Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Blackpool

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of several homes owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were 2 children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 March 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, 2 children have moved on from the home, and one child has moved in. Child’s move into the home has been well considered and the child’s needs are in line with the skills of the staff team. Staff have supported the child to settle quickly into the home. They personalise the child’s bedroom and communal areas with photographs to make them feel welcome.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s moves out of the home have been planned and they have had the opportunity to visit new placements. One child was able to return to their hometown because of their progress in the home and their reduced risks. Another child moved on from the home due their limited progress. This decision was made in the child’s best interest.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are positive about their lived experiences and their relationships with the staff team. One child is working towards a planned move to semi-independence. Staff support the child to develop their independence skills and have taken them to view potential placements to help them plan for their next steps.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s placement plans are personalised and regularly updated. This is supported by children’s local authority care plans which current and held on file.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff promote children’s educational attendance. They encourage positive routines for children. However, staff are not always consistent in offering alternative learning and activities when children are not in full time education. The recording of staff’s work with children is of variable quality.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks reduce for children living in the home. There has been a reduction in safeguarding incidents for children since the last inspection. Children’s risk assessments provide clear guidance for staff and include useful links to additional information and resources. Staff follow the plans in place to keep children safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are proactive and work hard to reduce the risks of children going missing from the home. When children are missing, staff actively search for children and contact family and friends to locate them. Staff have followed the plans in place to prevent a significant number of missing incidents for one child.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been stable leadership of the home since the last inspection. Leaders and managers know children well and are passionate about their care. They provide good oversight across children’s records, including incidents for children.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a full staff team in place, several members of staff are qualified and others progressing towards qualification. Staff have regular supervision and team meetings Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 3 to support their care of the children. Training needs for the staff team are identified and addressed. For example, additional training was sought to ensure staff had the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the child moving into the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/01/2025 Full Good 26/07/2023 Full Good 12/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s records are kept up to date and adequately detailed to reflect the actions of the staff team. This includes direct work with children and children’s transition plans.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 May 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff consistently provide children with suitable alternative structured activities when children are not accessing full time education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 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: First Floor, Harbour House, Portway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2DW

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Inspector

Hayley Smith, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1221357 7 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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