Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

p.1

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 company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 19 September 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2023 Full Good 15/03/2023 Full Good 09/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 3

p.2

good

Children are happy and settled living in the home. They feel loved, respected, and well cared for. One child said, ‘It’s great here. They really care about us, and it feels like a family’. Staff provide a high standard of care and children are making progress in all areas of their lives.

p.3

good

Relationships between staff and children are overwhelmingly positive. Staff talk about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. Children feel comfortable talking to staff and they feel heard. Their wishes and views are sought daily.

p.3

good

Staff support children with their education. The manager worked tirelessly to secure alternative education for both children. One child, who had not attended education for some time before living at the home, is now engaged in learning and is thriving. Staff celebrate children’s progress and achievements.

p.3

good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff have developed positive relationships with children’s family members and communicate with them regularly. One parent said, ‘They listen to my voice, and I appreciate it’. One child sees their family most days and staff transport the child back to the home at the end of each visit.

p.3

good

Staff offer children a variety of fun and educational activities to explore their interests and enhance their learning. Children have enjoyed quad biking, trips to museums, and regular visits to the gym. One child enjoys attending a local youth group several times a week and the other child goes to a music studio each week. This helps children to develop their confidence and social skills. Photos of events and activities are kept in a memory book for each child.

p.3

good

Children live in a spacious home that is welcoming and well-furnished throughout. However, a cloakroom needs some maintenance, and loose blind cords on some window fittings pose a hazard to some children. The manager took swift action during the inspection to address the window fittings. There is ample space for children to relax and spend time together or apart. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and comfortable. The manager recently converted a room into a ‘chill out area’ at the request of the children. One child has since invited friends over to enjoy spending time socialising in the home. Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 4

p.3

good

Children say that they feel safe and secure living in the home. Their risks and vulnerabilities are well understood, and their risk plans are individualised and detailed. Clear advice and guidance are provided for staff so they know how to respond should risks arise. However, on one occasion staff missed opportunities to reduce the risk of harm to a child. The manager acted swiftly to ensure this did not happen again, however did not notify Ofsted about the incident as required by regulation. This reduces the regulator’s oversight of practice in the home.

p.4

good

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model that is used in their day-to-day practice for the benefit of children. Staff are consistent in their approach to children and appropriate boundaries are in place. Positive behaviour is routinely encouraged and rewarded which children respond well to.

p.4

good

Staff and children have excellent support from an in-house therapist. Children are offered individual input once a week to help them understand and manage their feelings and behaviours safely. Staff regularly reflect on their practice with the therapist both individually and during team meetings.

p.4

good

Children rarely go missing from home despite this being a known risk for one child. Staff have not needed to hold children to keep them or others safe. This indicates that children feel safe and protected.

p.4

good

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: good

The manager is committed and enthusiastic. He is supported by an experienced and knowledgeable deputy. The manager prioritises the welfare of the children and is working hard to maintain a stable, loving, and well-run home. He is fully involved in the children’s lives and is a strong advocate for them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff love working in the home and feel fully supported by the manager. He is held in high regard by staff, the children, their family members, and other professionals. One staff member described him as ‘brilliant, approachable and supportive’.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a wide range of training and development that equips them with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the children in their care. Staff value the training on offer and describe it as excellent. Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 5 The manager has good oversight of the home. He has effective monitoring systems in place and takes swift action to address any shortfalls. This oversight promotes the safety and well-being of the children living in the home. The manager has high expectations for himself and the staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and positively with other agencies. External professionals are highly complimentary about the collaborative working and communication they receive from the team and the quality of care provided to the children. One social worker said the manager is ‘excellent’ and the care provided is ‘exceptional’. Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child (Regulation 12 (1) (2)9(a)(i)) 20 September 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 20 September 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained and that any fittings around windows do not present a hazard to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home 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 children’s home: 2608195 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, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

p.7

Inspector

Zillah Brooks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2608195 8 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