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

Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 2 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were 2 children being cared for at the home. The inspector spoke to all children during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 9 December 2025

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/12/2025 Full Good 19/06/2024 Full Good 19/09/2023 Full Good 15/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 3

p.2

Summary of findings

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

p.3

Summary of findings

The following shortfalls were identified: the manager’s oversight of the quality of care does not always identify when agreed protocols have not been followed; children are not consistently informed of the outcome of their complaints; not all staff have received specialist training to meet the specific needs of the children; Ofsted was not notified of the manager’s absence from the home in a timely manner.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive, caring relationships with staff, who consistently treat them with dignity and respect. One child has been absent from the home for a prolonged period of time, which has impacted their progress in some areas. Throughout this time, staff have maintained regular contact to promote the child’s safety, wellbeing and engagement. Staff have worked closely with the child’s placing authority, which has been supportive of their efforts to safeguard the child and encourage their return.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met, and health records are clearly maintained. When one child struggled to engage with routine health appointments, staff encouraged them to attend and advocated on their behalf. Staff make timely referrals to specialist health services, such as substance misuse services, when required. Children’s emotional health is supported by an in-house psychologist.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have experienced difficulties with school attendance. Staff have actively advocated for the children and explored strategies to support their engagement in education. Tutors regularly visit the home to provide learning opportunities. When children are not attending a formal educational setting, staff offer structured activities to promote learning and development, including educational visits and physical exercise. However, despite these efforts, the children do not always engage in the opportunities provided.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are developing independence, particularly in budgeting. They often enjoy time in the community with their friends or agreed overnight stays. Staff consistently offer activities aligned with children’s interests, and both children have enjoyed a holiday abroad. Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 4 Staff help children to maintain relationships with their families and friends and build up their independence skills to be able to travel safely. As a result, children enjoy positive and meaningful time with the people who are important to them.

p.3

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, such as safe and healthy relationships. Some conversations are planned, while others take place following significant events, ensuring that children receive timely and relevant support.

p.4

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 snug. However, some areas of damage and wear and tear have not been repaired.

p.4

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

Children say they feel safe in the home but do not always keep staff informed of their movements. When children go missing from home, staff take appropriate action to look for them and complete follow-up work to reduce risks. Staff work well with external agencies to manage exploitation risks and work together to create robust safety plans.

p.4

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

Children are supported to understand how to keep themselves safe through meaningful conversations on topics such as substance misuse, self-harm and fire safety. Children’s risk management plans are individualised and identify known vulnerabilities. They are updated following significant incidents, and children are kept safe from harm. However, they are not always kept up to date as risks reduce.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate effective incident management practices, including undertaking welfare checks, room searches, key work and communication with professionals. Children are involved, and consent is sought where possible, with clear management oversight, risk review and therapeutic input to safety planning. While medical attention and recording of advice have not always been consistent, this has been robustly addressed to improve practice.

p.4

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

Any suspicion of harm is reported swiftly to the appropriate agency. Investigations are thorough, and effective action is taken to address staff practice. Children’s welfare is a priority throughout. However, children are not consistently informed of the outcome of complaints.

p.4

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

Staff treat children with respect and regular praise. There is a positive and curious approach to their care. Children also have incentives put in place when it is deemed to be effective, such as additional pocket money or preferred activities. This means that physical intervention has only been necessary on one occasion. Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 5 The use of consequences is rare, and where these have been applied, the manager provides oversight to ensure these are restorative and children understand the consequences of their behaviour.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and suitably qualified manager in place. She speaks proudly of the children and knows them well. She advocates on children’s behalf to improve their overall experiences, for example stability and education. She is supported by an experienced deputy. However, when the registered manager was out of the home for more than 28 days, Ofsted was not notified in a timely manner.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place to monitor the home, identifying strengths and addressing shortfalls. As a result, there is a plan in place to continually improve the quality of key work with children. The manager reviews all incidents with scrutiny but has not consistently ensured staff followed the agreed procedures when a child went missing from home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete a wide range of training. However, not all staff have completed additional, specialist training to fully understand the children’s individual needs, such as substance misuse. This led to some shortfalls in staff practice, which were identified and suitably addressed by the manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is now a stable staff team that works well together. The manager has developed effective systems to support new staff in developing in their roles. Children are cared for by staff who know them well and promote their safety, emotional wellbeing and stability.

p.5

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. Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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)(c)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff have access to additional training that relates to the needs of the children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all significant incidents are evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes to support the development of staff. 28 August 2026

p.6

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are informed of the outcome after making an allegation about staff practice.

p.7

Requirement Due date

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence.

p.7

Requirement Due date

Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a notice under paragraph (1) must—

p.7

Requirement Due date

be given no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

specify with respect to the proposed absence—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the arrangements which have been made for running the home during the absence;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the address, name and qualifications of the person who will be responsible for the home during the absence; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

in the case of the absence of the registered manager, the arrangements that have been, or are proposed to be, made for appointing another person to manage the home during the absence, including the proposed date by which the appointment is to be made. 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 8 If the absence arises as a result of an emergency or is unforeseen, the registered person must give notice of the absence—

p.7

Requirement Due date

within one week of the beginning of the absence; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

specifying the matters in paragraph (2)(b).

p.8

Requirement Due date

If the notice required under paragraph (2) or (3) has not been given as required, it must be given without delay.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI of the return to duty of the person in day-to-day charge of the home not later than 7 days after the date of that person’s return. (Regulation 48 (1)(2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v) (3)(a)(b) (4) (5))

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must give notice in writing to His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the absence of the registered manager within the agreed timescales.

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are able to experience living in a home that is homely and where areas of wear and tear are repaired or replaced. They should seek as far as possible to maintain a homely environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk management plans reflect the current level of assessed risk and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.8

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: 2608195 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor, Harbour House, Portway, Preston, Lancashire PR2 2DW

p.9

Inspector

Samantha Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2608195 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10