Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2521953 1 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 one of a number owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2021.

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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 inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 15 December 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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: Not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2521953 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2521953 3

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outstanding

Children are thriving in this home. They are making outstanding progress because of the care and support they receive from staff. Children’s outcomes and life chances are significantly improved as a result of living at this home.

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outstanding

Children are maturing and growing in confidence. Family members and professionals confirm that children have made significant progress with their behaviours and their social and emotional development. One family member said, ‘I have seen a big difference in [names of children]. They are calmer, more caring and they can express their feelings more.’

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outstanding

Children receive well-planned care that is tailored to meet their individual needs. Children benefit from a warm family atmosphere and they are nurtured by staff. Both children told the inspector that they were happy and that there was nothing they would change about the home.

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outstanding

Staff plan lots of fun and adventurous activities for children. They encourage children to try new and exciting experiences. For example, children go on regular walks, bicycle rides and camping trips. Children enjoy spending time pursuing outdoor activities with staff but also doing activities together in the home, such as reading, cooking and playing board games.

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outstanding

Both children are enrolled in full-time education and their attendance is high. Staff have worked hard to minimise the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s education. Children aspire to future careers, and staff are helping them to take the necessary steps to achieve their ambitions.

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outstanding

Care planning documents clearly articulate children’s needs and how staff should respond to them. Routines that are important to children are well recorded. This supports staff to provide consistent care for children. Furthermore, children are encouraged to attend their care planning meetings. Staff support them to prepare for these meetings and to voice their opinions when decisions are being made about their care.

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outstanding

Staff use their in-depth knowledge of children to design targets which support the children’s continued development. Staff also ensure that targets identified by the school are embedded in daily activities in the home. For example, one child lacks some confidence when meeting new people and making friends. Staff have created a fun activity which helps the child to practice initiating conversations. This has been successful in increasing the child’s confidence.

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outstanding

Children are making significant progress with their self-care skills. Staff are encouraging them to become increasingly independent with daily tasks such as Inspection report children's home: 2521953 4 their personal care and chores within the home. This is preparing children well to lead more independent lives when they become adults.

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outstanding

Children feel safe and they are very settled in long-term placements. They are cared for by a consistent staff team that knows and understands them well.

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outstanding

Children have extremely positive and trusting relationships with staff. One child said, ‘I could go to any of them and talk to them if I was worried about anything.’ Furthermore, both children told the inspector that the best thing about the home is the staff who work there.

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outstanding

Children’s achievements and positive behaviours are praised and celebrated by staff. This positive approach makes children feel valued and boosts their self-esteem. Children know that staff are proud of them, and this is helping them to strive to achieve more.

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outstanding

Staff have developed a creative, individualised incentive scheme for children. This is carefully planned to support the children’s development. For example, one child who has low self-esteem is rewarded for telling staff three positive things about themselves. This is supporting the child to reframe their self-image.

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outstanding

Staff have embedded good routines and boundaries into the day-to-day running of the home. This consistency gives children an important sense of security. Children have responded well to this, and as a result, children are better able to regulate their emotions and behaviours.

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outstanding

Individual behaviour support plans help staff to positively manage children’s behaviours. As a result, staff are able to de-escalate situations quickly, without the use of physical interventions.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Staff plan regular physical activities to positively channel children’s high-energy levels. As a result, children have better sleep patterns and no longer require medication to assist them to sleep.

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outstanding

Children do not engage in risk-taking activities. Staff have completed one-to-one work with children to help them understand how to keep themselves safe both at home and in the community. However, more work on safety in the community is now required as the children get older and become more independent of staff. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aspirational for children. She demonstrates a commitment to ensuring children receive high-quality care and support that helps them reach Inspection report children's home: 2521953 5 their full potential. She has been successful in embedding this culture in the home and enthusing the staff team. One member of staff said, ‘We all believe in the children and think the world of them and of each other. We are a strong team together, and it encourages a welcoming, homely and fun environment.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear vision for the service. She is a visible presence in the home and leads by example. The manager is energetic and creative in seeking ways to support children to achieve the best outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is relatively new to this post, but she has made a positive impact on the way that the care in the home is delivered. For example, she has worked with staff to ensure that children are given more individualised support. This has enabled children to develop their own identities more and pursue their own interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some occasions when the manager has struggled to cover gaps on the rota. She has taken the decision to reduce the number of staff on shift rather than bring in staff who are unfamiliar to the children. The children are settled, and this has not had an impact on the care and support they receive. However, this practice is not aligned with the levels of supervision detailed within the children’s plans. The manager has taken steps to employ additional staff to prevent a reoccurrence. A requirement is made in relation to this matter.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong understanding of the children’s individual needs and the progress they are making. She ensures that targets identified within children’s education, health and care plans are woven into daily activities with children in the home. For example, staff work hard to look for opportunities to make reading fun for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made adaptations to the way information about children is recorded. She ensures that the language used in records is child-friendly and accessible. This means that if children wish to read their records, they are written in a way that is helpful to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoke positively about their roles and the support they receive from their managers and colleagues. Staff receive regular supervision that helps them to reflect on their practice. In addition, staff receive regular training that equips them with the skills to undertake their roles effectively. The majority of the staff team hold nationally recognised childcare qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is highly organised. There are effective systems in place to assist her to monitor the quality of care provided by the home. The manager has a comprehensive development plan in place to support continuous improvement in the home. However, the home’s statement of purpose does not fulfil all the aspects required by regulation. This is because it does not list the details of the experience and qualifications of all the current staff. The registered manager took steps to rectify this during the inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2521953 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 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

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 4 February 2022

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 4 February 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to be aware of and manage their own safety when they are accessing the community independently. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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 Inspection report children's home: 2521953 7 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: 2521953 8

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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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Inspector

Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2521953 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 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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