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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 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

A private provider operates this home, which offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. All three children were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2024 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good 21/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have made significant progress since they moved to the home. They receive high-quality individualised care from staff who they have built trusting relationships with. Staff understand what is important to each child, and how their support in these areas has extensively contributed to the children feeling valued, seen and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff adopt a therapeutic parenting approach that is integrated into all aspects of the children’s care, with support from a clinical professional. This promotes positive outcomes and leads to excellent progress for the children. The staff and children have developed strong and highly nurturing relationships. The basis of these relationships promotes open and honest discussions. The staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to explore highly sensitive topics with the children, demonstrating a commitment to addressing children’s overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education for children is a priority of the staff. Some children have excelled in education and have aspirations for the future. Where there are identified barriers to learning, the manager strives to understand the reasons behind them. The manager promotes regular meetings with education providers. This ensures that the children are in the right settings that meet their needs and that they are well understood and supported. Staff bridge any gaps between education placements with in-house tuition and vocational input to ensure children remain in a consistent routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are committed to ensuring that children have the best experiences. They strongly promote and encourage children to access activities in line with their interests. All children’s individual interests are understood and embraced by staff. Children have their own pets, play musical instruments, go to concerts, spend time in nature and have lots of fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of friendship for the children’s social and emotional development. They actively promote and facilitate friendships between the children. Children’s friends are also encouraged to visit the home and are welcomed warmly by the staff. The staff show regard for children and have ambition and high aspirations for them.

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

Incidents are rare in the home. When incidents occur, they are managed effectively by competent staff. Staff are skilled in the identified individual de-escalation techniques for each child to prevent incidents increasing in severity. This approach has seen a prominent level of success and has meant that staff have not had to physically intervene with a child in this inspection period. Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 4 Risk assessments are highly individual and specific to each child. They are useful and effective documents that assist the staff team to recognise and manage any presenting risks and behaviours for children. The action taken by staff is responsive and proactive, ensuring that situations and risks are managed at the earliest opportunity. When new risks are identified, these are assessed, and staff discuss with professionals the most appropriate way to manage that risk.

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

Therapeutic care is an essential aspect in the progress made by the children. The manager and staff work closely with a clinical psychologist to ensure a joined-up approach to applying the children’s therapeutic programmes. The language the staff use is therapeutic in nature. Staff also attend monthly consultations with the clinical psychologist to further embed their understanding and knowledge of the therapeutic needs of the children.

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

Children have made considerable progress managing their emotions. Staff consistently help children to identify how they are feeling. Because of this, children are now comfortable sharing their emotions. This has helped children to build resilience and develop better ways of coping with difficult feelings.

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

The staff impose natural consequences and a restorative approach in helping children understand the impact of their behaviour. Outcomes for the child are situational and linked to the behaviours displayed, such as apologising or helping to clear up any damage. The staff support the children to learn the consequences of their actions, which has resulted in a significant reduction in unwanted behaviours.

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

Children are cared for by staff who have been through safer recruitment checks. This ensures that only staff who are suitable to work with children do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff and children benefit from strong leadership in the home. The manager has high aspirations for the children and consistently strives to improve their outcomes. The manager’s tenacious attitude and commitment are shared by all members of the staff team, guaranteeing they also pursue these high expectations for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is excellent. Staff feel supported by the manager and feel proud to be part of an effective team. One staff member said: ‘The registered manager is one of the best managers I have worked under. They have belief and faith in the team. They have everything in line.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are regularly encouraged and supported to reflect on their practice during supervision sessions, appraisals, team meetings, handovers and through day-to-day conversations with each other. This reflective practice and sharing of information provide the staff with the expertise that helps them to continuously achieve the best care, support and outcomes for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 5 The manager clearly understands each child’s needs and what they require to make progress. They listen to the views of the child and ensure that their voice is included in decision-making. The manager confidently advocates for the children and challenges professionals when necessary. One professional said: ‘The manager really goes above and beyond for each child. They are holding everyone to account and listening and advocating for the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly of the managers. One professional said: ‘The manager will go the extra mile. You can see and feel the care; whatever they do is in the best interests of the child.’ The manager prioritises collaborating with professionals, and information- sharing means a reliable team-around-the-child approach at all times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have excellent oversight of the home, with effective monitoring and auditing tools. Any shortfalls are immediately identified and rectified. The manager evaluates all information and creates actions to improve quality, ensuring that the level of care provided to the children is at a consistently high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection.

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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: 2604035 6

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

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2604035 7 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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