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

Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 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

This home is operated by a private company and offers care for up to 3 children who may have social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of inspection, there were 2 children being cared for at the home. The inspector spoke to all children during the inspection. One child has moved out since the home opened.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 2

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Summary of findings

Two children live at the home. They feel safe and happy. They enjoy positive experiences and are making good progress. They have respectful relationships with one another and staff. Children's needs are understood, and there is appropriate response to changing risks, which ensures children are protected from harm. An experienced and suitably qualified manager leads the home.

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Summary of findings

The following shortfalls were identified: Children's risk management plans to do not include all known risks to enable staff to provide consistent quality of care. Children's individual risks and impact upon one another's needs are not clearly recorded. Timely direct work is not carried out with children regarding the consequences to their behaviour. Development plans are not specific and measurable to show progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled in the home and are making good progress from their starting points, including improvements in rest and sleep and the development of healthier lifestyles. Children enjoy positive and affectionate relationships with staff, who treat them with dignity and respect.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel confident sharing their views and trust that staff will listen and respond to what is important to them. Staff prioritise meaningful conversations with children about what is happening in their lives. Some conversations are planned, while others take place following significant events, ensuring that children receive timely and relevant support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain relationships with their families and friends. They travel with children to ensure that family time happens safely and consistently. As a result, children enjoy positive and meaningful time with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are well met. Staff ensure that children attend routine health appointments and work closely with specialist services when required. This collaborative approach leads to improved health outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children's education. When there have been difficulties with attendance, staff advocate for children to find ways to help them engage. When not in education, staff provide structured activities for informal learning, such as educational visits and physical activity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote children's independence and help them to build confidence and self-esteem. Children take part in a variety of activities that reflect their interests, and Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 3 staff encourage them to try new experiences, such as spa days, boxing and visits to their favourite football stadiums.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move into the home with the best possible planning under the circumstances and timeframes available. When children move on from the home, decisions are made in the best interests of all children living there. These moves are well supported by staff, who help children to settle into their new home for as long as is necessary to enable them to build new relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is maintained to a high standard and is warm and welcoming. Children have their own personal space, which is designed to reflect their individuality. Shared areas provide ample space for children to relax and engage in their preferred activities, including the use of facilities such as the gym and games room.

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

Children feel safe and do not go missing from the home. When they have left for short periods of time, staff follow them and ensure their safe return shortly afterwards.

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

Staff treat children with respect and regular praise. There is a positive and therapeutic approach to their care. This means there have been few incidents, and physical intervention has not been necessary.

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

The use of consequences is rare, and when these have been applied, the manager provides oversight to ensure that they are fair and restorative in nature. However, the manager has not consistently ensured that timely conversations take place to help children understand the consequences of their behaviour.

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

Children are supported to understand how to keep themselves safe through meaningful conversations, such as about knife crime and online safety.

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

Before children move into the home, managers ensure that staff can meet their needs using available information about their lived experiences. However, one child's risks were not clearly communicated and were not fully explored, meaning that their plans did not always include clear guidance for staff. This was appropriately challenged with the relevant professionals, and, when risks increased, staff responded with effective safeguarding measures to protect all children from harm.

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

When 2 children moved into the home within a short period, their individual risks and the impact on one another were carefully considered but were not clearly recorded in their plans. Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced registered manager in post who has a clear vision for the children and the development of the staff team. He is a strong advocate for improving children's experiences and speaks proudly of their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff team that works well together. Children are cared for by staff who know them well and provide consistent support that promotes their safety, emotional wellbeing and stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the appropriate qualifications and skills to carry out their roles. Training records show that staff training is current and aligned to the needs of the children living in the home. This ensures that staff maintain up-to-date knowledge and are competent in providing effective and safe care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager supports staff through regular, practice ‑ related supervision and appraisal. Staff value the manager's support for their development and wellbeing. Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended, providing opportunities to share information about children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor and oversee the home, which he uses effectively to identify good practice and address shortfalls. However, actions within development plans are not always specific or measurable. Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that children's risks are fully assessed based on information available at the time of them moving into the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that each child's risks are individually assessed to understand their impact upon other children living in the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that the children's individual risk management plans provide staff with clear strategies to manage and reduce risk. 3 July 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the use of discipline is subject to effective systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that it is fair and proportionate. This should include timely conversations with children to help them understand the consequences of their behaviour. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 48, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should have a workforce development plan that is specific and measurable to show progress made towards identified goals. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8) Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 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: 2862319 7

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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

Samantha Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2862319 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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