Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who live in this home make good progress as a result of the individualised care and support that they receive. Young people themselves recognise their achievements and the quality of their relationships with staff. One young person spoke about how pleased he was with his recent mock exam results and commented, ‘We are lucky to live here. It is a very good place.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people describe positive relationships with staff and confirm that they feel safe and secure with them. These comments were supported by observations during the inspection. Some young people were seen to engage in meal preparation and others in homework tasks with staff support. The interaction between young people and staff was warm and natural.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one new young person has come to live in the home. However, his placement was not successful and the young person left after a short period of time. Records relating to this young person’s admission demonstrate that the registered manager carried out an appropriate assessment of the young person’s needs prior to his admission and was not provided with any information to suggest that the young person could not be well supported in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the young people who live in the home are at an important stage in their education and are due to take their GCSEs. The registered manager has liaised with professionals from each of the young people’s schools to ensure that all the necessary support is in place. The registered manager has made arrangements to provide two young people with additional tutoring at home to help ensure that they achieve their full potential. Supporting young people’s educational attainment helps them to achieve and increases their future life chances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Each young person is considering their future plans and staff are supporting them to learn about their options. Visits to colleges and sixth form centres are taking place on a regular basis. One young person, who has for some time had ambition to join the armed forces, has been supported to attend information days and interviews for this purpose. Staff have high ambitions for the young people they support and encourage them to express their feelings about their future life choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a good range of activities outside of school. Their own interests, which include horse riding, American football and pop concerts, are supported. One young person spoke of a recent trip to London during which he visited famous landmarks and attractions. Young people also commented that they were looking forward to a holiday together, which has been planned to take place when they finish their GCSE exams. Providing young people with regular opportunities to take part in positive activities helps them to develop their skills and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consideration is now being given to the support that young people will require to move towards independent living. There is some work ongoing with each young person to assist them in developing the skills they will need to succeed as young adults. However, care planning in relation to this area could be more robust. Staff were not aware of any formal pathway plans for any of the young people, which should be in place at this stage. It is important that clear plans are in place that identify each young person’s needs in terms of developing independent living skills so that these needs can be addressed. A recommendation has been raised in relation to this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to benefit from effective leadership. Staff describe a good level of support from the registered manager and demonstrate a good understanding of their roles. The turnover of staff is low, which means that young people receive their care from a consistent team who know them well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement raised in the last inspection in relation to identifying and managing risks to young people has been addressed. Processes for risk assessment and care planning have been reviewed to help ensure that they are effective and take into account young people’s changing needs. A recent example of effective risk assessment was seen in relation to a young person who experienced a crisis situation. Staff were able to safeguard the young person quickly due to measures put in place by the deputy manager following changes in the young person’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recommendations made at the last inspection regarding young people’s behaviour support plans and the recording of consequences have also been addressed. However, it was identified that the registered manager has recently failed to notify Ofsted about a serious situation involving a young person. It was identified that the registered manager had taken appropriate measures to safeguard the young person during the incident but failure to notify Ofsted results in a breach of regulation. As such, a requirement is raised in relation to this matter.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/12/2016 Full Good 29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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, 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

40(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child— (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 21/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Staff must help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home’s support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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 have 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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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

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