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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 1 SC480847

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Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

This children’s home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the full inspection in October 2024. Areas for improvement related to the safety and protection of children, the leadership and management arrangements and the notification of safeguarding incidents. These have now been met.

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Findings from the inspection

Children feel safe and are making progress. One child said it was ‘great’ living at the home and they would not change anything. Another child said they ‘felt safe’ and they ‘like the staff’.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans are reviewed regularly. Their updates are clearly identified, and staff are made aware of the changes. Children’s risk assessments hold information about their risks and provide staff with strategies to mitigate these. This helps staff to keep children safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff complete written records. The use of language is consistent and creates a record that will be pleasant for a child to look back on in the future. Staff’s actions are not always consistent with the child’s plan. This means it is not always clear if staff have followed the child’s plan in their actions to safeguard them.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are skilled at de-escalation. They use their positive relationships with children to intervene when a child needs more support, which means incidents are rare. Staff use the children’s preferred communication methods to speak to children and help them understand what is happening or what needs to happen.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers’ monitoring and reviewing processes are effective. A permanent management team manages the home. Its understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and its improvement plans, demonstrate a strong commitment to providing the best possible care for children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are provided with training. When staff have gaps in their knowledge and skills, training is identified and sourced at the earliest opportunity to support their understanding. All staff are enrolled on the level 3 diploma to further enhance and support their knowledge and progression. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/01/2024 Full Good 24/03/2023 Full Good 09/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 4

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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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 the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that actions taken to support children and reduce harm are consistent with children’s plans. 15 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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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

Kate Jackson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC480847 6 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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