Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Good

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

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people receive a high standard of care from staff who know them well and understand their needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people, their parents and carers, and community professionals report high levels of satisfaction with this service. A social worker commented, ‘It really is an excellent placement, with a strong network of carers that are committed to the progression and development of the children.’

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have high ambitions for young people. They strongly support young people’s educational attainment and independence skills.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy good quality experiences on a day-to-day basis. They are supported to take part in valued and fulfilling activities inside and outside their home and enjoy holidays on a regular basis.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Safeguarding practice is strong. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and are fully confident to report any concerns about the safety or well-being of the young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people feel safe in their home and have trust and confidence in the staff team. The registered manager ensures that their concerns are taken seriously and acted upon.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff support young people to make wise choices, which results in a very low level of high-risk behaviours.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff support young people’s behaviours in a positive manner. Recent improvements to behaviour support planning will help to enhance consistency in young people’s behaviour support.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home benefits from consistent management and strong leadership.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager and staff work positively with external professionals to ensure that young people receive the care and support that they need.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager has created a supportive environment within which staff feel able to raise concerns and share ideas.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 A positive approach to training means that young people receive their care from staff who have suitable knowledge and skills.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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 order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure

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Requirement Due date

(i) 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 a child;

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Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. 31/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Any use of restraint carries risks. These include causing physical injury, psychological trauma or emotional disturbance. When considering whether restraint is warranted, staff in children's homes need to take into account: - the age and understanding of the child - the size of the child - the relevance of any disability, health problem or medication to the behaviour in question and the action that might be taken as a result - the relative risks of not intervening - the child's previously sought views on strategies that they considered might de- escalate or calm a situation, if appropriate - the method of restraint which would be appropriate in the specific circumstances - the impact of the restraint on the carer's future relationship with the child. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and that the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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Recommendations

 All children's case records must be kept up to date and stored securely while in the home. This relates specifically to ensuring that incident reports are routinely written following an incident and stored as part of the child's record that is accessible to all staff. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties (EBD). The home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/09/2014 Full Adequate

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Good

Young people are cared for by a consistent staff team who knows them well. This gives young people the opportunity to develop secure and trusted relationships with the staff. Young people spoke very highly of staff, describing them in ways such as ‘caring’, ‘lovely’ and ‘kind’. One young person said, ‘I feel close to all the staff. They all look after me. They are all good in different ways.’ Another said, ‘We all get on really well here. I like being with the staff mostly, but sometimes I like to be in my room and that’s all right.’ A parent commented, ‘X gets on so well with all the staff. They are brilliant with X.’

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Good

Young people’s social and emotional development is strongly supported. Positive friendships outside the home are encouraged and facilitated. Staff work hard to assist young people in maintaining relationships that are important to them. For example, one young person was assisted to re-establish contact with a family member. Much preparation and considerable travel were put in place by staff, to enable the young person to have some quality time with the family member. Supporting young people to maintain important relationships helps to promote their emotional well-being.

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Good

Staff are aware of young people’s individual needs and any specific areas that may cause them anxiety or distress. Therapeutic work is carried out by specialist professionals. Staff ensure that this work is supported on a day-to-day basis in the home by liaising with specialist workers and implementing their advice. This helps to ensure that young people receive consistent and effective emotional support. A social worker told us, ‘It is clear from the work I have done with the placement that they have a true passion and desire to ensure the emotional well-being of all the children is promoted, to ensure all the children thrive, and to ensure all the children are supported to achieve.’

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Good

Comprehensive healthcare plans are in place providing guidance for staff on the support each young person needs in relation to routine health support such as dental and optical care. Any young person’s specific individual needs are also addressed. However, care planning in relation to one young person’s epilepsy could be clearer. This would help to ensure that all staff are clear on the action required should the young person experience a seizure and, as such, would help to promote their safety and well-being.

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Good

All the young people who currently live at the home are making excellent progress in education. They all attend full-time education and are studying for GCSEs. Their attendance is consistently high. One young person is a prefect, while another is a house captain. Education professionals are highly complimentary about how well the registered manager and staff support the young people’s education. One commented, ‘They are supportive of school when we are trying to enforce or put specific strategies in place. For example, they have been able to identify and promptly set up a tutor in the home for X following a recent PEP meeting where we discussed this as a strategy. They have also been keen to come in and resolve any issues X has had around tutors or behaviour in school. They are also endlessly flexible when it comes to ensuring X accesses after-school clubs.’

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Good

Staff encourage young people to develop independence skills as part of their day- to-day support. This means that young people have the opportunity to develop life skills and confidence to help them succeed as young adults living independently. Staff continued to support one young person who recently left the home in a planned move towards semi-independent living, by regularly visiting them and providing ongoing advice and assistance.

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Good

Young people are encouraged to express their views and opinions about their own care and the general running of the home. House meetings take place on a regular basis and, where appropriate, young people’s requests and ideas are implemented. For example, the young people’s requests for Christmas plans and activities were in progress during the inspection.

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Good

Young people’s concerns are taken seriously. Records showed that one young person had been supported to access an advocate to support them in expressing their concerns about the plans for their future care. The same young person had made a complaint at the home about a different matter, and it was evident that the registered manager had taken this very seriously and dealt with it in a robust manner. Responding to young people’s concerns in a positive manner helps to build their confidence about sharing their worries, and shows them that their opinions are valued.

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Good

Staff support young people to engage in enjoyable and fulfilling activities. Their talents are recognised and encouraged. Young people spoke a great deal about the pursuits they regularly enjoyed which included horse riding, dancing, cricket, American football and rugby. One young person described how they had mentioned to staff that they would like to learn to play the guitar, and said that this was immediately arranged.

