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

Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home, and the inspector spoke with each of them.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025. He is working towards the required qualification.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/08/2025 Full Outstanding 14/08/2024 Full Good 14/11/2023 Full Good 04/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 3

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Summary of findings

Children generally settle well and make good progress. Staff take effective action to help support children's development, help them to understand risk and stay safe. Trusted relationships between children and staff are a strength of this home.

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Summary of findings

One child has had an extended period out of school and wants to move on from the home. No advocate has been appointed to help the child to explore their wishes and resolve these issues.

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Summary of findings

The manager has been registered since the last full inspection. The culture they have fostered in the home is positive, and professionals and staff hold leaders and managers in high regard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in this home. Staff give children the emotional, social and practical skills they need both now and as they grow older and become more independent. Children learn to understand and express their feelings. In collaboration with therapists, staff support children to feel calmer and grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care is individualised. Children's bedrooms strongly reflect their preferences and this helps them to develop their sense of identity. Throughout the home, there is a warm, comfy feel. Children feel a sense of security, and this leads to long-term, stable placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time safely with their family. Where this is not feasible, staff identify other adults who are meaningful to the children and support those relationships. Staff recognise the importance of this in giving children a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On occasion, children have not got along. Staff understand the challenges concerning peer dynamics and are vigilant and responsive to this. Staff increase monitoring and supervision to ensure that conflicts are managed effectively. Over time, friendships have developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Through regular key-work sessions and consultations, children can express their views. Children were involved in choosing and planning an annual holiday. This was different for each child, depending on their interests. Holidays and other activities broaden the children's experience beyond the immediate community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have differing educational experiences. Most children are progressing with their educational plans; however, one child has experienced significant disruption. Advocacy services have been requested to support the child to express their views, specifically Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 4 about their education plans and living arrangements. Allocation of an advocacy service is significantly delayed, and the manager's challenge has been ineffective. This situation remains unresolved despite disadvantaging the child.

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

Children's risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Staff speak confidently about what worries them most about the children and their behaviours, and consistently implement strategies to mitigate risks. Staff work collaboratively with other agencies to share concerns, learning and ideas. Professionals talk positively about staff's contribution to the multi-agency network.

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

The integration of therapy into the daily care for children helps staff to understand how children's past experiences can impact on their present behaviours. There are positive, trusted relationships between staff and children. This results in the children feeling safe and secure to disclose and share information about risks. Even though incidents can be frequent, staff are always responsive to help and protect children.

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

There are clear, individualised plans to promote children's safety; for example, if they go missing from the home, are at risk of exploitation, self-harm or when they struggle to manage their emotions. Staff regularly review these plans and evaluate their effectiveness. This helps to ensure that the support offered is appropriate and evolves as children grow older and need different approaches to keep them safe.

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

Staff are appropriately trained in physical restraint, should a child pose a risk to themselves or others. Staff only use restraint as a last resort. Outside of this, staff use distraction, diversion and other de-escalation techniques. Staff give children the time and opportunity to regain control of their feelings and behaviours.

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

Allegations are managed effectively by leaders and managers. When children disclose that they have been harmed, action is taken and concerns are appropriately investigated. This helps children to feel that their views count and that they are listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high expectations of staff. They are committed to delivering good-quality care, and the culture in the home is professional, conscientious and competent. Staff express a strong team identity and are positive about working in the home. That is a credit to leaders and managers for cultivating cohesion and commitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children move in, this is done after a thorough assessment has established that staff have the right skills to support and nurture them. If additional knowledge and training would be beneficial to staff, the manager arranges this. The company clinicians have delivered some bespoke sessions around trauma and attachment that help staff to support children effectively. Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 5 The manager's auditing of the quality of care is regular and evaluative. There is recognition of areas for development, such as more planned key-work sessions with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff consistently understand the children's objectives and work towards them. This shared understanding is particularly important, especially when there are already many professionals involved in the children's lives. These common goals are reinforced to staff through regular and child-focused supervisions sessions and team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have well-established professional relationships across a wide variety of organisations. Those professionals hold managers and staff in high regard and praise their effective communication. Children are supported by a team of health, justice and social care professionals to help meet their needs. Staff work closely with professionals to ensure that there is consistency in the messages that children receive. Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 6

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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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child's needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority's or a relevant person's performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child's needs are met in accordance with the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children receive the services to which they are entitled. The challenge to any shortfall in others practice must be escalated until it is resolved. 11 October 2026

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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: 2663174 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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Children's home details

Registered manager: Faheem Mohammad Akhtar

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2663174 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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