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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 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

The home is run by a private provider. It offers 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 the inspection, two children were living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. A new manager has been appointed but is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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 good

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: 13 November 2023

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 02/03/2022 Full Good 12/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Both children have lived in the home for a long time. They are exceptionally well supported by staff, who take a sincere interest in the children’s daily lives. Staff have relevant, purposeful and proactive discussions with children, which target areas identified from the children’s therapeutic care plans. Consequently, children build strong and trusting relationships with the adults who care for them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff demonstrate consistent practice, which promotes stability and enables children to feel protected and develop a sense of belonging in the home. Staff work collaboratively with external professionals to support children’s health and emotional well-being, and this has positive benefits towards children’s overall progress and experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has a clinical psychologist who works closely with the children and offers regular consultation and advice to staff. This work is helping children to have a good understanding of their life histories. Staff at this home have a strong understanding of the impact of attachment and past trauma on children. This informs and underpins their practice. One social worker commented on how this work is helping staff to support children to build resilience and self-esteem, so that children are more able to safely navigate life problems as they arise.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Educational attendance by children at this home is excellent. One child, who had no education at the time they moved to the home, now has regular attendance and is now forecast good results. The other child is also thriving in school. Children’s differing academic abilities are well accommodated, and staff supplement children’s education through informal learning outside of the school environment. This has had a positive effect in helping to raise children’s confidence in what they can achieve.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is indistinguishable from others around it. It provides a warm, cosy and child- friendly environment. Both children said that they like the home, and their views about the way the home looks were taken into account during the recent redecoration of the home. Both children were observed by the inspector as being relaxed and at ease in their environment and were both spoken with.

p.3

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

Children are helped to become increasingly safe in the community through a structured and well-monitored risk-reduction programme. Children know that staff are there to help them, and children are becoming more able to talk about any concerns they might have. They have confidence that staff listen to them and that their views are taken seriously.

p.3

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

Risk assessments and strategies implemented to manage and reduce risks are regularly reviewed and updated in response to children’s circumstances. The manager ensures that therapeutic input supports planning and that multi-disciplinary decisions are made in Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 4 relation to managing risks that affect children. The decisions to help children to the next phase of risk-reduction programmes, such as using the internet safely or having increased time away from staff in the community, are not made in isolation. Children are also included in this planning so that they fully understand what is expected of them. Collaborative working is a strength at this home.

p.3

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

Professionals speak positively about how well children’s risks are identified and managed. One social worker said, ‘The staff’s understanding of risk is excellent and this is underpinned by their in-depth knowledge and understanding of the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. Safety plans are robust and measured. I have every confidence in the staff, I think they are amazing.’

p.4

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

Incidents of going missing from the home are rare, but when they occur staff take appropriate action. Staff work well with the police and follow agreed protocols for missing from home incidents. Staff are proactive in their efforts to locate children and return them when missing. Independent return interviews take place as they should, and the manager takes action to ensure that learning is taken from them, which informs future planning.

p.4

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

Reward is a key feature in this home and there are many incentives for children to display positive behaviour and achieve their goals. Effective use of incentives helps children to understand that they can have better experiences by working with staff to improve their behaviours.

p.4

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

Selection procedures for new staff coming to work at the home are thorough and comprehensive. This helps to ensure that as much as possible is done to prevent unsuitable adults from being recruited to work with children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from living in a well-managed home. The manager is suitably experienced and is well supported by an effective deputy manager. Together, they provide clear direction and good leadership, which helps to ensure that children make continued and sustained progress.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken with during the inspection said they feel supported by the manager and that they receive regular supervision sessions and attend team meetings. This contributes to their personal development and provides opportunities for the team to reflect on its practices.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a good mix of experience in the team. Newer staff benefit from a thorough induction and there is a clear focus on professional development, which helps to ensure that staff are fully equipped with the skills needed to care for the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains good oversight of training and makes sure that all staff are up to date with mandatory courses such as safeguarding, first aid and physical intervention. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 5 Core training is further supplemented by a range of needs-led-training opportunities. For example, staff have carried out self-harm and exploitation training to help them understand and manage these risks more effectively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the service well. She has a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for development. The manager makes good use of a range of quality assurance processes to ensure that all aspects of the home’s performance and children’s progress are routinely monitored. The manager is also outward looking and embraces working in partnership with agencies. This approach helps to better protect children from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 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: 2530059 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

Ceri Evans, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2530059 8 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