Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children's home: SC481152 1 SC481152 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. They are registered to provide care for up to 6 children who may experience emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living in the home. All children spoke to the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Information about this children's home

The home shares the site with a school that is run by the provider. The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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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: SC481152 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/10/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC481152 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home say that they are happy. They benefit from a warm, nurturing environment where staff demonstrate a strong understanding of each child's individual needs. This approach helps children to feel understood and secure. Staff consistently provide empathic and genuine care, which contributes to the calm and predictable routines in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships across the home are respectful and staff are positive role models for children. As a result, children make good progress and develop a strong sense of security in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children's education and all children are accessing learning that is appropriate to their needs. Staff maintain close communication with teaching staff to support children's attendance, engagement and progress. Staff take pride in children's achievements and encourage them to remain motivated with their learning, routines and personal goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children participate in out-of-school activities, where possible, and have also raised funds for charities. The consistent encouragement from staff reinforces children's belief in their abilities to engage in the community and supports sustained progress outside of formal education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is personalised with photographs and displays that help children to feel valued. Staff work hard to create a homely atmosphere, which was particularly evident during the Christmas period. Staff make seasonal activities fun. During Christmas, they made elf letters, Christmas books and creative festive experiences that contributed to a sense of celebration and belonging. These shared moments help children to build positive memories and strengthen their emotional connection to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from predictable routines and a clear weekly structure. This consistency supports children's emotional regulation and reduces anxiety, particularly for those who rely on routine to feel safe. Staff create opportunities for fun, connection and shared experiences, further strengthening children's sense of belonging and contributing to their overall wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's moves into the home are managed well by the manager and staff. They arrange visits beforehand so that children can get to know the staff and other children at their own pace. Children who recently reached adulthood have moved on from the home. These transitions are handled with sensitivity and thoughtful preparation to support their next steps in life. Inspection report for children's home: SC481152 4

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

Children say that they feel safe in the home. Children experience consistent care and benefit from a stable environment that supports their ongoing progress.

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

Children's risk assessments are up to date and well understood by staff. They use these documents to guide their practice and ensure that their care of the children is responsive to each child's needs. Staff support children well when there are court-imposed restrictions in place.

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

Staff use de ‑ escalation techniques confidently and support children to manage their own behaviours. Their approach helps children to feel understood during moments of heightened emotion. Following incidents, children are offered space to reflect and understand what happened and repair relationships where needed. These restorative conversations strengthen children's emotional resilience and reinforce trust.

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

Staff respond with calmness and sensitivity when children self ‑ harm. They offer immediate reassurance and stay close by so that children do not feel alone or overwhelmed. Staff take time to talk things through at a pace that feels comfortable for each child, helping them to feel heard and supported. The home also benefits from an in ‑ house therapist who provides regular sessions that help children to explore their emotions and develop safer ways to cope. This coordinated support strengthens children's emotional wellbeing and helps them to feel more secure.

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

Staff engage children in planned and unplanned conversations to help them to reflect on their individual worries or challenges. These discussions are purposeful and well structured, giving children space to talk openly about difficult issues in a safe and supportive way. The in-house therapist enhances this work by offering additional guidance and therapeutic input. They also organise monthly creative theme days that help children and staff to deepen their relationships, creating a relaxed environment where more-sensitive conversations can take place naturally.

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

Medication systems are well organised and subject to strong oversight, with regular checks that reduce the likelihood of errors. When an error occurred, learning was identified and shared. This culture demonstrates a reflective and accountable approach to safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers demonstrate clear oversight of the home and maintain strong links between education staff, therapeutic support and social care. This integrated approach ensures that planning is consistent and that communication is well coordinated. Managers maintain a clear vision for the home and set expectations that prioritise children's safety, wellbeing and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision, structured team meetings and ongoing training. These support reflective practice and help to maintain consistent standards across the Inspection report for children's home: SC481152 5 team. Staff describe feeling supported and valued, which contributes to a stable workforce and consistent care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight of the home is good. The manager understands the strengths and areas of development needed well. Managers and leaders monitor key systems in order to maintain high standards in the home. The leadership provides clear direction, strong oversight and a child ‑ centred approach that underpins the positive experiences observed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers maintain good relationships with external professionals and demonstrate healthy challenge when decisions require clarification or reconsideration. This promotes accountability and ensures that children's needs remain central to multi ‑ agency planning. Professionals consistently say that the children living here are making very good progress. Inspection report for children's home: SC481152 6

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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: SC481152 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: SC481152 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 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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