Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

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

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation and is registered to provide care for one child. The home provides care to children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 2 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following a full inspection on 2 and 3 February 2022, compliance notices were served against regulation 12, the protection of children standard, regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 23, the medicines standard. The compliance notices were monitored during this inspection and all were met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2510847 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2022 Full Inadequate 04/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2510847 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living in the home. This is the same child who lived in the home at the last inspection. No other children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. This has provided stability for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is engaging with education. They are attending college and a work placement as part of their course. They also have a part-time job in the local area. Good support has helped the child to make consistent progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child’s needs well. The child’s individual care plan details how to meet the child’s physical and emotional health needs. Staff help the child to access appropriate therapeutic and mental health support. The staff work with health professionals to provide effective day-to-day care for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Activities are promoted by staff and the child enjoys outdoor activities, such as day trips to theme parks and visits to climbing wall centres. This provides positive experiences for the child and supports them to develop their social, emotional and physical well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to learn the life skills that they will need to live independently. The child practises cooking, budgeting and other general life skills. This will help the child feel more confident when they move to independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of relationships and support the child to see family members. This helps the child to maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff develop detailed risk assessments and risk management plans for the child. They are monitored and updated so remain relevant and effective. When incidents have occurred, staff have responded in line with the child’s risk management plan to ensure their safety in the home and the community.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident of physical restraint. This was proportionate, necessary and low level. The staff and child are encouraged to debrief with the manager after such an incident. This helps them to understand how to prevent future incidents occurring.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Medication is stored and administered in line with regulation. The manager has oversight of medication practice and completes monthly audits. This ensures that the child receives the correct medication in a safe way. Inspection report for children’s home: 2510847 4 Safe recruitment procedures are in place to prevent unsuitable adults from working with children. However, the manager was unaware of a risk assessment which was in place for a new member of staff. A recommendation has been made in relation to this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A requirement will be made to ensure the manager follows safeguarding procedures when there are concerns around staff. This is an outstanding issue from the compliance notice under regulation 12.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a registered manager in post. She registered with Ofsted in December 2021 and is currently working towards her level 5 in leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have been working on an improvement plan since the last inadequate inspection. The manager knows the home’s strengths and weaknesses and there are plans in place to address these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Incidents are reviewed by the manager and the operations manager to ensure that any shortfalls are identified. There are weekly meetings of the management team to track progress and identify any learning opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager have undertaken a range of training in safeguarding matters. Workshops for staff and managers have been introduced to ensure that the knowledge of staff is kept up to date. However, there were some shortfalls identified in staff training specific to the child and a requirement has been made to address this. This is an outstanding issue from the compliance notice under regulation 13.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff receive induction and supervision in line with the provider’s policy. All staff receive regular supervision. This allows them to talk about their practice and identify any opportunities for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is consistent and the home has its own identified staff team. This includes a female member of staff always being in the home, which is in line with the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are frequent and are well attended. Staff get the opportunity to discuss issues in the home in addition to discussing the child and their needs. Discussions are reflective and give staff the opportunity to learn. Inspection report for 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii)) 14 July 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

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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 experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 14 July 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 2510847 6

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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: 2510847 7

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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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Inspectors

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Julia Toller, Social Care Inspection Manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2510847 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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