Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 1 SC481152 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 owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to 6 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living in the home. Three of the children spoke to the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

The home shares the site with a school that is run by the provider. The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/01/2026 Full Good 02/10/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 3

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Summary of findings

Children are making progress in this home. They are supported by staff who prioritise building positive relationships. Children and staff have access to specialist therapeutic support to help embed the therapeutic model of care.

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Summary of findings

Children’s vulnerabilities in the community are known by staff and they provide children with strategies to keep themselves safe. Safeguarding practice is effective. Managers and staff work collaboratively with an array of professionals, and this promotes regular, effective communication that helps children to make progress and be safe.

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Summary of findings

One shortfall was identified. The manager has not ensured that the training matrix is consistently updated which limits effective oversight of staff training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection 2 children have moved on from the home in a planned way. Both children moved into independent accommodation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy and feel safe in their home They make progress across all aspects of their development while living in the home. Children benefit from a caring manager and a dedicated and consistent staff team who support the needs of the children. The children enjoy trusting relationships with those who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the health of children is promoted positively. Children have clear health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. Children have access to the organisation’s therapists. This tailored care contributes to children receiving support and guidance in relation to their emotional, social and psychological well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children who have previously had poor school attendance or have not engaged in education are now doing well at school. Most of the children attend the organisations school that is on the same site as the home. Daily handovers between education and care staff help to make sure that children experience consistent support. This promotes continuity and has enabled children to make good progress in their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain and develop suitable and positive relationships with their families. Staff provide children with emotional and practical support to help them to remain in touch with their families and not become isolated from the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s wishes and feelings contribute to the care that they receive. Children’s views are captured by staff through direct work, one to one conversation and planned meetings. This ensures that children can participate in the day-to-day Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 4 decisions about their lives. Consequently, children feel listened to and engages positively with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the importance of equality and diversity very well. Children’s culture and identity are understood, valued, and incorporated into their care. Staff support children to explore their heritage and ensure that they have the resources and skills to meet their cultural needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a welcoming and homely environment. Staff take pride in the home, and as a result, the environment is presented to a high standard. Children’s bedrooms are personalised based on their interests

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

Staff talk knowledgeably about children’s complex behaviours and how they support children to manage their emotions. They complete detailed individual risk management plans that support them in their understanding of how to keep children safe. Risks are clearly identified, and assessments are updated to reflect new information or changes in children’s circumstances.

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

Staff manage challenging behaviour effectively and encourage children to reflect on incidents in a constructive and supportive way. Inappropriate behaviour is challenged or deescalated as appropriate. Staff reinforce clear boundaries and provide daily routines and stability for children. This is supported by praise and recognition of achievements. There are instances when staff need to physically hold children to keep them safe. The manager reviews the staff’s managing of challenging incidents to continually improve practice. Reflective debriefs are completed with the staff involved which supports staff learning and development

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

Children are encouraged to talk about any worries they may have so that staff can act when necessary. Each child has a specific staff member who supports them. These staff members have informal chats with the children as well as focused conversations about issues the children are dealing with. These sessions help children build trust as well as improve their knowledge and coping skills.

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

There is swift action taken by staff when children go missing from the home. Partnership working with the police and safeguarding agencies helps to ensure that children are safe. Staff go looking for children and, in line with protocols, share information with the police at an early stage. Children are provided with an independent person to speak to on their return home. This helps to add detail to existing information and this, if appropriately considered may help to protect them from going missing from home again.

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

Staff spend time speaking with children about topics that are relevant to their needs and behaviours. This helps children to develop an awareness of risks and to develop alternative strategies to manage issues that they find difficult.

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

Children are protected by effective recruitment and selection procedures. These Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 5 procedures promote the safety of children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team, supported by a deputy manager. They are a dedicated team, and they keep children at the heart of all they do. They are committed to, and ambitious for, the children and ensure that this ethos spreads through the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A significant strength of the home is the committed staff team. Staff feel valued and described how the management team support them in their work. As a result, children have positive experiences of being cared for by staff who feel confident and secure in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably qualified or currently undertaking their qualifications in residential childcare. There is a good training programme in place to ensure that staff have the necessary skills to meet the complex and challenging needs of the children in their care. However, the training record is not accurate and does not support the manager in reviewing when a staff member is due for training or what training has been completed

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive monthly supervision. The supervisions are planned and structured and are led by a manager or team leader. Supervisions are reflective and provide a safe environment for staff to look at their practice and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and have a focus on staff’s learning and skills. They provide staff with opportunities to share key messages around practice in the home and promote a consistent approach to caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has formed positive relationships with a range of agencies, including the placing social workers and education departments. This helps the manager to have a coordinated approach so that the children’s needs are met. Social workers are extremely positive about the care their children receive. They say that communication from managers and staff about incidents as well as positive updates about activities and progress the children make is excellent. Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 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

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

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the staff training matrix is kept updated 28 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: SC481152 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

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC481152 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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Inspector

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