Children's home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 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

The home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, there were two children living in the home. One child has moved out, and one child has moved into the home since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted on 1 October 2021.

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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: 25 February 2025

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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: 2647514 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Good 8/11/2023 Full Good 5/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children quickly develop a strong sense of belonging in the home and express a wish to remain living there. One child said, ‘I want to live here forever. The staff are amazing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff focus on building trusting relationships with children. They spend time with children doing things they enjoy, such as playing computer games or going for walks. Children know they can trust the adults caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals speak highly of the staff and say that they ‘go above and beyond’ in their care of the children. Staff establish strong lines of communication with the professionals involved in the children’s lives. This ensures that crucial information about the children is shared and that professionals remain aligned as a multi-agency team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to explore their own interests. One child regularly attends boxing sessions and the gym. Staff support another child to explore their interest in the paranormal. Children take part in activities that are stimulating and promote their physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well presented, and furniture is updated regularly, with new sofas in the lounge. This ensures that children have comfortable and modern surroundings to relax in. The bathroom appears tired and worn. However, there are plans for it to be refurbished next month.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress in education is varied. One child is making significant progress at school, with staff providing support with their homework. However, another child frequently misses formal education. Managers do not always ensure that there is alternative education in place for them. This limits the child’s opportunities to develop essential skills for the future.

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

When children go missing from the home, staff respond effectively. Staff actively look for children and ensure their safe return. They talk to children about the reasons for going missing and how they can keep themselves safe. As a result, there have been no incidents of children going missing from the home for some time.

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

Changes in the staff team are infrequent, ensuring that children are cared for by adults who are familiar to them. This helps children to settle into the home more easily, feeling secure and supported. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 4 During team meetings, staff discuss the effectiveness of the strategies used to keep children safe. Staff are committed to understanding the triggers for children’s behaviours and introduce new ideas and approaches to their care.

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

Children’s risk management plans do not always contain clear guidance for staff to follow to keep children safe. For example, room searches are not always carried out by staff when children may have hazardous or illicit substances in their bedroom. Furthermore, staff do not respond consistently to children who are at risk. Although no significant safeguarding incidents have occurred, staff lack clarity about their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. This shortfall was identified at the last inspection, and a requirement was made. The requirement has been restated.

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

Managers work with the in-house therapist to develop staff’s safeguarding skills. However, they have not effectively addressed one child’s risks relating to criminal exploitation and cannabis use. Staff do not always have meaningful conversations with children to help them understand their risks and how they can implement positive changes. This limits the children’s ability to develop strategies to keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel supported by managers and enjoy working at the home. Staff are supportive of one another, and there is a strong sense of collaboration among them. Children live in a positive environment that promotes stability and security.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff have regular supervision and appraisals. These are well structured and thorough. Staff frequently suggest new ideas on how to improve the quality of care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the importance of independent advocacy for children. Managers referred both children for support from an independent advocate. This helps to ensure that children’s voices remain at the centre of any decisions about their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight is not always effective. Although there are several monitoring systems in place, concerning patterns of children’s behaviour are not always identified. In addition, managers do not always identify and address shortfalls in staff practice in a timely way. This limits the opportunities for managers to ensure that staff’s skills continuously reflect the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers do not always ensure that staff have the necessary skills to support children’s individual vulnerabilities. Staff are not provided with opportunities to attend training in substance misuse and child criminal exploitation, despite these being known risks for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all risk assessments contain clear steps for staff to follow to keep children safe. This includes seeking advice from health professionals when necessary and having the skills to search a child’s room when required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have meaningful conversations with children about their risks. Additionally, staff must be supported to develop their skills in supporting children to engage in conversations about their risks.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 5 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 6 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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the systems of monitoring used to identify patterns and trends are effective. This includes the recording and management oversight of any incidents relating to children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff are provided with training opportunities relevant to children’s risks and keep their knowledge up to date. 5 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 5 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 7 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have a clear alternative education plan in place for children who are not in formal education. Any barriers that children experience in accessing formal education must be fully explored by managers and staff, and support strategies put in place promptly for children.

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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: 2647514 8

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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

Sarah Gilbert, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647514 9 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

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