Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancaster

Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 1 SC479632 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The provider’s statement of purpose states that the home cares for up to five children, aged 12 to 17 years old, with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers comprehensive facilities and a service of care geared to promoting each child’s comfort, safety and well-being.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since October 2022. An acting manager was appointed in October 2022. At the time of the inspection, they had not yet submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/03/2022 Full Good 04/09/2019 Full Good 09/07/2019 Full Inadequate 22/01/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Children are not yet receiving good consistent care which meets their needs. Children’s plans are individualised, but do not provide effective strategies to keep some children safe.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have supported children to access local health services and have been proactive in supporting some children to access counselling to meet their complex mental health needs. One child told the inspector that they get a lot from the sessions and they are happy this will continue when they leave the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff have not been able to support some children to effectively access education, training or employment. This has meant that the children do not have routine or structure in place, which has contributed to an escalation in the children’s behaviours.

p.3

improvement to be good

One child has been supported to attend a specific programme to help them into employment. They successfully found employment after the training course. This is in its early stages and, so far, the child is making progress. Staff regularly support one child to follow his hobby of train spotting. The staff arranged a one-day voluntary placement for him at the train station, which he enjoyed.

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, several children have moved into the home and then on again. Planning for children moving into the home has not always been successful. Ineffective care planning meant staff were not able to meet the needs of two children. This resulted in one child leaving the home in an unplanned way, which caused distress and disruption to that child and the other children in the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some children are making progress with their independence skills and the acting manager and staff are supporting one child to move on to supported accommodation in a planned way. They also recently supported another child to move back to their home town. They keep in touch with him, which has meant he continues to have support from trusted adults who he has known for several years.

p.3

improvement to be good

The home is generally in good repair and there are lots of photos of the children on display. Children personalise their own rooms and help to choose the decor. The home would benefit from redecoration to the hallway and landing area, and the outside yard area could be made more inviting for the children to use.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff support children to see their families regularly. One child talked positively of visiting family members; this has helped them to maintain family connections and a sense of identity. One family member said, ‘I couldn’t wish for better people to look after him.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 4

p.3

improvement to be good

The acting manager has not fully considered the risks in relation to moving children into the home. This has resulted in an escalation in missing-from-home episodes. Managers and staff work with the police and the child’s social worker to look at ways to reduce risk, and progress is beginning to be made.

p.4

improvement to be good

Staff can identify risk-taking behaviour, but inconsistencies in rules and boundaries, and a lack of confidence in the staff team, leave staff members vulnerable and children at risk. This has had a detrimental impact on the staff and their morale.

p.4

improvement to be good

All staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation strategies, however, this has been ineffective at times. Staff use consequences to help children to understand the impact of their behaviours and speak to the children regularly about their risk-taking behaviours. This has meant that, at times, children have been able to reflect on the situation and staff have been able to build on their relationships.

p.4

improvement to be good

External professionals spoken to feel the acting manager and staff communicate well, advocate for the children and keep them informed about any issues arising and any progress made.

p.4

improvement to be good

A child said he feels safe at the home, saying, ‘Staff care, and they are here for you.’

p.4

good

The acting manager has been in post since October 2022 and was due to soon enrol on a relevant management qualification. The acting manager has high aspirations for the children in her care.

p.4

good

Shortfalls identified at the previous inspection have not all been addressed. Leaders and the acting manager have failed to make improvements or adequate progress since the last inspection.

p.4

good

Staff turnover has been high and this has disrupted children in being able to form secure, trusting relationships. Staff rotas showed that at times through the night staff working together were not adequately trained in first aid, which leaves the children vulnerable. Staff would benefit from updating their knowledge in current issues to further support the children.

p.4

good

The management team has not notified Ofsted in a timely manner of significant incidents that have taken place in the home. This does not support effective monitoring and compromises children’s welfare and safety. On one occasion, a complaint was not recorded appropriately, which meant it was not clear what action had been taken to resolve the issue. Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 5 The management team is keen to promote equality and diversity in the home. They employ staff from a variety of different backgrounds who are good role models to the children. Staff feel supported through regular supervision and receive an annual appraisal. Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 6

p.4

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.

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.6

Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; 26 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 7 and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.7

Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

p.7

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.7

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.7

Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

p.7

Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment; 26 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 8 help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.8

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.8

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.8

Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who—

p.8

Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(ii)(c)(i)(3)(b)(c)(i)) 26 March 2023

p.8

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.8

Requirement Due date

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

p.8

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe; 26 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 9 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.8

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.9

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.9

Requirement Due date

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

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. This is in relation to gathering consistent feedback from professionals, parents, children and staff to inform relevant plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the

p.9

Recommendations

impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. In particular, ensure that children potentially moving into the home and children already living at the home have their risks and needs appropriately assessed to ensure the placement can meet all the needs of the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the

p.9

Recommendations

quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 10

p.9

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: SC479632 11

p.10

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

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

p.11

Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 12 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.

p.11

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12