Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1269215 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may have a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, the manager was on planned leave from the home. The home is appropriately managed in the manager’s absence by a temporary manager and deputy manager.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Inspection date: 30 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 January 2024

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. The inspector has 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: 1269215 2

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Findings 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home and another child has moved into the home. The manager was able to meet with the child before they moved in. This enabled relationships to start to form and promoted information- sharing. The children living in the home have developed trusting relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s experiences, which helps them to tailor their practice to meet children’s needs. The children’s risk assessments are regularly updated and reviewed. Staff communicate regularly with children about any concerns and risky behaviours, which helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe. Appropriate referrals are made to agencies to support children’s health and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

All children are engaging in full-time education. There is good information-sharing between staff and the children’s education providers, which promotes the children’s education. One child was keen to show the inspector their baking skills by baking cinnamon rolls and sharing these with the inspector, staff and other children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children’s relationships with their families, and work alongside family members and other services to ensure that time spent with family is safe. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people who are important to them.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices. They are supported to address any emotional difficulties. This includes support from the in-house therapists.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are appropriately trained to manage children’s behaviours. Incidents of children being held to keep them or others safe are relatively infrequent. Following the use of physical interventions, debriefs are provided. This helps children to feel safe, and it also helps staff to learn the most effective ways to support children when they are in crisis.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a period of instability in the management of the home. However, the current manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted. During the manager’s planned absence from the home, the temporary manager and deputy manager are working closely together to provide stability and consistency for the staff and children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1269215 3 Quality assurance and monitoring systems have been reviewed, and oversight of the home is much improved. Monitoring systems are embedded into practice and help managers to provide positive feedback as well as identify areas for development. There is a full complement of staff. New staff are undertaking a robust induction and training programme. Better systems are in place to monitor the training that staff complete. Staff receive training around whistle-blowing and raising safeguarding concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff feel well supported and are more confident in being able to support the children who are currently living in the home. This is reflected in the positive way that children talk about their experiences at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been fully addressed. No further requirements or recommendations were raised at this assurance inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1269215 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2022 Full Good 26/05/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1269215 5

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

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Inspector

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1269215 6 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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