Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child spoke to the inspector about their experience of living in the home.

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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

Date of last inspection: 17 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2024 Full Outstanding 01/11/2022 Full Outstanding 21/12/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said they like living in the home, and they are starting to build trusting relationships. They have no worries or concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home. Two children had lived at the home for over five years and made significant progress in all areas of their lives. Children are supported to move into and on from the home in a planned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves on from the home as they approach adulthood are well planned and demonstrate strong multi-agency working. This helps children to have positive moves that meet their needs and take place at a time best for them. When children leave, they are encouraged to remain in contact.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to go on holidays and to create long-lasting memories. The staff ensure that children have memory books to remember the fun times and their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education. When children are not able to access mainstream education, managers and staff explore alternative educational opportunities. However, when children are not accessing education, plans are not clear. This limits opportunities to ensure that children are supported to achieve their full academic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: 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, ‘There is nothing they could do better.’

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

The child said they feel safe living in the home. They are able to talk to staff about what is going on for them.

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

Children’s care and risk management plans are clear and detailed. They provide information for staff on how to help children if there are incidents. Children’s plans are child centred, individualised and detail the measures that are helpful to the child.

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

One serious incident has been notified to Ofsted in this inspection period. The recording of the incident is detailed and evidences the home’s understanding of the concern and follow-up actions undertaken. However, one serious incident was not notified to Ofsted in line with regulation. This limits the regulator’s oversight of practice in the home.

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

Staff prioritise the child’s safety. They are developing their understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and needs. However, the manager has not ensured that all known risks Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 4 are included in the child’s lone-working risk management plans. This does not provide staff with clear guidance on how to manage all risks should they occur.

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

The manager and staff are constantly striving to develop practice in the home. Staff use a trauma-informed approach to the care they provide. As a result, children have not needed to be held by staff to keep them safe. Staff are attuned to the child’s needs, which supports the child’s well-being.

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

Staff hold important conversations with children about risks they may be exposed to. They discuss topics such as substance misuse, fire safety and healthy relationships in factual and child-focused ways. This helps children to develop their understanding and awareness of risks.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff work proactively to encourage their safe return. Staff understand the risks associated with children going missing from the home. After each incident, children are spoken to by an independent person to seek their views on why they went missing from home. The manager has clear oversight to look at learning opportunities. This helps to support children to reduce the risk of further incidents.

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

Staff regularly encourage the child to express their wishes and feelings. This is achieved through regular discussion. Staff support the child to be involved in their day-to-day care, including choosing activities and meals.

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

The home is comfortable and homely. However, on one occasion, the manager did not ensure that damage to the home was quickly reported. This does not ensure that children are supported to develop a strong sense of belonging in the home.

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

Safer recruitment practices are in place to ensure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced, caring and committed manager manages the home. She is supported by a deputy manager, and together they have established a culture of nurture and high aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staffing has been an ongoing challenge. At times, staff from the other homes owned by the provider work in the home. Therefore, on some occasions, children are cared for by staff who are not as familiar to them. Lone-working arrangements have also been implemented in line with the home’s statement of purpose. However, lone-working arrangements have not been reviewed following serious incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A comprehensive training programme is in place that is varied and equips the staff with the knowledge and skills to meet the child’s individual needs. Staff value training and feel that it gives them confidence in their role. Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 5 Team meetings take place regularly to give staff an opportunity to come together and share their skills and knowledge. The in-house therapist attends the meetings to offer support to staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal and external monitoring systems and evaluation of the home by leaders and managers are effective. Managers support staff in their development through regular, reflective supervision and appraisals. Regular audits take place, and there are monthly visits by an independent person. As a result, the registered manager is able to identify opportunities for further development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry);

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Requirement Due date

or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 12 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 12 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 7 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the lone- working policy is reviewed following significant incidents. They should also ensure that any damage in the home is swifty addressed.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children in the home are not participating in education, they are supported to engage in suitable and structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 8

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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: 2521953 9

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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: Hexagon Care, 1 Tustin Court, Port Way, Ashton-on- Ribble, Preston PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2521953 10 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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