Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2617303 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 is registered to provide care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, the registered manager was on planned leave from the home. The home is appropriately managed in the registered manager’s absence by two experienced deputy managers.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this 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

Date of last inspection: 11 October 2022

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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: 2617303 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2022 Full Good 28/06/2022 Full Inadequate 22/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2617303 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well by managers and staff, who hold them in high regard. Children have positive relationships with the staff who care for them built on trust and affection. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the children’s individual needs. This helps staff to meet the children’s needs well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. The manager fully considered the needs of the child against the needs of the children already living at the home before a decision was made for the child to move in. This helped to ensure a smooth transition into the home for all children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated nicely and has a relaxed atmosphere. Children’s photos are displayed around the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and have plenty of storage space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff promote children’s education. Staff support the children with homework and look at ways to be creative around learning, for example planning a visit to the local castle to complement learning around history. This has led to improved education attainment and attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people that are important to them. Staff maintain good communication with children’s families. One family member said, ‘[Staff member] is an absolute credit to [name of home], and her handling of recent situations and communications with me to keep [name of child] safe have been outstanding.’ This demonstrates that children have a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to become more independent and develop new skills, depending on their age and understanding. Staff encourage children to tidy their bedrooms and identify foods they like. Staff support children to prepare meals and do their own washing, which helps to promote their independence skills.

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How well children young people are helped and protected: good

Staff take the time to listen to children and help them to understand their emotions. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The manager has oversight of consequences. However, some of the manager’s comments do not demonstrate that she has fully evaluated the effectiveness of the consequence. Staff discuss the effectiveness of consequences with children to help them to manage their behaviours effectively.

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How well children young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. However, the managers’ were able to identify shortfalls in recording and areas for improvement, for example the managers’ plan to include details of specific behaviours that increase the risk to Inspection report for children’s home: 2617303 4 children. Staff hold regular discussions with children about how to keep themselves safe. Staff use these discussions to increase children’s understanding and safety in an informal way.

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How well children young people are helped and protected: good

There has been an increase in the number of missing from home incidents for one child. However, staff take time to talk to children and educate them about the risks related to being missing. Staff have a good understanding of the missing from home procedures.

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How well children young people are helped and protected: good

There is good multi-agency working. The managers work closely with professionals to ensure that the children receive appropriate support. For example, a police officer in the safer community team supports a child in relation to missing from home and the risk of child criminal exploitation (CCE). A social worker said, ‘Staff have a positive working relationship with parents and professionals.’

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How well children young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are provided with regular mandatory training. The manager and staff complete training to ensure that they have the skills to support children’s individual needs. Training includes safeguarding, first aid, mental health awareness and CCE. The induction for new staff is robust and thorough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers speak about the children with warmth and enthusiasm. The managers advocate well for children in all aspects of their lives, including education and care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers maintain good levels of communication with other professionals. Professionals speak highly of the manager and staff. A social worker said, ‘Staff are good in communicating with parents and professionals.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported by the managers. A member of staff said, ‘Management is really good. Always a change when management changes, but it has been pretty smooth. [staff member] and [staff member] work well together.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and team meetings in line with the statement of purpose. These provide opportunities for the staff team to reflect on and to develop their practice and ways to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a good understanding and oversight of events in the home. However, managers do not consistently record their reflection of incidents and how different strategies have enhanced the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have ensured that the requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2617303 5

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Statutory requirement

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the effectiveness of consequences is evaluated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should record the reflection of incidents and how different strategies have enhanced the quality of care. 1 March 2024

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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: 2617303 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, Lancashire LA5 9LD

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Inspector

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2617303 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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