Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides 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 July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. They all spoke to the inspector about their experiences living there.

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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: 25 January 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2023 Full Outstanding 08/03/2022 Full Good 21/05/2018 Full Good 14/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 3

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outstanding

Children living in the home make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. They are supported to flourish and know that staff care about them. The progress they make is underpinned by the consistent child-centred, nurturing care that they receive from an established staff team.

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outstanding

Education is a key strength in the home. Staff are committed to ensuring that children enjoy education, and they have the skills and abilities to engage children in accessing education. Staff communicate effectively with children’s schools and support them with their learning when appropriate to do so. Staff are persistent and strongly advocate for children to receive education that meets their needs. One child who previously did not attend education is now on track to achieve similar targets to their peers.

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outstanding

When children move into the home, their needs are fully considered, alongside those of children already living there. The children are helped to develop positive, respectful relationships with each other. Children already living in the home help to support others moving in and they have created a video showing what it is like living there. This enables children to get a sense of the home before they move in and helps them to settle.

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outstanding

Children are helped to move out of the home in a planned way. Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home into supported accommodation. Staff were proactive in supporting them to develop skills in preparation for adulthood. One child still at the home is preparing to move on and is being helped to develop their independence skills, in line with their abilities. Children continue to benefit from staff support after they leave the home and know they are able to visit.

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outstanding

Children follow a thorough semi-independence programme that helps them to build their skills in preparation for adulthood. Some children have secured part-time jobs and taken up volunteering opportunities which have further enhanced their life skills. One child is also being supported to take driving lessons, aiming to gain their licence before they move on.

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outstanding

Staff model behaviour that is respectful and nurturing. Consequently, children are invested in making the home a positive place to live. One child describes the staff as ‘my family’.

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outstanding

Children’s photos are displayed around the home. The team recognises the importance of making memories for children. There is a ‘family tree’ in the garden. Visitors are encouraged to write their name on a heart, which is placed on the tree. Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 4 This was created by one of the children as they believe it gives all children a sense of belonging and positivity about living in the home.

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outstanding

A strong safeguarding culture underpins practice in the home. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They implement clear rules and boundaries and focus on rewarding positive behaviours. This helps children to feel valued and to know what is expected of them.

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outstanding

Children say they feel safe. They trust the staff and know they can talk to them. Children are helped to understand their individual risks and vulnerabilities. Through discussions with staff, they are able to make safer choices.

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outstanding

Children’s risk plans are individualised and include details of their current risks alongside strategies for staff to follow. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated when there is a change in behaviour. The therapist is also involved in updating plans and any changes are discussed in team meetings so that all staff are kept up to date.

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing from this home. However, when a child went missing for a short period of time, the staff and manager knew how to respond and took appropriate action to support their safe return. Independent return home interviews take place, and the manager analyses the factors relating to the incidents to ensure that staff are proactive in preventing future incidents.

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outstanding

Staff understand children and help them to develop their understanding of their past experiences and behaviours. Staff work effectively with the home’s therapist to ensure that there is a whole-team approach to supporting children to work through their trauma. Children are helped to regulate their emotions and staff are skilled in preventing incidents from escalating. There have not been any incidents of children needing to be held to keep them safe.

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outstanding

All direct work is discussed with the therapist and in staff meetings. This means there is a consistent, research-informed approach to keeping children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is dedicated, ambitious and highly aspirational for the children in her care. She is supported by a dedicated deputy manager. Together, they have an excellent understanding of the children’s needs and are committed to improving outcomes for children. Staff speak highly of the management team and are proud to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective partnership working has been developed by the manger to ensure that children’s needs are being met. The manager is an exceptional advocate for children. An example of this is her determination to ensure that children continue to Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 5 receive appropriate mental health support after leaving the home. External professionals are highly complimentary about the quality of care and communication from the team. Children’s social workers are kept informed about the progress children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight of children’s progress and of practice in the home is exceptionally strong. The manager uses robust monitoring systems to ensure that the home operates smoothly. When issues are identified, they are quickly addressed and resolved. Plans are put in place to further monitor improvements. This helps the manager to continually monitor and review children’s progress, alongside the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are maintained to a high standard. There is clear oversight by managers and children’s voices are reflected throughout.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and reflective practice-based supervision. The manager is a strong advocate for training and ensures that all staff have access to high-quality training to further develop their practice and to continually improve the quality of the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular team meetings. The meetings are strengthened by research-based input from the therapist about the organisation’s therapeutic parenting model. Staff also contribute with their own research on various topics to share their learning with the team.

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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: 1212094 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

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1212094 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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