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

Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to four children who have learning disabilities and additional learning needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager who is experienced and holds the required qualification.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 3

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outstanding

Children receive a standard of care that exceeds good. The home has an inviting and homely feel. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and spacious. There are several shared areas where the children can choose to be together or spend time apart. The separate sensory room is somewhere that children can relax. Children spend time in this room to regulate their emotions. This prevents children from wanting to leave the home, which would make them particularly vulnerable.

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outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s past experiences. They respond with empathy to children who may be experiencing a residential setting for the first time, and carefully prepare them for their move to the home.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of family relationships to children and work hard to maintain these connections. All children can spend time with people important to them. The home also run events where families can come together, such as a summer party. These occasions are highly valued by family members.

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outstanding

All children at the home attend a school on site. Here they receive bespoke education that meets their additional needs, delivered at a pace that is right for them. Staff recognise the importance of the children having opportunities to socialise with other children, away from the home. All children are engaged in activities in the community and staff encourage them to engage in hobbies. One child has recently won an award for their work advocating for looked after children. Children’s achievements are celebrated, which is building belief in themselves.

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outstanding

Staff are well attuned to the children’s emotional needs and give them various ways in which their voices can be heard. Individual key-work sessions take place regularly, supporting children to understand their emotions and reflect on incidents. Staff have honest conversations with children, helping them to understand the plans for their future care. Children have access to a psychologist and receive regular one-to-one sessions should they wish to. Here they can discuss their past experiences and feelings. Consequently, children feel comfortable to acknowledge their identities in a safe and supported way.

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outstanding

Care plans recognise the nuances of the children’s needs, including their sensory and attachment needs. Children are meaningfully prepared for their independence. Planning for this begins early, taking into consideration the time needed for new skills to embed. Staff know and build on children’s strengths, recognising their potential to succeed. As a result, children are making significant progress at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 4

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outstanding

Risks to children are well understood by staff and are documented. Assessments are regularly updated and set in the wider context of children’s past experiences. Risk assessments focus on how staff can support children before, during and after more challenging behaviours. There is an emphasis on repairing relationships with children and not shaming them. The manager can clearly track behaviours that are both increasing and decreasing. This allows staff to respond effectively to the children and acknowledge areas of development.

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outstanding

At times, children go missing from care. Staff manage these incidents effectively. Staff follow the appropriate safeguarding procedures without any delay because they understand children’s vulnerability when alone in the community. Children are only missing for short periods of time, often choosing to return to the home quickly. Children enjoy being at the home and value their relationships with staff. They know staff will support them, and that their welcome home is consistently warm and staff are inquisitive about their feelings. As a result, episodes of children going missing are reducing.

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outstanding

Any concerning incidents are responded to extremely well by staff and thoroughly documented. Staff respond effectively to children who are in crisis. They find creative ways to de-escalate more challenging situations and help children to feel calm. There is excellent reflection following incidents, with both staff and children. This creates a culture of learning and children are beginning to understand the boundaries put in place by the staff team.

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outstanding

The staff resort to using physical interventions only as a last resort. Staff talk to children empathetically during holds, explaining they are trying to keep them safe. Recording of these incidents is comprehensive and staff are encouraged to think about what could be done differently in the future. Children are always given the opportunity to reflect following being held. Their feelings are validated, and staff focus on moving on positively following these difficult incidents. Therefore, trusting relationships between staff and children are maintained.

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outstanding

Self-harm is understood in the wider context of the children’s specific diagnoses. It is recognised that for some children this is a way to communicate their feelings. Children are helped to identify and better use strategies to manage their emotions. They are beginning to understand that the nurture offered to them is consistent and available, and this is discouraging self-injurious behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff love working at the home and speak highly of the children. They understand the ethos of the home as a therapeutic space where children can meet their potential. Staff feel well supported by managers and their views are listened to. As a result, children are cared for by a consistent and committed staff team. Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 5 Staff have an inspiring management and senior leadership team. Managers lead by example and their guidance is trusted by the staff. The team regularly comes together to reflect and plan care for the children. This is supported by the therapeutic input of the psychologist, who supports staff to develop their understanding of the children’s needs. Staff therefore feel resilient, and approaches to children are consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well prepared for their roles and receive thorough and in-depth training. Where more child-specific training is required, this is readily offered. Staff and the manager receive robust and regular supervision. This allows space for open discussion about the children but also about staff’s personal welfare and professional development. The manager is nurturing and models excellent practice for her staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the importance of comprehensive assurance systems. There are thorough auditing processes in place that can track the progress of children and understand how their behaviours are changing over time. There is a commitment to constantly develop the care offered to children. As an example, an occupational therapist has recently been commissioned to see how the sensory spaces of the home can be further improved. Children are therefore receiving care that has them at the centre and encourages them to thrive.

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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: 2603286 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2603286 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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