Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hopscotch Solutions Limited in Rutland

Inspection report children’s home: SC065071 1 SC065071 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

The home provides care and accommodation for 14 young people who may have autism spectrum disorder, learning difficulties, challenging behaviour, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), epilepsy and dyspraxia. The home also incorporates a school. The home is privately owned.

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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 declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Experienced core staff have put children at risk of harm because they did not follow care plans relating to supervised family contact arrangements and behaviour management. By not following agreed behaviour management strategies, for example, a young person became distressed and damaged property.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A lack of robust oversight by managers meant that the issues relating to supervised family contact were not identified quickly. This put a child at further risk of harm.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records relating to family contact, handovers, sanctions and accidents are unclear. Ambiguous phrases are used that do not tell the story of the child’s experience. Inspection report children’s home: SC065071 2 The registered manager, who is qualified and experienced, has completed a comprehensive review of the incidents and appropriate action has now been taken to rectify shortfalls. Staff have received additional training. Care planning documents have been updated to ensure that they provide very clear information for staff. External safeguarding agencies have been involved appropriately.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Well-planned transitions mean that young people are moved into and out of the home sensitively, and in a way that meets their individual needs. Young people settle quickly into the home. They make clear progress in a short of space of time. Parents talked about their child’s behaviour being much more settled, and about their child attending school, enjoying the experience of school and communicating better. Young people appear happy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with external agencies and parents to ensure that each young person has consistent care in the home and at school. Most parents say that communication with staff is very good. A parent said: ‘It does feel like a partnership.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a noticeable reduction in the number of potentially dangerous incidents. For example, a young person who had regularly climbed onto the roof previously is no longer doing so.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Responses to complaints are timely and effective. Investigation reports regarding allegations are clear and comprehensive, giving appropriate recommendations and reaching clear conclusions. The registered manager learns from complaints and investigations. This strengthens the service.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been several improvements since the last inspection. These include the home publishing a monthly newsletter for parents. Also, young people are now able to attend a local community disco. They have enjoyed this experience. Additionally, staff are now eating meals with young people. This means that mealtimes are a more relaxed and sociable time for young people. However, staffing remains a challenge for the service. A determined recruitment drive is underway. It is envisaged that this will reduce reliance on agency staff.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2018 Full Outstanding 06/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/12/2017 Full Inadequate 23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC065071 3

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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, 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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(iii)) 31/03/2019

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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)) 31/03/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC065071 4

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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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Inspectors

Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Julie Knight, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC065071 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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