Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 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 home provides care for up to four children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. This home is privately owned. The manager is suitably experienced and holds the relevant qualification. They have been in post since 1 April 2023 and have applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2023

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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 have 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: 1241776 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

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. One child recently moved into the home under emergency circumstances. The manager worked hard to gain all the information required and to ensure the move into the home was positive for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection progress has been made against the requirements and recommendations made. Safeguarding processes have been strengthened, care is being delivered in line with the home’s statement of purpose and the manager has focused on developing the skills of her staff team.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has created new monitoring systems to improve her oversight of the care and support that the children receive. This includes a range of audits relating to children’s care and protection. This practice demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of care. The effectiveness of these new systems will be considered at the next inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments identify risks well and are updated following incidents or when new risks emerge. The manager ensures that clear guidance is provided to support staff in managing risks and that this links to the therapeutic ethos of the home. This supports staff to manage behaviour and risks effectively, and has ensured a robust response, alongside an understanding and caring approach to recent incidents of self-harm.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are finding positive ways to support children and help them to express themselves safely. As a result, children have not gone missing from the home and physical intervention has not been used.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s physical and emotional health needs. When children need specialist support, they receive it from the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or from the in-house clinical psychologist.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to attend their education settings. When children are unable to attend school, staff try to engage them in structured learning activities. Staff have also supported one of the children to access work experience.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to supporting children’s views, wishes and feelings. If a child makes an allegation they are kept informed of the progress of any investigation. However, on one occasion staff did not support a child sufficiently when they raised a concern. In addition, there have been missed opportunities to involve children and provide them with reassurance when there are changes in the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 3 Staff shortages have led to staff from other homes within the company working in the home. As a result, children do not always receive continuity of care from staff who know them well and understand how to interact with them. Children have said their experience when other staff are working in the home are not always positive.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff undertake relevent key-work sessions with children on a regular basis and children engage well with these sessions. However, staff do not proactively educate children to keep safe online. This does not prepare children with the knowledge and understanding to make their own safe choices when using the internet as they develop.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff do not always complete records to a good quality and ensure that they record all important work that is undertaken with children. The manager reflected on this during the inspection. A recommendation is made to support ongoing development and improvements in this area.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2022 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good 18/02/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 4

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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, 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that children are consulted to ascertain their views, wishes and feelings, that children understand that their views, wishes, and feelings are considered, and that the action taken in response to children’s views, wishes and feelings are recorded. 8 May 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 63, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should respond to children's views about changes to staff and be aware of the potential impact this may have for the child's stability and Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 5 emotional well-being. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', paragraph 8.12, page 39)  Staff should help children understand how to protect themselves. Particularly in relation to online safety. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', paragraph 9.9, page 43)

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Recommendations

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 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

Natasha Skinner, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1241776 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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