Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancaster

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 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 manager registered with Ofsted in February 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this visit.

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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 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: SC479632 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

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and two children have moved out. One child is currently in the process of moving into the home and their transition is being well planned. Staff are supporting the child to feel welcome.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is well decorated, spacious, and comfortable. Staff support children to personalise their bedrooms with their own belongings.

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Findings from the inspection

The children are supported by a stable staff team. Staff provide children with continuity of care that helps them to develop and sustain their positive relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

One child is not in education. The staff help them with alternative learning at home. Staff encourage the child to develop important life skills, such as planning meals, cooking, and tidying. One child has been supported into employment. This helps children to learn and develop skills for later life.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments provide staff with clear actions to follow to reduce the risk of harm to the children. Staff know the children’s risks and what they need to do to keep the children safe. However, the risk assessments could be strengthened to accurately reflect risk levels.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to ensure that they are up to date with their routine health appointments. When children require specialist health services, staff encourage them to attend and engage in appointments. Staff help to educate children about good health and support them to make informed choices about their own well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are appropriately trained to manage children’s behaviour. Following the use of physical intervention, debriefs are provided. This helps children to feel safe, and it also helps staff to learn the most effective ways to support children when they are in crisis.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a full complement of staff. New staff undertake a detailed induction and programme of training. Better systems are in place to monitor the training to support staff’s knowledge and skills.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff feel well supported and are confident in being able to support the children who are currently living at the home. One member of staff said, ‘If I have any issues I can go to the manager and then we reflect on the situation.’

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Findings from the inspection

A more robust process for assessing referrals for new children has been developed so that the manager can be confident that the needs of all children will be met before new children move into the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 3 The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. However, this could be further advanced if the quality-of-care review included feedback from parents, staff, children, and local authorities.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements raised at the last inspection have been fully addressed. Two recommendations were raised at this assurance inspection.

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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 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to accurately reflect risk levels. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 41, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children, family members, staff and placing authorities are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 5

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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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC479632 6 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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