Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 1 SC432741 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered with Ofsted in September 2011. It is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 26 November 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2024 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/11/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. The staff and leaders have a good understanding of the children’s needs and their past experiences. Children are supported well by the manager and staff, who hold them in high regard. One social worker said: ‘Staff go above and beyond.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a relaxed feel. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, and they have plenty of storage for their personal possessions. The manager and staff have created a safe environment where the children feel listened to and can express their wishes and feelings. Children have positive relationships with the staff who care for them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them. This provides children with a support network where they feel safe to maintain relationships with people who matter the most to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to become more independent and develop new skills, based on their age and understanding. Staff support children to carry out tasks around the house, including cooking, laundry, and shopping. One child has been supported into employment. This helps the children to learn and develop skills for later life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities both inside and outside the home. Activities include swimming, magnet fishing, playing on the computer, crafts, spending time with friends and watching movies. This helps to support the children’s hobbies and interests.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational experiences are varied. One child has a formal education provision. The child has excellent attendance and is doing well. Not all children have access to a full-time education programme. There is a lack of structure and routine to the children’s day. This means that there are missed opportunities for staff to further support the children’s educational needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are in good health and staff actively encourage and support children to attend health appointments. One child has not attended appointments and has refused to take prescribed medication on occasions. However, the manager and staff continue to work with the child and professionals to encourage engagement.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff take the time to listen to children and help them to understand their emotions. This helps children to manage their behaviours more effectively. One family member said: ‘There has been progress in [name of child’s] behaviour.’

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff maintain good levels of communication and work closely with professionals to ensure that children receive the Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 4 appropriate support. One social worker said: ‘The staff are quick to let me know if there is any issues.’

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the previous inspection there have been no incidents of physical intervention. Staff have a good understanding of the missing-from-home procedures. Staff take time to talk to children and educate them about risk and use these discussions to increase the children’s understanding of safety.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are provided with regular training to help them meet the specific needs of the children in their care. Training topics include first aid, fire marshal training, safeguarding, substance misuse, bereavement and grief and loss. This ensures that staff have the skills to support children’s individual needs. One member of staff said: ‘My professional development has always been supported.’

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have individual dynamic risk assessments that are regularly updated by the manager and staff. However, the information provided in relation to risk factors does not always correlate to the level of risk identified. The risk assessments could be strengthened when considering the level of risk.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. The use of natural consequences supports the children to restore and rebuild relationships. However, the effectiveness of consequences is not recorded. This means that there are missed opportunities to identify any learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and working towards gaining a leadership and management qualification. Leaders and managers ensure that they are present in the home and accessible to staff and children. Staff speak about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members have regular supervision. Staff say that they feel supported by leaders and managers. One staff member said: ‘I have had lots of support from the deputy manager. She is a good mentor and very patient.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members have regular team meetings. Meetings have a clear agenda. However, they are recorded in a briefing format. This does not detail comments and reflection made by staff members, which is a missed learning opportunity.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development. Leaders and managers have good oversight of children’s progress, and any changes needed. However, documentation is not always clear, concise, and written in a way which is helpful to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and monitoring of the home are effective. However, the quality- of-care review could be further enhanced by considering the views of family members and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

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”)—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 13 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 6 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a detailed record of any consequences, which also includes the effectiveness of the consequence.

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.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

p.6

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.6

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.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(viii)(x)(c)) 13 June 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff help children to engage in education as part of a daily structured routine and in accordance with children’s relevant plans.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. This specifically relates to children taking medication as prescribed and attending medical appointments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 33, paragraph 7.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice, to provide a culture of learning. This relates specifically to staff team meetings giving staff opportunities for group reflection. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be

p.7

Recommendations

helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to accurately reflect risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 41, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in regulation 45, specifically relating to the opinions of parents and staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 64, paragraph 15.2)

p.7

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: SC432741 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

p.8

Inspector

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC432741 9 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.

p.8

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 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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 www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9