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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 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 home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties. The home has changed from providing a crisis-intervention service on a short-term basis to providing a long-term home for one child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 19 June 2023

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home looks and feels like a family home. It is pleasantly decorated and furnished. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste, with photos of family and other personal memorabilia on display.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

To meet the needs of the child currently living at the home, the manager has introduced a therapeutic model of care. Staff have received training and support from therapists, which has enabled them to adapt to this new approach. This model of care is becoming more established and interwoven throughout all aspects of the child’s care. Staff are developing a better understanding of the child and how to help them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed trusting relationships with staff. They receive consistent care from staff who know them well. When a change of staff is unavoidable, the managers step in and ensure that there is always someone working in the home who the child knows well. The child said, ‘Staff help me and keep me safe,’ and, ‘They care for me like a family should.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently able to access full-time education. They receive support to ensure they continue to develop their knowledge and learning. Staff ensure that there are high levels of stimulation, and that learning is taking place. The manager liaises with education professionals and is a strong advocate for child. This helps to avoid drift or delay in planning for their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living at the home is supported to build friendships locally. Friends visit the home for tea, and staff support the child and their friends to take part in a range of activities together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Memory books contain photos and descriptions of important and enjoyable events that happen each month. These are attractive and professionally bound. Staff take care to capture the child’s unique experiences. Children who have now left are helped to remember their time living at this home because they have their memory books.

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

Children benefit from structure and routine. On the day of inspection, the child was up and ready for the day ahead. Written plans are developed with input from the child and help them to know what they are doing from day-to-day. Children know what is expected of them from the start. The children’s guide is shared with children, and this sets out expectations in a friendly and accessible way.

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

Risks to children are identified early because the manager ensures they have as much information as possible before the child comes to live at the home. Risk Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 4 assessments are reviewed regularly. The strategies to keep children safe align with the home’s model of care. Staff know and follow these plans.

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

Staff routinely talk to the children and help them understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff engage children in difficult conversations about the risks and dangers of gang culture and criminal exploitation. They make the most of opportunities to educate children and help them to be safer. The quality of the discussions and how they are recorded has improved since the last inspection.

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

There has been one allegation. This was well managed, and the child and the staff member were supported through the process. The investigation was thorough, and records of the investigations included clear analysis and evaluation. The child and the member of staff were supported to rebuild relationships through restorative discussions.

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

There have been no occasions where staff have had to physically intervene to manage children’s behaviours. This shows that staff get to know children and their triggers quickly and use known strategies to calm situations before escalating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a confident and experienced leader who has a calming presence within the home. The manager and deputy manager are an effective team that shares a vision of what the home needs to achieve. They have high expectations of the staff and the care they offer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular and improving. Staff are supported with personal and practice issues in a supportive and non-judgemental manner. Staff feel the benefit of the therapists now being more involved in supporting them through the monthly meetings. Staff are becoming more insightful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the variety and quality of the training on offer. Subject experts and those with lived experience are brought in to help staff gain a detailed understanding of the issues. Staff are well trained to meet the specific needs of the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are systems in place that help managers to track children’s progress and identify trends and patterns in behaviour. Some key records, such as the monthly consultation with children, are not routinely reviewed by the manager. On one occasion this has led to a missed opportunity to better understand a child’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On one occasion, Ofsted was not told when a child protection enquiry commenced. In addition, not all serious safeguarding concerns are reported in a timely manner. This impairs the regulator’s ability to monitor how children are being kept safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 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, The 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

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry). (Regulation 40 (4)(d)(i)(ii)) 31 December

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of the consultation with children are reviewed by managers and issues are acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)

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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: 2653835 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

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2653835 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 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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