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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 1 SC479650 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 home is privately operated and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who may have social, emotional and/or mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 23 October 2017.

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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 good

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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: 4 December 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/12/2019 Full Outstanding 12/12/2018 Full Outstanding 14/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a spacious, modern and welcoming home. Staff help children to look after their home and large gardens. Children have made a significant contribution to the lovely gardens during the pandemic. Staff supported children to grow fruit and vegetables, make bird boxes and build a water feature from recycled materials. Children have an array of games and outdoor activities to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop warm, positive and very nurturing relationships with children. Children benefit from excellent care from a dedicated team of staff who persistently focus on promoting resilience. Staff help children to develop the skills to successfully move on from the home at the right time for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Comprehensive plans for children moving into the home have helped them to settle very quickly. This was important in the context of the pandemic, when several children moved in. One child told the inspector they would rate the home 10 out of 10. Children receive excellent individualised support from their named key worker. Staff have high aspirations for children, and this promotes their self-esteem. Staff help all children to develop independence skills through the detailed plans developed to reflect each child’s needs and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals shared positive feedback about the progress children have made since living at the home. One professional described the staff team as ‘amazing’. Children make excellent progress from their individual starting points. The child-centred joint work between the home, school and in-house therapy team contributes to children’s successful engagement in their learning. This is important for some children who previously struggled to engage in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In-house therapeutic support has significantly contributed to the stability of children’s placements. Children benefit from individualised support which is child- centred and trauma-informed. This support, together with the sensitive support provided by the staff team, helps children to move forward positively from often difficult experiences. Children therefore feel able to share their worries with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to follow their individual interests. They have joined several sports clubs and local groups which reflect their specific interests. Children are supported to express themselves and their individual developing identity. Staff consistently support children to maintain positive relationships with family members when this is possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to take part in a wide range of positive activities inside and outside the home. There were some inspiring examples of all children taking part in a ‘gestures of kindness’ for their neighbours. Children also contributed to a local Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 4 community project during the pandemic. Staff recognise children’s contributions, with each child having their own book of achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy to tell staff if they want something to change in the home. Staff support children to take part in regular children’s meetings. Children know how to make a complaint. Staff support children to access independent advocacy.

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

Staff have a good understanding of each child’s vulnerabilities and identified risks. Plans provide staff with clear and proportionate strategies to mitigate these risks. However, the strategies to address the risks for one child were not recorded fully when they moved into the home. Strategies were put in place after this was identified by the independent person at their monthly visit.

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

Overall, staff are tenacious in consistently following the individual and group risk management plans. This helps to ensure children are safe in the home. However, on one occasion, a staff member did not follow the group plan. This was appropriately identified as a learning and development need. On another occasion, a staff member did not follow the individual plan for a child. This was again identified as a learning and development need. The staff were each supported to reflect on their own practice.

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

Staff work effectively with all statutory agencies to ensure children’s plans are effective. This includes developing joint plans which are reviewed regularly by the professional network. One professional commented positively on the consistency provided by staff which helps children to feel safe. Staff help children to understand risk and how to keep themselves safe. Children told the inspector they feel safe in the home.

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

Safer recruitment practice is in place. Staff receive appropriate induction and training for their role. However, there have been delays in the delivery of some training, due to the impact of the pandemic. This included training to support new staff to understand how to respond to risk, which is important to ensure all staff can fulfil their caring role.

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

The impact of COVID-19 on the home was minimal, due to the concerted efforts of the staff team. The registered manager ensured they remained in the home with staff during a recent period of self-isolation. Children were sensitively supported by the staff, who recognised how well children coped during this period. This is significant in the context of the number of children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced registered manager provides effective leadership to the staff team. They are supported by a strong deputy manager. Together, they confidently lead the committed staff team in providing excellent care to children. This is based on a thorough understanding of each child’s needs. The management team leads by Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 5 example and models the home’s trauma-informed therapeutic approach. The team demonstrates this through the trusting relationships they develop with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager have further strengthened the home’s approach to caring for children. Through the development of a focus on resilience, children are helped to build confidence and improve their self-esteem. This new approach is a good example of putting research into practice. The management team has embedded this into children’s individual plans and the systems for monitoring the home’s quality of care. This is key to tracking children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures children’s views shape the home. There are excellent examples of consultation with children. The registered manager ensures staff undertake individual work with children in response to their feedback. This shows children that their views matter and are taken seriously. Children see how they help to develop the home. The garden area is a particularly noteworthy example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team maintains a clear focus on reflection and development of the service. The registered manager and deputy manager understand the strengths of the home and staff team. There is continual striving to build on the team’s admirable care of children and the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported by the management team. This support was particularly appreciated during the pandemic. Staff benefit from regular good-quality individual supervision, which helps them reflect on their own practice. This is well supported by consultation provided by the therapy team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 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 staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 30 April 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure strategies to address all known risks are in place at the point a child moves into the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC479650 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: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC479650 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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