Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 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

This children’s home is run by a private provider. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 21 March 2022 to carry out a monitoring 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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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: 1 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Three compliance notices were issued following the full inspection on 1 and 2 February 2022. The notices were in response to significant shortfalls under regulations 12, 13 and 20. The monitoring visit on 21 March 2022 identified that the compliance notices issued had been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2022 Full Inadequate 23/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child currently living at the home. They are making good progress and enjoying a broad range of positive experiences. As a result of the stability of their home life, improved sense of safety and the good-quality care, affection and support, the child is flourishing. One professional said, ‘He loves it. He loves the staff; he has never had a bad thing to say about them.’ Another professional said, ‘[Name of the child] has made massive progress in the home, and he is a pleasure to have around.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The strength of the relationships and trust in the staff and other professionals form the foundations on which the child can show their potential. The child and staff have planned and ad-hoc chats that relate to the child’s goals and plans, and they can express any worries through the ‘worry monster’. Managers and staff act as strong advocates for children. They ensure that the child’s views, wishes and aspirations are shared with those who need to be informed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Their physical and emotional well-being are improved by their engagement with primary and therapeutic healthcare professionals. The child’s dietary preferences are responded to, which enables them to try different foods. The child is developing good habits that will serve them well in the long term. For example, they are learning how to brush their teeth properly and gargling to music, which adds a fun element to maintaining healthy dental hygiene.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s full-time education is supported by the staff and an online tutor, while formal arrangements are made for them to attend school. This continues to provide a clear structure to the child’s day, as they continue to learn and make good progress. The education sessions that have been planned between the therapist and key worker ensures that the child is gaining knowledge and skills about the facts of life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s day-to-day experiences are enhanced significantly by the wide range of activities that have enabled them to unravel their talents and excel. For example, joining sports clubs and groups, swimming, outdoor activities and trips away provide opportunities for the child to make appropriate friends and socialise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is child-friendly, and it lends itself to the child’s engagement in the home-based activities. For example, the trampoline and swimming pool provide hours of fun for the child. A wide range of books, DVD’s, games, toys and play equipment in the child’s room, and in other areas of the home, stimulate the child’s imagination, enrich their experiences and allow the child to be a child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 4 The promotion of family time respects the child’s wishes and feelings. The child’s cultural identity is promoted, and their religious needs are well researched and resourced.

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

The improved management scrutiny and oversight have significantly improved the safeguarding practices in the staff team. This ensures greater protection for children both inside and outside of the home.

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

The staff understand the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They are well informed by the updated and thorough written risk management plans, which guide staff to protect the child from harm. The current missing-from-home protocol informs staff about the actions that they must take should the child go missing. The risk management documents are read and signed by the staff as confirmation that they understand the contents.

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

There are no current concerns related to child exploitation, self-harm, bullying and radicalisation. However, staff have the relevant training and information, which equips them to respond to such threats to children’s safety and well-being.

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

Behaviour management practice is effective. The therapeutic parenting model is embedding, the routines and boundaries are established, and the child is settled. Through the involvement of the provider’s learning and development team, staff training, and regular clinical consultations, the triggers of the child are identified quickly and managed appropriately.

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

The child has been supported by the good practice from the clinical team and the staff to help them explore and name their emotions. The child’s engagement in these interventions has improved their insight, and enabled them to show empathy and use appropriate coping strategies. There has been one physical hold used since the last inspection, which is a significant decrease. This is a strong indicator of how effective the therapeutic parenting is, and how safe and secure the child feels.

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

Children are better protected when they raise concerns or make disclosures of harm. The manager has taken appropriate measures to ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed correctly when a child makes an allegation against staff. This helps children to feel that their opinions are heard and valued. The use of restorative discussions between staff and children has been useful in repairing the relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the time of the last inspection, the management team, staff and children faced considerable challenges and concerns in relation to the safeguarding practice in the home. This led to an inadequate inspection judgement, the issuing of compliance notices and the provider ending two of the children’s placements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 5 Leaders and managers have shown a firm and transparent commitment, which has contributed to the enhancement of the service. They have gone back to basics and have developed the service to ensure that a further decline does not happen again. Specifically, the provider has made a firm commitment to not rush into placing more children in the home without robustly considering the needs of the current child and the opinions of the team around the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved her oversight of the home significantly. She is not working shifts in the home. She knows the child very well; they have a good relationship, and she can articulate the child’s needs and progress effectively. Consequently, with the support of the deputy manager and a dedicated staff team, the manager is managing the home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No staff have left the home since the last inspection, which promotes stability for the child. One potential new staff member is awaiting the outcome of final checks. However, there continues to be inconsistency in the interview notes that show gaps in how decisions to appoint the staff member was made. This does not demonstrate that managers have satisfied themselves fully about staff suitability issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have received the relevant mandatory and additional training to refresh and enhance their knowledge. Staff team meetings, daily handovers, and reflective supervisions allow the staff team to continue to work towards the same goals. Staff are very satisfied with the level of management support and guidance that they receive. They experience satisfaction in their role, which creates a positive atmosphere for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal management monitoring is reflective and transparent of recent events in the home, and the learning is clearly identified through the action plans. The quality of the reports from the independent person are variable in quality and the provider has undertaken to raise this matter. Positive comments from a range of professionals indicate that the home is a good place for children to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous requirements are met. This is in relation to the provider challenging local authorities when they fail to carry out their responsibilities; improving care planning practices; ensuring safe medication management; maintaining appropriate physical intervention records and notifying Ofsted about allegations of abuse. Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that as set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. This refers specifically to the registered manager ensuring that interview notes of applicants consistently show how decisions to appoint them are made. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2509367 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

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2509367 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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