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Good

All the young people who live at the home have had the opportunity to enjoy a holiday of their own choice this year. One young person said they had enjoyed two holidays abroad. These were a skiing trip with school and a trip to Portugal. The young person said, ‘I always wanted to go to Portugal. I chose to go there. We went and I loved it. It was the best time ever!’ Judgement grade

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Good

Staff at this home are committed to promoting young people’s safety and well- being. Young people express confidence in staff and say that they feel able to talk to them about any worries or concerns. One young person commented, ‘I don’t get worried about anything in the home. My only worry is that sometime I will have to leave here.’

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Good

The staff are fully aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and have a good understanding of safeguarding practice. All staff are provided with training at the start of their employment, which helps them to recognise and respond to any safeguarding concerns appropriately. Staff are able to confidently describe the procedures that they must follow, and are aware of the roles of external agencies, such as the local authority and the police. This helps to protect the safety and well- being of young people.

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Good

Risks to the safety and well-being of young people are assessed and, where identified, measures are in place to address them. The quality of risk assessment is inconsistent. There is clear information in place for most young people in relation to the support they require to maintain their safety. However, there were significant gaps in this information for one young person who previously lived at the home. This could have resulted in a failure to provide safe support to the young person and, as such, compromised their safety and well-being. A requirement is raised in relation to this issue.

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Good

Examples of good practice in relation to risk management are also evident. The registered manager and staff work in close partnership with community professionals and specialist agencies to support one young person with some complex needs. Very detailed risk management plans are in place for this young person, which are constantly evaluated and reviewed to ensure that they remain effective. This helps to protect the young person and others from harm.

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Good

The young people who currently live at the home are a very settled group. They use their free time wisely, and return home at the agreed times. There are no concerns about any of their behaviours or associations outside the home. There have been no incidents where the current young people have been absent or missing from home. Young people often choose to spend their free time at home with staff and each other. Supporting young people to make wise choices helps to keep them safe . Staff promote positive behaviour and support young people to understand boundaries in a consistent manner. However, the use of sanctions to support behaviours is inconsistent. Processes for issuing and recording sanctions and also rewards for positive behaviours should be improved. This would support further consistency and assist the young people’s development.

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Good

Incidents requiring physical intervention are very rare for the current young people who live at the home. However, several such incidents did take place with a young person who was previously resident. These were appropriately recorded, analysed and monitored by the registered manager. This young person’s behaviour support plan did not contain sufficient detail to support a consistent approach. The plan lacked guidance for staff in relation to how situations could be de-escalated in an effective way and was unclear regarding the appropriate manner of intervention. The registered manager has recognised this and has developed an improved process for behaviour support planning, which will help to ensure that staff are provided with the necessary guidance to manage situations in a confident and consistent way.

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Good

Measures are in place to ensure that young people live in a safe and well- maintained environment. Detailed health and safety audits take place periodically, and records show that issues needing attention are identified and promptly addressed.

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Good

Robust recruitment procedures mean that all prospective employees are required to undergo a variety of background checks including police record checks. This reduces the risk of young people being exposed to people of unsuitable character in their home and therefore helps to safeguard them.

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Good

The home is effectively managed by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. The registered manager reported that he receives a suitable level of support including regular supervision. The registered manager also confirmed that he is provided with adequate resources to run the home in a safe and effective manner.

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Good

Parents and carers of young people and community professionals speak highly of the registered manager and staff. They express confidence in the management of the home and the service provided. Parents’ comments included, ‘What they have done for X is absolutely fantastic. X has come such a long way thanks to them’; ‘I find them very approachable. I am never scared to pick up the phone if I want to ask something.’ A social worker said, ‘They are always contactable and quick to follow up on any issues that arise.’

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Good

The systems for recording information within the home are largely computerised. The home has experienced some difficulties previously when internet facilities have not been fully effective, which led to some information not being readily available. This led to a recommendation at the last inspection. During this inspection staff were experiencing a similar issue. Discussion took place with the registered manager about the need to have effective arrangements in place, to ensure that all information is available whenever it is required.

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Good

It is evident that the registered manager is committed to providing a service which is centred on the needs of young people. However, in one recent example, the safety and stability of young people was not fully taken into account when considering the admission of a new young person. An impact risk assessment was not carried out in an effective manner. This resulted in the admission of a young person who was not a suitable match for the home. This had a negative impact on young people living at the home and led to the breakdown of the young person’s placement.

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Good

The registered manager described the lessons learned from this incident and explained that more robust impact risk assessments are now carried out when considering new admissions to the home. This information was supported by records of a new assessment being undertaken with a young person being considered for the home.

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Good

There is a stable staff team, which results in young people receiving care from staff who know them well and understand their needs. Staff describe a supportive environment within which they are able to express their opinions and raise concerns. Supervision arrangements have been recently reviewed and improved. All staff receive regular one-to-one supervision as well as ongoing support and guidance from the management team.

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Good

There is a positive approach to training. Out of a staff team of 14, seven hold nationally recognised qualifications in caring for young people. The remaining seven are currently in the process of obtaining these qualifications. A comprehensive mandatory training programme, which includes areas such as safeguarding, first aid and medication management, helps to ensure that young people receive their care from staff who have the skills and knowledge to support them in a safe, effective manner.

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Good

There are systems in place which enable the registered manager to monitor quality and safety across the service. These systems are used effectively, and the registered manager is able to identify shortfalls and to act upon them. A requirement made in relation to the notification of significant incidents was confirmed as being met. Adverse incidents and complaints are taken seriously and dealt with in a robust manner. This means that young people benefit from a constantly improving service.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and ensure that their welfare is safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other, and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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