Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 1 SC432741

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Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in September 2011 and the manager registered in September 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are happy and safe and making good progress. They have lived in the home for a long time and enjoy positive relationships with the manager and the staff team. The manager and staff now have access to relevant plans relating to the children. This helps support staff to provide care to the children to address their assessed needs.

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Findings from the inspection

All children attend education; however, one child is not accessing full-time education. To ensure the child has a full timetable, staff support the child to create artwork and participate in activities in the community. The management team has effective relationships with educational professionals and advocates on behalf of the children. This supports children’s education and enables them to reach their full potential.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are proactive in promoting children’s health and emotional well-being. They seek advice from the appropriate health professionals. This means health needs are understood and children are supported to attend their appointments.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff actively promote and encourage the children to speak to and see their family members. More recently, staff have supported a child to re-establish family connections. This had a positive impact on the child’s emotional well-being. This approach ensures that children remain in contact with the people who are important to them and creates a sense of identity.

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Findings from the inspection

Key-work sessions now capture the voice of the children and their views, wishes and feelings. Any agreed actions are responded to in a timely manner and requests are facilitated where possible. The management team now evaluates the sessions and provides feedback to the staff. This helps children feel listened to and valued.

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Findings from the inspection

On four occasions, one child has gone missing from home. Staff responded effectively in a timely manner and took appropriate action to locate the child to ensure their safe return home. However, on three of the four occasions the child has not received an independent return home interview in a timely manner. This is a missed opportunity to identify triggers and plan strategies to minimise the risk. The management team has now implemented a new independent return home interview which is has not yet been fully embedded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have not had to physically hold a child to keep them safe. Staff are able to de- escalate incidents with the children effectively. Staff share activities and days out with the children, such as go-karting, cinema trips and movie nights. This supports the staff to maintain and further develop their relationships with the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 3 Consequences given to the children are rare. When these are used, the manager now evaluates records to ensure that the actions are proportionate and restorative in nature.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have access to a variety of training to help them to meet the needs of the children. However, not all staff have completed training in sexually harmful behaviours or LGBTQ+ issues. The manager has not introduced research into staff practice. This would further enhance staff knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has a good knowledge of his staff team and the individual needs of the children. He has strengthened the monitoring system to improve his oversight of care practice and developments in the home. The manager now regularly uses feedback from the independent person to improve practice in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The review of the quality of care lacks feedback from parents, staff and children. It is not evaluative or analytical of the care provided for the previous six months. It lacks a robust action plan. This does not allow the manager to plan and develop the home and staff team effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is clean, tidy, welcoming and free of hazards. The bathroom has recently undergone some redecoration and children have personalised their bedrooms. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/11/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance 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, 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (a “quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 24 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 6 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Recommendation restated.  The registered person should ensure that staff actively support each child to achieve their potential. They should ensure that research informs and improves practice to support the development and outcomes for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. This specifically

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Recommendations

relates to all staff receiving training in LGBTQ+ and sexually harmful behaviours. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Assurance 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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