Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 1 SC480671 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to eight children who may experience emotional, social and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The providers statement of purpose states that the home provides care for up to three female children who may have emotional, social and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A school, operated by the same provider, operates on the same site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2022.

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 24 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been significant changes at this home since the last full inspection. All the children present at the last inspection have moved to alternative placements and a new manager has registered with Ofsted. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children are warmly welcomed to this home. Admissions are well planned, and as a result, children settle in quickly. One child told the inspector, ‘I like it here, the staff are nice and I like all the activities we do together.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy spending time with staff and they are building positive and trusting relationships. In addition, the children enjoy each other’s company. They have shared interests and enjoy playing together.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged to develop new hobbies and interests. This is helping to boost children’s confidence and to broaden their horizons. One child was initially reluctant and anxious about taking part in community-based activities. Staff listened to this and worked through the child’s anxieties at the child’s pace. As a result of careful and sensitive planning, the child now enjoys lots of activities, including swimming and attending a youth club.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have worked hard to make improvements to the décor and furnishings of the home. They have created a warm and welcoming environment. Staff encourage children to feel at home and to personalise their bedrooms. Children have lots of toys and books in their rooms. Staff support children to care for their own pets, and one child currently has goldfish which she looks after in her bedroom.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have successfully introduced new boundaries and routines, which children are adapting to. This is supporting one child to adopt more regular personal hygiene routines.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff complete individual direct work with children regularly. These sessions are focused on areas relevant to children’s assessed needs. This work is supporting children to start talking about sensitive topics and is helping them to grow in confidence. For example, staff are supporting one child to address issues related to their disability and body image. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 3 Children are enrolled in full-time education and attend regularly. One child was not attending school prior to their admission to this home. However, consistent daily routines are encouraging the child to attend school every day.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles. One child who previously had a restricted and unhealthy diet has been supported to experiment with new foods. As a result, this child now eats a greater variety of food, including vegetables. Another child has been encouraged to become more physically active and has joined a local football team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use lots of praise to reinforce children’s positive behaviours. Incidents where staff use physical interventions to manage children’s behaviours are rare. However, managers have not always ensured that children are spoken with following physical interventions. A requirement has been made to address this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have acted decisively to deal with the weaknesses found at the last inspection. This has led to improvements to the children’s experiences and to the arrangements in place to safeguard them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has a clear vision for the home. She demonstrates a commitment to providing children with high-quality, child-centred care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. She has introduced more robust monitoring systems to help her to review the quality of care provided to children. In addition, children’s progress against identified targets is closely monitored.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most members of the staff team have been recruited since the last inspection. They receive a comprehensive induction and training programme to equip them with the skills they require to fulfil their role.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have taken effective action to recruit additional staff. Staff have worked hard to cover gaps in the staff roster, and no agency staff have been used to supplement the team. This provides children with continuity of care. One member of staff said, ‘We work well together as a team. We all support each other and help each other out.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/11/2019 Full Good 09/01/2019 Full Good 08/11/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 5

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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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 15 May 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of clear recording and that children’s records are legible. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC480671 6

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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

Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480671 7 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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