Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children spoke to the inspectors about their experiences living at 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/07/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled at the home. They benefit from consistent and nurturing care that promotes emotional well-being and helps them feel safe and valued. There is a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the home. It is immediately clear that staff care deeply about the children, and this contributes to the positive and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children have engaged positively with education. When one child faced some difficulties, the staff supported them to complete their GCSEs, which reflects their commitment to supporting educational outcomes. Other children who have been out of education have been helped to transition to a full-time mixed curriculum, which has helped them to have a more positive view of their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Staff ensure that health appointments are attended, medication is administered safely, and any health concerns are addressed promptly. Therapeutic input is being embedded into daily practice, and staff demonstrate reflective approaches in their recordings, showing thoughtful engagement with children’s emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a strong emphasis on memory making. Children’s experiences are captured and displayed thoughtfully, helping them build a sense of identity and celebrate personal milestones. Staff speak with warmth and genuine affection about the children in their care. This helps build strong, trusting relationships and supports emotional development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are purposeful and well recorded. Staff use these sessions to support progress, explore feelings and help children reflect on their goals. This is also supported by a therapist, who the children use to help them work through their emotions and past experiences. Staff are also supported by the therapist to help them plan work with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite staff receiving training in supporting children with complex needs, they struggled to meet the complex needs of one child. This led to the child leaving the home. Staff did not demonstrate that they were equipped with the practical skills to support the child.

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

Children feel safe at the home. They are cared for by staff who know them well and respond to their needs with consistency. This sense of safety allows children to build trust and feel secure in their environment.

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

Staff are clear about their responsibilities and understand the risks associated with each child. Risk plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect key issues, and staff use them effectively to guide their responses and maintain children’s safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 4 Allegations are managed appropriately and in line with safeguarding procedures. When concerns arise, the child and the staff member involved receive the support they need throughout the process and there is wider engagement with external professionals.

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

Recruitment practices are in line with safer recruitment guidelines. Managers carry out all relevant checks, which ensures that all staff are suitably vetted and qualified before taking up their roles.

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

Staff understand the missing-from-home protocols well. On the one occasion when a child went missing from home, staff followed procedures correctly and completed clear documentation to support the response and review.

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

A positive indicator of strong relationships and effective engagement is that there have been no physical interventions with the current group of children. Staff use de-escalation techniques and therapeutic approaches to manage behaviour safely and respectfully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from strong leadership. Both the manager and deputy provide clear direction and are respected by the staff team. Their consistent presence and guidance contribute to a stable and well-organised service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most supervision records show that trauma-informed practice is discussed and gradually embedded into practice since the rollout earlier this year. Staff have begun to reflect more deeply on their work, although some supervision sessions remain task-focused and lack therapeutic or research-based reflection. This inconsistency suggests further development is needed to ensure that supervision supports professional growth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers know the strengths and weaknesses of the home well. Regular audits help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that standards are maintained across all aspects of care. All required documentation from the local authority is in place and kept up to date. When documents are missing or delayed, the managers challenge appropriately to ensure that children’s records remain accurate and complete.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s files are well organised and clearly show their progress. Records are child centred and demonstrate how staff support individual goals and development over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly and are well structured. Staff use these meetings to share information, reflect on practice and plan effectively to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is evidence that research-informed approaches are beginning to influence care practice. Staff are starting to apply theory to their work with children, but further evidence is needed to show how this is embedded and making a measurable difference. Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 5

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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 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;

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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; 1 January 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 6 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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are equipped with the skills to look after children with complex needs as specified in the home’s statement of purpose.

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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: 2765128 7

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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: Unit 1 Tustin Court, Riversway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2YQ

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Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2765128 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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