Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 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 owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home is suitably qualified and registered with Ofsted in December 2020. There was one child living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 25/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 3

p.2

outstanding

The care provided to the child is of the highest quality and is individualised to their needs. The staff consistently show warmth, empathy and affection towards the child. Staff are invested in the care they provide, and their approach is underpinned by a therapeutic model for which they receive specialised training. They use incentives effectively to work with the child, who enjoys this system and values what they can achieve through it.

p.3

outstanding

The child is making considerable and sustained progress in relation to their starting point, especially in their education. The child regularly attends a mainstream college after successfully moving from a much smaller provision. This move has been diligently supported by the staff, who have attended all education meetings and advocated strongly for the child’s needs to be met appropriately. This vastly improves the child’s opportunities and life chances.

p.3

outstanding

The child is offered regular opportunities to meet with a therapist and is supported by staff to engage with this in a meaningful way. This support extends outside of actual sessions, and this helps the child to manage any emotional responses they may have. The in-house psychologist stated that it is the unwavering support of the staff that has made therapeutic input so successful. This has allowed the child to develop more helpful emotional responses to difficult feelings they experience.

p.3

outstanding

The child has strong, trusting relationships with the manager and staff. The child named staff they can talk to and that they feel they can be open with. The child has made significant progress in this regard. This allows open, honest and meaningful dialogue with the child and contributes to why the staff do not have to use consequences. Instead, any issues are resolved by talking them through and reaching a mutually agreed solution.

p.3

outstanding

The child is supported to spend time with people that are important to them in a way that meets the child’s needs. The staff encourage the child to have time with their family and travel a considerable distance with the child to ensure that this happens. Other relationships are also encouraged in a safe way so that the child can maintain and develop lasting and meaningful connections with those who are important to them.

p.3

outstanding

The child has enjoyed some fantastic and memorable experiences, such as attending a large arena concert, going on holiday abroad and other activities of their choice. Historically, the child would have been too anxious to participate and be away from home. With the support of the staff and the in-house psychologist, the child has been able to work through these challenges and now has memories that will last forever. These are documented in a ‘journey book’ that the child has and can take with them when they move on. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 4

p.3

outstanding

The child feels safe and happy living in the home. They have trusting relationships with a staff team that consistently provides the highest quality care. The manager and staff know the child and understand any risks the child may experience. The cornerstone of this is the strong and well-established relationships between the child and staff.

p.4

outstanding

Incidents are rare in this home. The manager and staff are skilled in other techniques that allow them to de-escalate potential flashpoints. The manager and staff have taken advice from the in-house psychologist to learn about what techniques work best in different situations. Staff have taken this learning and use it in their practice highly successfully.

p.4

outstanding

Risk assessments are thorough and detailed. Despite the child never having gone missing from home, they have detailed missing-from-home procedures, and all documentation is completed and up to date. The staff know what to do should the child go missing, and refresher training is completed regularly to ensure that staff’s skills remain relevant and up to date.

p.4

outstanding

The manager and staff have advocated for the child to be able to take risks in a safe and age-appropriate way. The child is encouraged to do this and is supported through independence work they complete with staff. This allows the child to engage in activities that any child of their age would do in their family.

p.4

outstanding

The use of physical intervention is not required in this home. The staff take a curious, empathetic approach whenever the child appears upset and will help them work their way through their feelings by talking and understanding things from the child’s perspective.

p.4

outstanding

The child has consistent boundaries in the home which the staff team ensures are always in place. This allows the child to feel safe and secure. The child follows the rules of the home and understands why the rules are in place. Should the child want a rule to be changed, the staff will discuss this with them. If they agree, they will advocate on behalf of the child for this to happen.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a highly experienced and appropriately qualified registered manager who has been in post since the home opened. He is supported by a knowledgeable, skilled and experienced team. The staff work alongside colleagues from the sister home, which provides the child with consistency as there is no need for unfamiliar agency staff to be used.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager leads from the front and is highly motivated. He has the highest expectations of the staff, and he ensures that they have the up-to-date skills Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 5 and knowledge needed to be able to support the child to achieve the best possible outcomes. He has developed several staff members, which has enabled them to progress to other roles, and he is keen for staff to continue to develop to the best of their abilities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager will challenge any decisions that are made when he feels they are not in the best interests of the child. One professional stated that the manager's intervention was 'instrumental' in overturning a decision about the child's educational placement, which allowed the child to attend the setting that they wanted. The professional also said that the manager and staff are ‘fierce advocates’ for the child.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has highly effective systems in place which ensure that he has thorough oversight of the home. He routinely reviews the quality of care provided to the child through efficient monitoring. His proactive approach to this has driven up the quality and enhanced staff practice in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from staff, professionals and family was overwhelmingly positive. One professional said, ‘I wish all children’s homes were as amazing as this one and that more children received the excellent quality service that they provide.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff receive regular supervision that they value and feel is beneficial to them. Supervision is reflective in nature and enhances staff practice. Regular team meetings are also held, which is another forum for the staff to reflect and learn. The manager ensures that the team discusses current topics and relevant research. He devises bespoke training for the staff and finds learning materials, which aids their understanding and supports the implementation of a highly effective therapeutic parenting approach.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 6

p.5

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: 2613627 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Gail McGann, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2613627 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 looked after children, 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