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

Inspection report children’s home: 1223501 1 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

This home is owned and operated by a large private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home. Two children had previously moved out.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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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: 27 February 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: 1223501 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Outstanding 10/01/2023 Full Outstanding 15/03/2022 Full Outstanding 02/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1223501 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is warm, welcoming and has photos of children and staff spending time together and artwork created by children around the home. Children have remained living in the home for long periods. Children have strong relationships with staff who they said they trust. Staff place children at the centre of their practice. Children experience a sense of permanence and belonging and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff who know them well. Clear plans are in place so that staff understand their roles and responsibilities to support children when they struggle to manage their feelings. Children are involved in deciding what approaches work for them. This supports children to feel secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun. Children are encouraged to participate in a range of activities individual to them, such as scouts, trampolining and archery. These activities support children to develop their social skills. One child has been supported to attend at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As a result, they now have the confidence to volunteer packing food for a homeless charity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending at school. One child, following multiple exclusions, has been supported to remain in school with staff from the home supporting the child during lunchtimes. The manager has advocated for another child, whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream school, to attend an alternative provision. This means that children are participating in and are developing their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children new to the home are welcomed sensitively with the best possible planning. They are provided with details of their new home before arriving. Additionally, transition plans, at the child’s pace, are in place so children have the opportunity to meet with staff and children and attend at activities together before they move in. This means that children already living in the home are prepared for new children moving in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children leaving the home experience positive endings. Staff work with children, parents, professionals, such as social workers, education and health, to consider what support is needed. Plans are then put in place and reviewed regularly. This means that children are prepared and leave care when they are ready. Children value the relationships they have made with staff and return to visit often.

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

Children, when making an allegation, have been listened to. Staff have shared information with parents and professionals, such as social workers, so this can be considered timely. Plans have been put in place to ensure that arrangements for children are safely monitored. As a result, any potential risks are understood and managed well. Inspection report for children’s home: 1223501 4 Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to support children. Children who go missing from home have clear plans in place so staff understand what actions they need to take. Staff complete area searches so they can be returned safely. Staff are curious and speak to children so they can understand the reason for this and can revise their approach. As a result, children rarely go missing from home.

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

When children need to be held, this is proportionate and necessary. The manager has reviewed events leading up to incidents to understand any patterns, triggers and staff responses. As a result of this additional training has been provided to staff to meet the individual needs of children. Plans have been changed and completed with children who feel secure as they are involved in deciding what support and approaches best work for them.

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

Children are supported to spend time with family. However, on one occasion, staff failed to recognise the risk potential for one child. This incident was reviewed by the manager alongside staff and the child’s social worker. A clear plan was put in place to reduce the risk of harm. There have been no further incidents of concern around this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively. The manager is supported by the responsible individual and deputy manager, who are inspirational and ambitious and have high expectations for what children can achieve. Professionals and parents say that the support for children is excellent and children are making progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations of the staff team and promotes a learning culture. This is reflected in her oversight and monitoring of children’s experiences. Team meetings, supervision and appraisals are used to identify continued learning to develop staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A consistent staff team is in place. Some staff are qualified, and others are completing the relevant qualification. Staff receive training specific to the needs of children, such as global development delay, so they can continue to deliver a high-quality service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said they love working at the home and feel supported by the registered manager and responsible individual. They are provided with opportunities to reflect through regular supervision, so that they can learn from and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the staff team. For example, when allegations have been made, post investigation, lessons learned are completed and single subject supervision and training have been put in place for staff to develop their knowledge and understanding. This is strengthened by a clear workforce plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have excellent relationships with partner agencies. One professional said, ‘It is very clear that the all the staff and managers at the home have [name of child’s] best interests at the heart of their decision-making.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1223501 5

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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: 1223501 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

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1223501 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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