Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. They both spoke with the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 1 and 2 November 2022

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2022 Full outstanding 21/12/2021 Full outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 3

p.2

outstanding

Children feel valued, happy, safe and loved. They receive transformational care that enables them to make exceptional and sustained progress in all areas of their lives. The children living in the home are siblings and have lived in the home for over five years. Staff know the children incredibly well and are committed to ensuring that they have every opportunity to excel. The quality of relationships between staff and children is excellent.

p.3

outstanding

Living at the home has significantly enhanced the children’s life chances. A family member said, ‘It’s absolutely amazing how well they have come on. They’ve blossomed and become pleasant, thoughtful children. I’m in awe of what the staff have done. The children have a future, and I never thought that would be possible and it’s thanks to the home that they have.’

p.3

outstanding

The manager and staff are highly ambitious for children. Meticulous work has been carried out to prepare the children for when they leave the home. Each child has an individualised plan that provides them with clear and achievable goals in preparation for becoming more independent. Staff use creative and innovative methods with the children to help them to develop their social skills, including prompt cards and scenarios. Consequently, the children’s confidence and maturity have flourished.

p.3

outstanding

Both children successfully obtained the college placement of their choice and are thriving in education. Staff have developed highly effective professional relationships with college staff to ensure that the children are being supported to achieve their potential. Support and encouragement with college work continue in the home. Children’s successes are celebrated, and they are empowered to pursue their ambitions.

p.3

outstanding

Children benefit from access to a wide variety of new opportunities and fulfilling activities. Their interests are nurtured, and they are also encouraged to try new things. Children’s choices are acted on, for example attending cadets, going on regular country walks and having driving lessons. The children have been on two holidays abroad and were fully involved in the planning of both trips.

p.3

outstanding

Children have developed a strong sense of belonging in the home. One child described the house as ‘homely’ and the staff as ‘nice’. The home is personalised with photos of the children, their achievements and memorable times displayed throughout. However, loose window fittings in some communal areas and wear and tear in the bathroom detract from the overall high standards in the home.

p.3

outstanding

The team has gone ‘above and beyond’ to nurture the children’s relationships with each other and with people who are important to them. These relationships provide Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 4 the children with the strong foundations and stability needed to form positive relationships throughout their lives.

p.3

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

Children are safe. Practice in the home is underpinned by a strong safeguarding culture. Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are exceptionally well understood. Risk- management plans are thorough, individualised and clear. They are regularly reviewed by staff and are live and purposeful documents.

p.4

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

Staff are vigilant to risks and are mindful of children’s emerging vulnerabilities. Children are supported to develop their understanding of issues that may affect them in the community and online. Staff take proactive action to support the children to understand potential risks through scenarios and discussions, for example exploring issues around financial abuse.

p.4

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

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is embedded in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of both children. This is evident in the overwhelmingly positive relationships between the children and the staff. There are clear boundaries and routines in place at the home, with the focus on rewarding children for positive behaviours. This provides children with stability and is something that they respond to well. Children have been helped to regulate and understand their emotions. Consequently, there have not been any incidents of staff needing to hold children to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Children are supported to safely develop their independence in line with their age and understanding. In accordance with the children’s wishes and feelings, staff are proactively facilitating their transitions to adult services.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and leads the team by example. She is held in high regard by the children, their family members, staff and other professionals. The manager has high expectations of staff and challenges other professionals effectively as required. She has developed a culture of positivity, and staff have a ‘can-do’ approach to improving outcomes for children. External professionals are highly complimentary about the communication they receive from the team and the quality of the care provided to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are passionate, enthusiastic and proud to work in the home. They demonstrate resilience and stickability and talk about the children with immense warmth and pride. The team is stable and staff turnover is low. Staff are exceptional advocates for the children. They work positively and proactively together, and with other agencies, to provide children with consistently high levels of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 5 Staff benefit from regular, high-quality supervision sessions and team meetings that provide them with opportunities for refection and learning. Staff have access to an excellent training programme that includes bespoke training as required. This ensures that all staff have the skills and knowledge to meet children’s current and emerging needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management oversight of the home is excellent. The manager is highly efficient and uses internal and external monitoring systems effectively to ensure that she is fully aware of the home’s strengths and areas of challenge. She is committed to continually improving the home and is proactively planning for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained and that window fittings do not present any hazards. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

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: 2521953 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston PR2 2YQ

p.7

Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8