Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 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

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to four children between the ages of 11 and 17 who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 9 August 2023 and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One of the children has been living at the home for nearly four years, the second child for almost three years, and the third child for more than one year. As part of this inspection, the inspectors spoke with all three children. The children have successfully settled into the home and are flourishing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are caring and nurturing and provide the children with a lot of love and support. They work in liaison with partner agencies, such as teachers, social workers and health professionals, which helps them understand children’s lived experiences and trauma. As a result, they know how to best meet the children’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have positive relationships with all the children living at the home. This supports children to engage with the support given to them by staff, managers and partner agencies. All three children have made significant progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is doing well with his education. Teachers say that he will achieve all his aspirations and meet his academic targets if he continues to engage with his learning. Staff have supported another child in rebuilding relationships with his parents. He is now spending more quality time with his family and has a positive support network around him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved on from the home. Her transition was planned and thoughtfully considered. Before the child moved, staff supported her in purchasing what she needed for her new home. After the child moved, the manager and staff continued to provide outreach support for a period of two weeks, which supported her in settling into her new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to express their wishes and feelings through various platforms, including quality time with staff, key-work sessions, options to participate in their statutory review meetings, children’s meetings and care planning. Children are involved in making decisions about their day-to-day care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to various activities in the home and the community, including simple pleasures such as playing football in the garden, making meals, going on day trips, and enjoying numerous festivities, such as Eid, Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Burns Night. They have also enjoyed sunny holidays abroad.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have prepared memory books for the children. Children can access these books at any time during their stay and take them with them when they move on from the home. The memory books reflect the happy memories children have made at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 4 The manager and staff provide the children with a warm and welcoming family home. The home environment is well maintained. A maintenance log is used to ensure that any tasks needing attention are promptly addressed.

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

The manager and staff know the children well. They understand their lived experiences, their presenting behaviours, and the support they require to feel safe and cared for. The manager and staff follow safeguarding processes and procedures. They work in collaboration with other professionals to formulate safety plans to keep the children safe.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home are managed effectively by the manager and staff, who know the children well. There are clear chronologies of events leading up to the incidents that show triggers for behaviours and inform children’s care plans.

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

Staff demonstrate a lot of empathy, acceptance, playfulness and curiosity when exploring with children what happened, why they felt the need to go missing, whether they suffered any harm while they were missing and how staff can support them. Where appropriate challenge is required, this is done firmly but with kindness to reinforce positive behaviours and what is unacceptable.

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

Staff and managers have clear and consistent boundaries, which contributes to a feeling of well-being and security for children. The manager and staff provide children with positive reinforcement for their daily achievements. This helps children to make positive choices.

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

Physical restraints are rarely used in the home, as staff can de-escalate incidents before they reach a point where restraint is necessary. On one occasion, a new member of staff used restraint when it was not appropriate and proportionate to the behaviours a child displayed. Managers took swift action to safeguard the child, and appropriate agencies were notified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A dedicated and experienced leader oversees the home, implementing effective monitoring and reviewing systems. As a result, she is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about caring for the children and role models positive parenting. She invests in the staff and gives them opportunities to improve their skills. Staff are continuously developing and progressing their careers. The home has a stable staff team, and staff want to work there and support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have access to mandatory training, specialist training and tailored training from the clinical team, which supports the home’s therapeutic model of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 5 Children’s needs are met, and they are all making good progress from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff use reflective practice in supervision sessions, records of conversations and team meetings. Their focus is always on the children, and they explore what they are doing well, what they can improve and what they can do differently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partner agencies speak positively about the manager and how effective her communication is. This means they know how the children are progressing and what further support they might require. Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 6

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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: 2530832 7

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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

Rumbi Mangoma, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2530832 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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