Children's Home run by Hexagon Care Services Limited in Westmorland and FurnessOfsted inspection, 9 Sept 2026

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 1 Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated. It provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living in the home. One child was spoken with during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 9 September 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: 1269215 2

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Findings from the inspection

The assurance inspection took place to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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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, there has been an increase in safeguarding incidents. This has resulted in one child moving out of the home. Important records of incidents have not been updated during this time. Although there is no effect on children, the ability to identify lessons learned from incidents and serious events that have occurred is limited because records are incomplete. As a result, staff have been unable to fully reflect on a particularly difficult period in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Plans created to address identified shortfalls in practice have not yet been completed. Leaders and managers have not addressed these shortfalls effectively, which is needed to improve working practice.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been insufficient mitigation by leaders in response to the manager’s absence from the home, and this has affected the management and oversight of the team. As a result, important discussions with staff after incidents and supervision sessions have not been completed consistently.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers failed to notify Ofsted of a serious incident within the required timescales. In addition, staff did not follow safeguarding procedures when a child raised concerns. Information was not shared with managers until the following day, and the concern was not recorded at the time it was raised. These delays and omissions do not provide assurance that robust safeguarding procedures are consistently understood and implemented

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have maintained positive relationships with professionals. Concerns are escalated to professionals effectively, and joint working is utilised to manage and reduce children’s risks. This ensures that all relevant agencies are aware of plans in place to help children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand children’s needs. When children show that they are upset or angry, staff ensure that children are helped to find better ways of managing their emotions. Staff shortages have affected the running of the home significantly. However, a core group of staff have provided children with consistency and stability.

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Findings from the inspection

Although there has been an increase in incidents, children have positive and established relationships with staff. One child has been helped to attend medical appointments following a significant period of non-attendance. One child has had a significant decrease in unsafe behaviour and actively seeks staff out to express their worries or concerns. This is notable progress for the child. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/06/2026 Full Good 24/06/2025 Full Good 10/07/2024 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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 make arrangements to reduce the risk of harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day to day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(b)) 21 October 2026

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 21 October 2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 5 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations, if any, who have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)) 21/10/2026 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hexagon Care Services Ltd

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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

Gary Smithson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 1269215 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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