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

Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. There are currently two children living at this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Currently, there is no registered manager in post. However, there is a suitably qualified interim manager in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment of the home is warm and welcoming. The home has been decorated and new items of furniture have been purchased in consultation with the children. Children can personalise their bedrooms, which helps them to feel part of the home from the moment they arrive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made measurable and sustained progress relative to their needs and vulnerabilities. They are able to build and establish trusting relationships with staff now that there is a permanent staff team working at the home. The home has not used agency staff since January 2022, which has been of real benefit to the children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted and the children are being supported and encouraged to attend. Where children have disengaged with education or been excluded, efforts are made by staff to identify the right provision tailored to their individual learning needs. The manager and the deputy will actively challenge and advocate to ensure that decisions made for children are fair and proportionate. Children realise how important education is for their future, which helps them to have aspirations.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with individualised care where their needs and behaviour are clearly understood. Children have developed positive attachments with staff, and they enjoy participating in activities with them. One child loves to go bike riding, enjoys gaming and baking and has researched having an ant colony. For some children, going on holiday has been a first-time experience. The staff ‘open doors’ for children who otherwise would not have such opportunities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly engage and consult with the children about what is important to them. They help to nurture relationships with parents and other family members, and the children are supported to have safe and meaningful family time. This has seen family members being involved in the children’s life at the home. Equally, children are encouraged to spend time with their friends on activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships with other professionals is a key strength and facilitates multi-agency decision-making and planning. Staff and professionals work in partnership and much emphasis is placed on children developing the skills to manage their feelings and behaviour more appropriately. This is because children feel listened to and the support they receive is unconditional.

p.3

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

Children’s safety and well-being are promoted. Risk assessments are updated regularly and there are systems in place for the manager to monitor and review them. The manager and staff have a good understanding of the children’s Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 4 vulnerabilities and the risks to their safety. Individual strategies are followed to reduce the risk of potential harm to children.

p.3

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

Risks associated with children going missing from care are understood by staff. Protocols are individual to each child and provide clear and appropriate control measures. Children complete a debrief when they have been missing from care. However, return home interviews have not always been carried out by an independent person, which would allow children to talk about any concerns that could prevent them going missing from care in the future.

p.4

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

Children have positive relationships with staff. Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any concerns. Staff understand the importance of their relationships with children. Children are helped to build resilience. This helps them to understand and manage risks.

p.4

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

Physical intervention is used to protect children and those around them. The quality of recording by staff has improved, along with the review and monitoring of the manager. Improved de-escalation strategies are used by staff, which has resulted in a significant decrease in the use of physical intervention.

p.4

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

Children benefit from clear and consistent boundaries, which helps them to understand expectations. Staff manage situations and behaviour confidently. Positive behaviour is praised and rewarded. This gives children a sense of safety and well- being.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is currently applying to register as one manager over two homes. The manager has a proven track record of managing his current home well. He is supported by a dedicated deputy. The home has been through a turbulent and unsettled period. However, with the manager’s oversight and leadership, the home is now moving in the right direction.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home, the staff and the children. He leads a dedicated staff team, which results in the children being provided with stability and consistency of care. The manager and deputy are giving the right level of support, encouragement, training and supervision.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team of staff are motivated and are confident in their knowledge of the children. They have been through an unsettled period. However, over the last few months, the staff have felt more supported and have received additional training in strength-based models of care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are robust and safe referral processes in place that look at matching the children and assess compatibility. The manager has autonomy in decision-making. This means that children’s transitions to and from the home are sensitively and carefully managed. Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 5 Continuous professional development is encouraged. The manager has given staff key responsibilities and they champion in specific areas, such as training and development. A variety of processes are used to consult with the children and ascertain their views and opinions. Children say they feel listened to and that action is taken to sort out any issues they raise.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recording is child centered and the child’s voice is evident in records. Placement plans and risk assessments are clear and easy to read. This provides staff with an easy reference to the children’s risks and care needs and strategies to manage behaviour.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Careful recruitment and regular monitoring of staff ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Robust procedures are in place for safe recruitment, which includes multilayers of checks and audits. Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 6

p.5

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 children’s home: 2604035 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspectors

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2604035 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8