Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancaster

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2014. The manager registered in February 2025.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

This monitoring visit

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 24 June 2025. Due to the serious and widespread safeguarding failures and poor leadership and management of the home, Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice and three compliance notices under regulations 10, the health and well-being standard, regulation 12, the protection of children standard and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The restriction of accommodation notice had immediate effect from 26 June 2025 to 18 September 2025.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the providers compliance with the restriction of accommodation notice and the action taken to address the compliance notices. The provider has complied with the restriction of accommodation notice and no children have moved into the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The provider has taken sufficient action to manage and reduce the risk of harm to children. A review of documentation has been conducted by the leadership team, and they are holding regular senior leadership team meetings to reflect on the shortfalls identified in care practices that led to the restriction of accommodation and compliance notices. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 2 Leaders and managers have developed their monitoring and review systems. This has enhanced management oversight. Action has been taken with staff to understand how to manage safeguarding incidents, allegations and to improve staff practice. Reflective sessions have taken place with staff in team meetings and on a one-to-one basis to support their development.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The management and staff team have attended training in safeguarding practices, child exploitation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder autism spectrum disorder, knife crime, professional curiosity and reflective practice, to enhance their knowledge and skills. As such, safeguarding incidents such as children missing from home, physical interventions and disclosures are now managed well.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Children are now cared for by a more regular consistent and stable staff team. Staff who come to work in the home from the organisations other homes now receive an induction into the home. This allows the staff member to become familiar with the running of the home and understand the needs of children. The registered manager and staff are now able to identify and respond appropriately if children make complaints about staff members.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The leadership and management team actively challenge the placing and local authority and have been persistent in identifying local health services for the children, as such, this has resulted in the children now being supported to attend routine health appointments and having access to specialist emotional health and wellbeing support.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The management and staff team are now adequately responding to children who may smoke cigarettes or use electronic cigarettes and are providing informal education around the dangers of this. A room search has been conducted when staff suspected the child may have electronic in their bedroom, these were removed and discarded. Children are now supported to understand the risks to their health.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The home and garden area are clean, tidy and remain inviting for the children to use. Plans are in place for one child’s bedroom to be re-decorated to their own personal taste.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the last inspection are outside the scope of this visit. The requirements will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2025 Full Inadequate 24/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 4

p.3

Statutory requirements

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

p.4

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;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being;

p.4

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)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c)) 14 September

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 14 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 5 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.4

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

p.5

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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that if managers are involved in any incidents or the holding of a child, further independent scrutiny of the incident and/or restraint should be conducted.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

p.5

Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed; 14 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 6 that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(e)(i)(ii))

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

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

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

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority; 14 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 7 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 who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment; and

p.7

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)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.7

Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

p.7

Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

p.7

Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. 14 September Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 8 (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all serious incidents, such as fire setting, allegations against staff and section 47 enquiries starting and ending, are reported to the regulator in a timely manner and that all relevant information and detail are included.

p.8

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.

p.8

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 19 Lancaster Road, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9LD

p.9

Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC479632 10 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.

p.9

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 . 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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10