children from spontaneously going out when restrictions allow, and having recommended levels of supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Children are cared for by staff who understand their needs. Staff follow detailed plans to manage behaviours and support progress. Professionals and parents hold the managers and the staff team in high regard. They describe the quality of care as excellent, and state that staff respond to behaviours ‘as parents would’. This positive view of the care in the home is also reflected in enthusiastic statements made by the children.

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This monitoring visit

There was one requirement made at the previous inspection, which has been met. There was also a recommendation from the previous inspection, which was not considered during this monitoring visit, and therefore will be carried forward.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/09/2019 Full Good 19/02/2019 Full Good 04/05/2017 Full Outstanding 22/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC480847 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care foreach child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 28 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 28 February 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered provider will have to balance the wishes of the child against what they judge to be in the best interests of the child, and reach a reasonable view about the best way forward in the interests of all, in particular with reference to family contact being held in the home. The reasons for reaching any decision will need to be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC480847 4 This recommendation is from September 2019 and was not reviewed during this visit.  The registered provider should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager in the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s

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Recommendations

child protection policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC480847 5 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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