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

Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 1 SC484247

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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

The children's home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 6 children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There were 5 children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Inspectors spoke with 4 children.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2024 Full Outstanding 13/06/2023 Full Good 13/09/2022 Full Outstanding 01/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive a consistently high standard of care that is responsive to their individual needs. Staff build strong, trusting relationships with children, enabling them to understand what each child requires to make meaningful progress in all areas of their lives. Staff are committed to providing children with a genuine sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from trusting and nurturing relationships with staff who clearly value them and want the very best for them. Children say, 'The best thing about my home is the staff,' and, 'It's just like a family home.' The home is filled with laughter, warmth and positive interactions between children and staff. Children trust that staff do the best for them, and, although they acknowledge experiencing difficult times, they are confident that the staff will always be there.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to overcome long ‑ standing barriers to educational success. The manager and staff team are persistent advocates and highlight the challenges children face and ensure that they receive the support they need. Leaders and managers maintain productive relationships with education services and work collaboratively to drive progress, agree on shared goals and plan next steps. Children who have been out of school for extended periods are helped to re ‑ engage with their education. As a result of this commitment, professionals state that, 'Children's attendance and performance in school is amazing.' Those who have missed attending education are supported to make progress from their starting points and feel prepared to return to full ‑ time learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional support to access services when specialist health provision is limited. One child experienced a prolonged hospital stay following surgery for a serious illness. Staff arranged their shifts so they could be at the child's bedside each day and ensure that they were never alone. Their social worker commented that, 'Staff cared for the child like [they were] their own'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager took a solution ‑ focused approach to managing a potentially contagious illness, working with health professionals to assess and minimise risk and making the necessary physical adjustments to the home. When aftercare physiotherapy was unavailable, staff collaborated with medical professionals to design a programme they could deliver themselves. With consistent encouragement, the child increased their mobility and continues to recover. They are now living more independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of new and stimulating activities alongside their established hobbies and interests. The manager ensures that funding is available for regular, high ‑ cost pursuits when children move into the home and wish to continue with the activities they love. Staff keep parents involved and actively facilitate their attendance at community events to support their child's achievements. When children have limited experience of organised activities or begin to withdraw, staff use creative approaches, Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 4 including involving children's friends, to inspire and motivate them. Children speak proudly about their experiences and accomplishments during their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are invested in their community and show a genuine desire to give something back. They are taught the importance of healthy lifestyles and develop their fitness over time, enabling them to participate in charity runs and raise money for causes that matter to them. The staff at the home also maintain a long ‑ standing relationship with a local homeless charity supporting young adults. Children take an active role in donating self ‑ care boxes and gifts at Christmas, and they attend anniversary events to present gifts and show their continued support. Through these experiences, children learn about different health conditions, the impact on individuals and the importance of supporting those less fortunate than themselves

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

Children's vulnerabilities reduce over time because they receive thoughtful, well ‑ coordinated support that places their safety and welfare at the centre of practice. Managers and staff work closely with children, their local authorities, families and external agencies to provide a cohesive safeguarding response that helps children feel consistently safe. The manager and staff regularly review information and reflect on incidents, using learning to refine their approach and reduce the risks children may face.

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

Risks are clearly understood by the staff, and there is a strong multi ‑ agency approach to identifying and reducing children's vulnerabilities. Missing ‑ from ‑ home protocols are current and effective and support timely information ‑ sharing if an incident occurs. Children's plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that risk management measures are either strengthened or reduced as the child's needs change.

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

Staff actively engage children in conversations about safety and use their views to shape an environment where children feel heard and protected. Children share how they feel both in individual discussions and during peer meetings. Staff explore children's understanding of risks and respond to emerging themes through interactive group sessions that are both fun and educational. Children enjoy contributing and learn from one another. They become more informed about topics that affect them. As a result, children develop essential skills that help them stay safe both at home and in the community.

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

Staff have regular restorative discussions with children about their behaviour, helping them reflect on incidents and understand their emotions and explore healthier ways to manage challenges in the future. Children learn about the impact of their actions on themselves, their peers and those close to them. They are involved in agreeing on sanctions that are restorative and educational and which strengthen their insight into how emotions influence behaviour and the wider consequences that follow.

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

Allegations and concerns are managed promptly and appropriately. Children are listened to, and supportive action is taken for both the child and the staff involved while Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 5 managers carry out investigations. If staff leave employment during an ongoing investigation, managers complete the full process and notify all relevant agencies. Children are kept informed and have the outcomes explained to them in a child ‑ centred way. This transparency reinforces the strong safeguarding culture that is deeply embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational and has created a culture of mutual respect, support and high expectations for both staff and children. Leaders and managers consistently promote a child ‑ centred culture in which children's progress, wellbeing and future independence are at the heart of all decision ‑ making. As a result, children invest in their relationships with staff and the home and develop the confidence and skills needed to become independent young adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers demonstrate strong ambition for every child. They work closely with a range of external agencies to secure the best possible outcomes and do not hesitate to challenge professionals when services fall short of their responsibilities. The manager escalates concerns appropriately to senior leaders and ensures that children's needs remain visible and that barriers to progress are addressed. This tenacity leads to tangible improvements in many areas of children's lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has created an environment that is highly effective in supporting staff development. Staff are enabled to build their knowledge, confidence and expertise, which contributes to a stable team and continuity of care for children. Supervision sessions are reflective and child ‑ focused. They offer staff the opportunity to consider their strengths and identify areas where they may need further support or development. The manager also uses informal supervision sessions to explore emerging themes or concerns, with additional input from senior leaders and the organisation's training and development team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders demonstrate strong professional curiosity. The responsible individual robustly challenges safeguarding agencies when procedural shortfalls arise and ensures that concerns are addressed and future risks are reduced. Senior leaders routinely undertake internal investigations to explore any potential safeguarding issues within the home, even when external thresholds have not been met. This approach strengthens safeguarding practice and provides valuable insight into emerging themes and areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff lead by example to ensure that children receive the highest-quality care. When a child faced a long waiting list for mental health support, staff proactively contacted the relevant service to identify what could be offered in the interim. A staff member then completed 10 weeks of training, enabling him to share his learning with the team and to develop resources and adapt the child's plans. This ongoing work is significantly enhancing staff knowledge and having a positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of all children in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 6 Leaders and managers have recently introduced an additional quality assurance process that includes a new recording system designed to strengthen the clarity, consistency and oversight of children's records. While delays in implementation have resulted in slightly reduced analysis within some existing records, this has not impacted children. The

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

manager's competence and robust oversight have ensured that safeguarding and monitoring remain consistently strong while the new system is embedded. Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. ('Guide to The Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards' page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC484247 8

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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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Inspectors

Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Kirstie Sutherland, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC484247 9 regulates 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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