Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancaster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 1 SC479632 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

The home is registered to provide care for up to five children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2014. The registered manager post has been vacant since October 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s home was found to be requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection on 24 and 25 April 2024. Two compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act 2000. These related to regulation 13, the leadership and management standard, and regulation 14, the care planning standard.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor the provider’s progress in meeting the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Due to a misunderstanding, the provider was not actively working towards the completion date on the notices.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken some action and some improvements have been made. Adaptations to the home to improve one child’s mobility around the home have now been completed. Staff say that the child does not want to use them. However, it is important that these are available for the child should they be needed.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have now all received supervision with a manager. This enables them to reflect on their work with the children and for managers to identify any learning for staff. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 2 The home environment is more homely. Further improvements are planned to build on the positive changes already made.

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This monitoring visit

Revised compliance notices are issued under regulations 13 and 14, with new dates. This will allow the provider sufficient time to respond.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 3

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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 with 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;

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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)(c)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff have the necessary training to implement the home’s model of care as outlined in the statement of purpose and that this is embedded in practice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff receive supervision in line with the statement of purpose. 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 4 The registered person must ensure that staff understand and can meet children’s individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that monitoring and review systems are clear and robust.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must have effective oversight of the home. All incident records must be reviewed and evaluated in a timely manner to identify any gaps in recording, shortfalls in staff practice and areas for development and learning.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children move in and out of the home in a sensitive manner. Children should have a positive experience when leaving the home, through a planned transition.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the needs of children moving into the home are thoroughly understood and considered before they move in. 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 5 The registered person must ensure that children’s health and education needs are fully understood by leaders, managers and staff.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that children’s health and education needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that children’s risk management plans consider all known and potential risks to children. Leaders, managers and staff must understand and minimise risks to children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that decisions made do not result in risks increasing for children. 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 6 The registered person must ensure that staff receive the necessary training to understand and respond to risk.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home environment is designed and maintained so children are not exposed to any hazards.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 7 The registered person must ensure that a separate record is completed for all incidents when children have been physically held, and the record must include all relevant details.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when a child has been physically held, they are given the opportunity to talk to a member of staff who was not involved in the intervention.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning. (Regulation 8 (1)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any child not attending education is given a routine that provides opportunities for learning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that staff have an understanding of the educational needs of children and are provided with the necessary resources to enhance children’s learning.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 8 The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that children are provided with a diet that is healthy and appropriate to their individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must consult with specialist health professionals in respect of any decisions made about the provision of children’s medication.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure staff are provided with the relevant information and training to meet children’s health needs.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are taken to all health appointments and, if this is not possible, contact should be made before the appointment to rearrange it.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 9 The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults

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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

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(vi)(viii)(ix)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff respond to children’s behaviours taking into account their life experiences and any additional needs they have.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the skills to manage children’s behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 10

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC479632 11

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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

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 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, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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