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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 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 is a privately owned children’s home that is registered to provide care for up to five 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 December 2015.

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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: 23 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection : none Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/02/2022 Full Good 09/10/2019 Full Outstanding 20/09/2018 Full Good 19/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive highly individualised care from staff who model positive behaviours. A social worker said, ‘Staff are positive role models. I couldn’t ask for more for [child’s name].’ Staff are aware of all the children’s needs, likes and interests. They tailor activities and support to encourage positive behaviour. As a result, children feel happy in their day-to-day lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are working on individual independence programmes for children. Children take an interest in cooking and other activities that promote independence. This helps them to prepare for when they eventually leave the home and live independently, and are prepared for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children attend school. They are achieving well and take part in after-school activities, such as chess club. Some of the children regularly go to the gym and they are all encouraged to eat healthily. These good routines will support children to build healthy habits and encourage a bright outlook as they grow up.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, staff go out and meet them and tell them all about the home. They have a child-friendly welcome book. This means that children start to understand what it is like to live in the home before they move there. This helps to alleviate any worries that they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children very well. When children have particular needs, the manager and staff carry out research and search for training and advice on how best to meet those needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the children’s emotional and physical health needs are met.

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

Children’s risks are identified, understood and managed well. One child had some episodes of going missing from care. Over a short period of time, staff were able to gain a clear understanding of why these episodes of going missing from care were happening and worked hard to ensure that they came to a stop. Staff are creative in increasing the children’s safety.

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

Staff communicate well, which helps to ensure that children have clear and consistent boundaries. This consistency encourages and supports a feeling of safety and well-being for the children.

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place. This ensures that only staff who are carefully vetted, to ensure that they are safe and appropriate, work at the children’s home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 4 All staff complete safeguarding training to ensure that they recognise any issues that may compromise the children’s safety. Staff are aware of children’s individual risks, and each child has a clear and concise risk assessment, which is updated regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an ambitious vision for the children and has high expectations of what they can achieve. The manager knows the children extremely well and is consistently striving to provide the very best experiences for them during their time at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable, consistent team of staff. All staff are offered regular supervision, which gives them the opportunity to reflect on their work with the children. They have annual appraisals, which support them to develop their careers and help to identify any training that will enhance their skills. Staff say that they feel supported by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an extremely thorough monitoring system that helps to ensure that the standards of care for the children remain consistently high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are consulted with daily about all aspects of their care. There are plenty of opportunities for them to have their voices heard. This means that children know that their opinions are important, which increases their self-esteem.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals from partner agencies are pleased with the communication that they receive from the manager and staff members. They feel fully informed of how the child who they are working with is progressing. This collaborative working helps to ensure that everyone working with the child can meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 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: 1221700 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

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1221700 7 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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