Children's Home run by Hopscotch Solutions Limited in Rutland

Inspection report children’s home: 1224674 1 Registered provider: Hopscotch Solutions Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to seven children who have autism spectrum disorder and/or learning disabilities. It is privately owned and has a school on site.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff develop warm and supportive relationships with children. They demonstrate a real commitment to, and passion for, working with the children to help them grow and reach their full potential. Children thrive in this home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Changes in leadership have not adversely affected the operation of the home. There are good arrangements for covering the role of the responsible individual and the registered manager. The interim manager is going through the registration process with Ofsted. She is qualified and provides good leadership. Highly effective monitoring systems enable her to reflect on and learn from any incidents and complaints. This supports continual improvement. Consultation with children is embedded within the culture of the home and clearly informs practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are admitted to the home in a planned way. As a result, children who have Inspection report children’s home: 1224674 2 previously demonstrated lots of challenges within the family home are now settled and making good progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When a child moves from the home, the manager works closely with external professionals to find the right placement for the child. She implements a transition plan that meets the child’s individual needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive behaviour is promoted and incidents are rare. Children who are struggling with their anxieties are helped to manage their own behaviours. Staff work within a multi- agency environment, as well as with parents, to provide a consistent and professional response to the challenges that children present. Staff are highly skilled at understanding why a child becomes anxious. They successfully follow creative strategies to help children manage their own behaviours. This means that children are rarely restrained. A therapist said: ‘They seem so in tune with the children and what they need. They know the subtleties of what the children are presenting.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff feel supported by leaders and their teams. New staff feel comfortable about asking questions, and said that they are never made to feel silly for asking the question. Staff are very well supported by in-depth care planning and risk assessments. These provide staff with good information about how to promote the health, safety and well-being of children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The safety of children is central to practice. Safeguarding concerns are acted on quickly and effectively. The right people are contacted and good actions are taken to ensure the continued safety of children. The manager clearly has a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. However, the manager should consider reviewing protocols for children staying at their parents’ home for the first time since their admission, especially if this is a long way from the home. This would ensure that parents and the child are supported better during the visit in order to reduce potential risks.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2018 Full Outstanding 19/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/12/2017 Full Inadequate 08/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce Inspection report children’s home: 1224674 3 any risks. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merchant Place, River Street, Bolton BL2 1BX

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Amy Merchant Caroline Trevor (proposed registered manager)

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1224674 4 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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