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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 1 SC480854

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Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns and operates the home. The home is registered to provide care for up to six children who may have social, emotional and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. The home has a suitably qualified manager, who registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken effective steps to address concerns of an emerging closed culture. This has involved the compilation of a thorough plan that the manager has implemented and reviews frequently. Although good progress is being made, the manager’s plan is not yet embedded in practice.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has improved the systems to support the staff. Staff are now more accountable, and they are expected to contribute to, and be prepared for, the team meetings and their personal supervision sessions. This helps to reduce some of the vulnerabilities of supporting a new staff team, and aids with children receiving good care.

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Findings from the inspection

Communication between staff and the management team has improved. This means that the children’s needs are better understood by the whole team. Managers and staff are now more confident in one another’s practice, and they work together to provide a consistent approach to the children. As a result, the implementation of agreed care practice is consistent among staff, and the children now better understand how they are expected to behave in the home and the community.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff feel supported and receive good guidance from leaders and managers. Staff supervision sessions are more focused and thought-provoking. The manager has also adapted the environment to enable the staff to have better access to support and learning opportunities from the deputy manager.

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Findings from the inspection

When the children raise an issue with the manager about their care, this is quickly and efficiently managed. The process involves the child and the child’s views are captured and acted on.

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Findings from the inspection

Significant incidents that involve the children are clearly recorded. The manager’s evaluation and oversight are consistent through to the incident being concluded. Subsequently, the manager ensures that all areas of learning are filtered into team meetings and staff supervision sessions.

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Findings from the inspection

The organisation has added a protective layer to the recruitment process. The manager and responsible individual are now expected to confirm that the recruitment process has been thorough. This increases the likelihood that the necessary recruitment checks have been adequately completed by the organisation.

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Findings from the inspection

Shortly after the last inspection, the manager received a complaint that raised several concerns associated with the children’s summer holiday. The manager’s Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 3 response was swift and child-focused. The manager worked alongside safeguarding agencies and the regulator to ensure that the concerns were addressed effectively. Although the manager recognised gaps in the internal investigation, she quickly addressed these to ensure the children’s well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

When a local authority has had to instigate their own enquiries into the welfare of the children, the manager has been helpful and transparent in this process. Additionally, the manager has been effective at drawing out the local authority’s conclusions to inform the care practice in the home. This has ensured that the children are better protected as they have received access to emotional and practical support.

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Findings from the inspection

Some of the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been carried forward. This is due to some of the shortfalls and areas for improvement not being extensively covered during this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/09/2022 Full Good 24/05/2021 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h)) 15 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should create an ethos in the home that supports each child to learn, emphasising the value of independent study and reading for enjoyment. The home must make available suitable facilities, equipment and resources for learning and ensure that the home’s routines do not form barriers to children wishing to use the home’s resources to study. Staff should be creative in encouraging children to read and learn about their wider world. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)  The registered person should support the staff to understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should take responsibility for the children’s case records. These must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 7

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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: Hexagon Care, 1 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton- on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 8 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 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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