Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 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 home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may have social or emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who is registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care that meets their individual needs. They have developed positive relationships with staff, which support their well-being and help them to grow in confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and how to support them. Children’s internal care plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that any changing needs are addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that children receive effective healthcare. Children benefit from the support of a therapist, who also works with staff to help them develop their understanding of trauma-informed care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending school and making good progress. An education professional commented that the children’s progress is very well supported by staff. However, better use could be made of children’s education, health and care plans to ensure that children’s learning goals are supported on a day-to-day basis.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their wishes and feelings, and regular direct work is in place to help children develop their skills and understanding. Children would benefit from more direct work in a range of formats appropriate for their age and understanding.

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

Children live in a safe home. They receive care from a committed staff team that knows them well and understands their needs.

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

All staff receive safeguarding training and are clear about their safeguarding responsibilities. Concerns are promptly identified and managed effectively, which helps to protect children’s safety and well-being.

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

Risks are clearly identified and staff are provided with guidance about how to maintain children’s safety. In some cases, there are minor shortfalls, or information is not fully up to date. This means that staff may not have the necessary information to safeguard children.

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

The children who currently live in the home do not go missing. There is clear guidance for staff should this occur in the future. This will enable staff to take effective action to safeguard children who are missing.

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

Staff provide positive and consistent support to help children develop safer behaviours. Although there have been no incidents of physical restraint involving the children who currently live in the home, it is recommended that a more detailed plan Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 4 is implemented, to ensure that children’s support is in line with their individual needs.

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

There are suitable arrangements in place to ensure that that all areas of the home remain safe. Safer recruitment procedures are followed which helps to protect children from being exposed to adults of unsuitable character.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since the home began operating in July 2021. He demonstrates a sincere passion for improving children’s outcomes and works well with external professionals to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager and say that they feel well supported. Supervision takes place regularly and regular team meetings provide staff with the opportunity to share their views and ideas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a suitable training programme in place, which includes a range of mandatory learning as well as courses specific to children’s needs. This helps to ensure that staff have the suitable skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some shortfalls were identified in the standard of record-keeping. In a small number of cases, language used by staff in children’s records was inappropriate and unhelpful. The manager was able to demonstrate that he had identified this matter and taken steps to address it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes at an organisational level have resulted in increased senior management support for the home. In addition, processes to monitor safety and quality have recently been improved, which means the manager is able to identify and address shortfalls quickly and effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Significant events are reported to the appropriate authorities. Suitable review and reflection of adverse incidents does take place; however, the recording of this process is limited. Clearer records of such reviews will demonstrate that appropriate learning has been identified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s risk management plans are kept relevant and up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 15)  The registered person should ensure that staff are fully aware of the contents of children’s education, health and care plans and how children’s education targets should be supported on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.11)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)  The registered person should ensure that direct work with children is carried out in a manner that is accessible and meaningful to the child. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)  The registered person should ensure that an individualised physical intervention plan is in place for each child which takes into account the age and understanding of the child, the size of the child, the relevance of any disability, health problem or medication, the relative risks of not intervening, the child’s previously sought views on strategies that they considered might calm a situation, and the method of restraint which would be appropriate in the specific circumstances. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49 paragraph 9.55)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the

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Recommendations

quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2638535 6

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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

Marie Cordingley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 7 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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