Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 1 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional or behavioural needs. The home is owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a manager who registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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Inspection date: 4 March 2020

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2019

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Inspection date: 4 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection identified shortfalls relating to safeguarding, leadership and management, safe recruitment practices and recording. The manager has had a period of extended leave, which Ofsted, as the regulator, was not notified of. However, the shortfalls have not had an impact on the child’s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The experience and progress of the child in placement remain positive. This is a solo placement, and the child has, since the last inspection, commenced at college and is engaging positively in his education. The manager and key staff members have successfully supported the child to sustain his college placement, despite some incidents on campus. The child commented at the inspection that ‘it’s all good – one of the better homes I have lived in. He said that he hopes to remain until he is ready to transition to independent living.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has made changes to the staffing arrangements. A dedicated staff team now works in this home. This has improved consistency and stability for the child. However, the manager has failed to ensure safe recruitment practice across the whole team. Records fail to show a full and complete employment history of all staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of physical interventions and consequences have improved since the last inspection. However, the manager has failed to review each incident for the effectiveness and appropriateness of the action taken. These are missed opportunities to ensure that the staff team is supporting the child to learn from each incident and that actions taken are appropriate to each incident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff described good levels of training and support. The manager reported that there is a comprehensive induction and training programme in place. However, at this inspection, the manager was unable to evidence which staff had undertaken the training programme. This information should be regularly updated so that training levels can be monitored effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring systems have been developed by the manager. However, they have failed to identify shortfalls found at this inspection. The manager reported that he has completed monitoring in line with regulation 45. However, this report was unavailable to review at inspection. HMCI has also not received this report. Effective monitoring and quality assurance will help to drive improvement in the home including that of the quality of care being provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has introduced individual risk assessments, which are underpinned by a main full risk assessment. However, the strategies identified to reduce risk are not Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 3 consistent in the two documents. This does not provider clear and agreed actions for staff to follow in the event of incidents occurring.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff continue to have high aspirations for the child. They are committed to the work that they do. Staff have established good relationships with the child and know him well. These relationships have supported the stability of the placement for the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager understands that there are lessons to be learned and is aware of what they can do to improve practice. Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 5

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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

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 the child. (Regulation 12(1) (2)(a)(i)) 01/04/2020

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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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(c)(h)) 01/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 01/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 6 employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii) 01/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1) (3) (4)(a) 01/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence.

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Requirement Due date

Except in the case of an emergency or unforeseen absence, a notice under paragraph (1) must— 01/04/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 7 be given no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI. (Regulation 48 (1) (2)(a))

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 19 Lancaster Road, Carnforth LA5 9LD

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Inspector

Louise Redfern, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2510847 9 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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