Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Preston

Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 1 SC480854

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Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider owns and operates the home. The home is registered to provide care for up to six children. Children may require support due to having learning, social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/09/2022 Full Good 24/05/2021 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection, and two children were in the process of moving into the home. Three children have moved on to independent living, and another child has moved to another home in the company that better meets their needs. There is strong support for children during these transitions, with a clear plan of action. This means their needs and preferences are considered at every stage of the process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are prepared for their arrival at the home by meeting staff and visiting the home before moving in. This helps children to get a broad idea of what it will be like to live at the home, to ask questions and for staff to get to know the child. This is a strength of the home, giving reassurance to children and providing a good foundation for placements to get off to a good start.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop the skills, knowledge and information they need to begin a life of independence. The support and contact that staff offer do not stop when children leave the home, but continue over the long term, often for several years. This is testament to the quality of relationships between staff and children and the development of an attachment to the home that endures. One child, who has recently moved to independence, said, ‘I will always remember the home and the children and adults. I have made some great memories.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at the home. They, their families and professionals feel that children living there are very well looked after. One parent said, ‘They have my child’s best interests at heart, and I have seen a massive difference in my child’s behaviour.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children appreciate the support they get from staff. One child commented, ‘Staff push me to do better at school.’ This means that children get the support they need to pursue their ambitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good educational progress from their starting points because the manager and staff advocate strongly on their behalf. With respect to one child, an educational professional said, ‘The manager asked for further meetings when they felt it necessary.’ The long-term impact of this support is evident in children completing further education courses and enjoying settled careers in adulthood, for example joining the army and working their way up to senior management positions. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 4 Staff ensure that children attend routine health appointments and get the guidance they need from health specialists on issues such as diet and sexual health. As a result, children enjoy good health and have the information they need to make informed decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that staff take an interest in the things that are important to them. They say that staff listen to what they have to say and that this makes a difference to their lives. For example, children felt that weekly consultation ‘chats’ were too much, so these were changed to monthly meetings.

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

Children are protected because the staff and manager take immediate action when safeguarding risks, such as radicalisation or potential exploitation, are identified. They work in partnership with other professionals to ensure that plans are implemented to keep children safe, and risks are kept to a minimum.

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

The manager and staff forge strong relationships with children. These relationships play a vital role in supporting children through their day-to-day life, helping them to successfully manage their emotions and behaviour.

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

Children say that ‘there is always an adult to talk to, any time’. This is possible because the manager ensures that the home is fully staffed at all times, with extra staff available if children need additional support with their behaviour.

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

Children accept the boundaries set by staff to keep them safe. For example, they return to the home at agreed times and allow staff to check their phones. As a result, there is rarely the need for staff to impose consequences or to physically hold children.

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

Safe recruitment practice, thorough investigations into any allegations or complaints and routine health and safety checks all contribute to ensuring that this is a safe environment for children to live in.

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

Children’s records are routinely checked to ensure that medication is dispensed safely. However, the home’s recording of non-prescribed medication, although accurate, does not comply with the provider’s policy. This is an administrative shortfall that has no impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and suitably qualified registered manager, who has made improvements to the functioning of the home since the last Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 5 inspection. Several new members of staff have been appointed, and requirements and recommendations are now met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that a robust induction is in place for new staff. This supports staff to be fully aware of what is expected of them in their role. The manager and senior staff provide daily support, along with regular supervision, team meetings and relevant training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Attention is also paid to the emotional well-being of staff. This means children are looked after by adults who have a sound knowledge base, a good repertoire of skills and are themselves supported in their role. One member of staff said, ‘I feel supported by management and feel that we have an open and honest environment.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a strength of the home. One professional commented, ‘The team works well together, being consistent and having the children’s best interest at heart.’ Parents say that staff keep them up to date with matters concerning their children, and that ‘the family have a great relationship with the team’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are generally helpful in improving the quality of care provided for children. However, the manager’s six-monthly review of the home does not always include or evaluate the feedback gained from children and others. This is a missed opportunity to both celebrate good practice and reflect on any suggestions for change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor’s report does not always set clear actions and deadlines to address identified shortfalls in practice. Although such issues have always been discussed with the manager at the time, this means that progress to remedy such shortfalls cannot be tracked or evaluated. This may lead to drift and delay in making life better for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 6

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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, The 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)) 1 October 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should ensure that all children’s records are kept up to date and stored securely while they remain in the home. Specifically, they should ensure that the dispensing of non-prescribed medicines is recorded in line with the home’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 7

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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: SC480854 8

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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

Stella Henderson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC480854 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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