Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 1 SC432741 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post, who has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were four children living in the home.

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 22 September 2021

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 30 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making good progress. Relationships with staff, and each other, are positive. During the inspection, children spoke highly of staff and appeared happy and relaxed in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education is closely supported. Staff understand the challenges some children face and ensure that they have the appropriate support to overcome them. Most children are attending school or college regularly and are developing positive aspirations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are supported to maintain important relationships, for example with family members. Positive friendships are encouraged and children are able to invite their friends to their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have the opportunity to take part in a variety of fun and fulfilling activities. At the time of the inspection, children were looking forward to a busy school holiday with lots of trips out and home activities planned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has joined the home since the last inspection. This child has settled well and is receiving highly individualised care. In particular, the staff have planned carefully to ensure that the child’s religious and cultural needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some improvements have been made to children’s individual risk management plans and for some children, risks are reducing. However, further improvements are required to ensure that staff have up-to-date information and clear guidance about how to maintain children’s safety and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager works closely with external professionals to help ensure that risks to children are understood and addressed. However, for one child, who is highly vulnerable, clearer multi-agency discussion and agreement are required in relation to risk management strategies. In addition, information shared at multi-agency meetings should be used more effectively to inform the child’s risk management plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is currently without a registered manager. A manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager has high aspirations for the home and has positive plans for further improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 3 A requirement was made in relation to planning for the admission and ongoing care of children joining the home at the last inspection. The manager has taken appropriate action to address this requirement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of improvements have been made since the last inspection. However, the manager is not yet making best use of internal quality monitoring. For example, shortfalls in children’s risk management plans had not been identified. More effective use of internal quality monitoring systems will help to ensure that potential improvements are quickly identified and support the home’s ongoing development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/01/2020 Full Good 08/10/2019 Full Inadequate 08/01/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 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)) 20 May 2022

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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 promotes their welfare.

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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)) 20 May 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should undertake a review, every six months, that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. This review should include the feedback and opinions of children and other stakeholders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 6 home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. These procedures should take children’s individual needs into account. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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 for children’s home: SC432741 7

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Inspector

Marie Cordingley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 8 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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