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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 1 SC484247 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children or young people irrespective of gender with emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2020 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good 23/05/2017 Full Good 17/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress as a result of living in the home. Staff are positive role models for the children, and provide them with nurturing care. This allows the children to form positive attachments with the adults around them. Children enjoy the time they spend with staff, and are making memories from the new experiences that they have, such as going on holiday and walking part of the Three Peaks Challenge. As a result, children are developing their self-esteem and confidence in social settings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending and making progress in education. When children struggle, meetings between the education provider/social care and the home are held to discuss the child’s plans. This open and transparent communication ensures that children’s plans are adapted when needed. One teacher said, ‘There is a dip with [child’s name] at the minute, but we’re all doing what we can. We work jointly.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Substance misuse is a concern for one child. Staff are struggling to get the child to engage in support services. Staff carry out direct work with the child around any associated health implications and the legalities of being in possession of illicit drugs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use one-to-one sessions with the children to discuss all areas of their development. The sessions are creative and child centred. This helps children to explore their own thoughts and feelings, giving them a better understanding of themselves. Where there are concerns with a child’s mental health, referrals to appropriate services are made. This means that children receive the support they need when they are struggling to cope.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the children’s independence. Children take part in a variety of independence work, such as preparing for interviews, making meals and cleaning. This provides the children with the basic skills to live independently when they move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is promoted. The registered manager and staff have built some strong relationships with parents. This allows parents and staff to deliver consistent care to the child. One parent said, ‘[registered manager’s name] is savvy with relationship building. [child’s name] wasn’t talking to me at all, now [child’s name] is. We see each other four times a week.’ This allows the children to build on their relationships with the people that mean the most to them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated by staff; with oversight from the registered manager. The documents provide staff with clear actions to follow in Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 4 the event of a risk occurring. Staff spoken to at the inspection are aware of the risks to children and how to manage these. This reduces the risk of harm to children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s bedroom doors are alarmed to alert staff of their movements. However, for the current children living at the home this level of surveillance is not needed. This creates an unnecessary institutionalised environment for the children, which detracts from a homely experience.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Reference checks for new staff are not always verified. This approach is not consistent with safer recruitment practice and does not ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Where new starters have been self-employed, a risk assessment is put in place to support the safeguarding process.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children rarely go missing from the home. The last reported missing from home incident was in May 2020. This is because children feel safe and secure in the home, and have positive relationships with staff. The core staff team is established in its role. Missing from home workshops are held with staff. This ensures that staff are kept up to date with the children’s missing protocols, and that their knowledge and understanding is kept refreshed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use a restorative approach with the children when their behaviours have led to damage to property. Staff and the child reflect on the incident. From this, distraction techniques are discussed to help the child cope when they are angry or sad. The aim of this is to reduce angry outbursts and to improve the child’s resilience when feeling anxious. As a result, physical intervention has not been used since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The experienced registered manager is suitably qualified and is supported by a deputy manager, who is extremely committed to his job. They are both widely respected by staff, parents, and other professionals, who all praise their dedication and enthusiasm. Together, they create a culture where there are high aspirations for the children to succeed in life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has highly effective working relationships with other professionals from education, youth services and social care. The staff work with this ethic and continually liaise with other professionals to share information. This ensures that all professionals are working with up-to-date information about the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive excellent support and encouragement from the registered manager. This includes regular supervision and team meetings. The registered manager promotes research-based practice and reflection sessions during monthly meetings. This develops staff’s knowledge and ensures that they remain self-aware.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff handovers are clear and constructive. The children’s emotional, health, social and physical welfare is discussed. Staff reflect on behaviours and discuss effective ways of working with the children. The care that is provided to the children is consistent and Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 5 very child centred. The positive impact of this approach is evident from the views of others. One social worker said, ‘There are no gaps in the care provided for [child’s name]. It’s consistent as we are all on the same page.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is an in-depth induction programme in place during new starters’ probation. They are mentored by leaders and managers. Strengths and areas of development are identified, which is documented in their induction plan. The registered manager then determines suitability and will pass, fail or extend their probation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that the children’s voice is present throughout their plans. Children are kept informed of any changes to their plans and are consulted on a regular basis. Following the children’s review meetings, the child’s key worker carries out a one-to-one session with the child. This helps children to understand any changes to their care plan. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 6

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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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)) 7 January 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should be responsible for maintaining good employment practice as set out in regulations 31-33. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1).

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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 for children’s home: SC484247 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Thomas Cappleman

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484247 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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