Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since August 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 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has accommodated two children since opening in November 2020. Despite the best efforts of staff, one of the children would not engage in the placement and made very little progress during his relatively short stay. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘[Name of child] did not want to be in care but he liked the staff.’ She went on to say, ‘Staff advocated for [name of child’s] wishes to live with his dad.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the second time of living at the home for the child who is there currently. Other than a brief period of living in foster care, the child has been the main occupant since the home opened. Since returning, she has settled and remade this her home and is without doubt happier and safer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive and trusting relationships exist between children and staff. These relationships are warm and affectionate. This was evident throughout the inspection when the child was seeking out hugs and positive touch, while engaging in pleasant and sociable banter with the staff. The child said, ‘My staff are great fun, and I get on with all of them most of the time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enjoy spending time with children and provide lots of recreational opportunities that are purposeful and fun. Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests. Activities such as drama, singing, ice-skating and swimming have been used in this respect. A child said, “If I ask staff, they will sort it.” She then went on to talk about being part of a local community group, her involvement in improving the local park, and how she has applied to join the police cadets on the recommendation of the local police officer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive to children’s past experiences and are focused and committed to providing opportunities for success. When children accept support, they develop a sense of belonging and stability. This has helped one child to make positive life choices, including good attendance at school and maintaining good physical and emotional health. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is well cared for by all staff and is making excellent progress in terms of her emotional development and education.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have successfully created a warm and welcoming home that reflects the personality of the child living there. The home is personalised and provides the child with a safe space to enjoy missed childhood experiences such as playing with her very impressive dolls house and doing her diamond art.

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

Children’s safety is given a high priority. Staff identify and understand the behaviours that place children at risk, and they are effective in the management of these Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 4 behaviours. An educational approach, high levels of supervision and continuous emotional support have a positive impact on reducing unsafe behaviours. On the rare occasions that children do take risks, such as going missing, staff work closely with relevant agencies and professionals to minimise the risk.

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

Children benefit from living in a structured environment that is based on clear expectations, boundaries and daily routines. Staff act as any reasonable parent would do and they are good role models. They are constantly looking for ways to praise and reward positive behaviour. For example, staff will write a daily comment of praise in children’s diaries and have recently introduced a lucky dip of treats.

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

Staff take a calm approach in response to challenging behaviour. They make effective use of de-escalation techniques and positive relationships that limit the need for physical restraint. On the three occasions that restraint has been necessary, it has been used in a caring and proportionate way.

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

Sanctions are not purposeful, effective or restorative in nature. For example, loss of Wi-Fi has been the stock response for one child, regardless of the misdemeanour. Although the manager reviews each sanction, she has, until recently, failed to recognise the punitive nature and lack of effectiveness in changing the child’s behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is effectively run by a child-focused manager who has high expectations of her staff. Together, they aspire to provide high standards of care that are delivered in a trauma-informed way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from the care and support from staff who demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting children to make positive changes to their lives. Staff talk with enthusiasm about their work and take a great deal of pride in how they contribute to children’s success.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are inducted well into the home and receive purposeful supervision that supports professional development. A good range of mandatory and needs-led training is available, and appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that unqualified staff, including the manager, can attain a relevant qualification. A member of staff said, ‘Nothing has been too much trouble for them to show me and advance my knowledge in caring for children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with agencies and professionals is effective. The manager and staff are strong advocates and will ensure that children’s views and wishes are integral to the decisions affecting their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good oversight of staff practice, care planning and children’s needs. She makes excellent use of an ‘outcomes measuring tool’ that is used to analyse risk, develop individually tailored programmes of support and measure progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 5 Children’s records are detailed and provide a purposeful overview of their needs, experiences and progress. These records are regularly updated to ensure that they reflect children’s current and emerging needs. However, the manager has not ensured that statutory records such as care orders and children looked after review minutes are obtained in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are provided with an informative children’s guide prior to admission. It contains useful information about what it is like to live at the home, including how to make a complaint. However, it does not contain details of how children can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 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 must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s records include a copy of the child’s care order, if applicable to the child. 23 March 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the children’s guide contains the contact details of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered person should ensure that sanctions are effective, relevant to the child’s behaviour and restorative in nature. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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: 2613677 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

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2613677 8 regulates and inspects 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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