Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 1 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in August 2023 and is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since February 2025 and applied to register with Ofsted in May 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 3 and 4 September 2025. Following the inspection, two compliance notices were issued under Section 22A of the Care Standards Act under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). At a monitoring visit on 28 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 2 October 2025, it was deemed that the provider had taken sufficient action to meet the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2025 Full Inadequate 11/03/2025 Full Good 20/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 4

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improvement to be good

The child’s overall progress and experiences are affected by gaps in management oversight and shortfalls in staff practice.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not help the child understand plans in respect of their care. The child said that their social worker is not being honest with them about their future care plans. The manager stated the social worker avoids difficult conversations with the child. However, they have not challenged this. The child does not have an advocate in place to ensure that they can speak to somebody independent from staff working at the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not had any contact with the child’s previous carers until recently despite there being almost daily contact between the child’s previous carers and the child. The carers expressed their confusion at the lack of contact from the staff team despite caring for the child for a considerable period. Managers did not challenge the placing authority about the plan for communication with carers when the child moved into the home. As a result, staff do not have up-to-date information about the child from those who know them best. This is a missed opportunity to understand the child’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff work hard to develop positive relationships with the child. The child expresses their experiences and views readily and said they enjoy living at the home.

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improvement to be good

The child participates in activities they enjoy, including fishing and a new interest in off- road motorcycle racing. The manager and staff know the importance of having structure and routine. This has had a positive impact on the child’s wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

The current education plan means the child does not engage with peers their own age. The provider’s education lead has oversight of this and is working towards the child attending an education provision. The child engages in formal tutoring that is supplemented with a weekly informal learning plan. This is monitored by the education lead.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the child’s health needs. They consistently encourage the child to reduce their use of electronic cigarettes and suggest alternatives to support their health and wellbeing. The manager has sought external advice to help progress delays with dental treatment arising from the change of geographical area.

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improvement to be good

The child said that they play games on the internet that are inappropriate for their age. The manager was not aware of the matter and did not know who the child communicates with online. Staff believe these to be friends from the child’s home area. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 5 However, the child’s previous carers say that these friends have a negative influence on the child. Staff do not explore this further to understand the potential risks to the child. This could leave the child vulnerable to harm.

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improvement to be good

Work carried out by staff with the child around the risks of exploitation is ongoing and meaningful. Appropriate referrals are underway with relevant professionals to help staff understand the risks to the child.

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improvement to be good

There have been few occasions when the child has gone missing from home. Staff take appropriate action to locate the child and return them to the home safely. There is effective work with other professionals to consider ways to reduce any further incidents.

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improvement to be good

The use of physical interventions is rare. When interventions are used, they are appropriate to prevent the child from harming themselves and others. Staff speak to the child after incidents to understand their views, and these are clearly set out in the child’s risk management and behaviour support plans.

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improvement to be good

The manager listens to the child when they express concerns about staff. The manager takes appropriate action to address any poor staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been in post since February 2025 and has applied to register with Ofsted. The manager described how his experiences in the role support his development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager’s oversight is evident across all areas of staff practice. While he carries out detailed debriefs with staff, identifying any areas of strength and improvement, it is evident that these improvements are not embedded into practice. The manager ensures that shortfalls are discussed with the team during regular meetings. However, records do not demonstrate staff input or any details of staff discussions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager encourages staff to reflect on their practice. He understands the child well and has a positive influence on staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff supervision sessions are carried out each month. They help staff to consider their own wellbeing and to reflect on their practice and the impact of any training they have had. Staff said they receive reassurance and feedback from the manager to support them in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is now a full senior team in place that communicates effectively and has clear plans in place to develop staff practices. Staff say they are well supported. Staff say that recent training has improved their skills and confidence. The manager has brought in external professionals to support staff around specific areas, such as safeguarding. This will help staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 6

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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 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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers should ensure that staff know how to keep children safe when they use the internet. 28 February 2026

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and 28 February 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 7 seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must engage with carers who have had and continue to have a significant role in children’s lives and be confident to challenge placing authorities if they have not encouraged this.

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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

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (b)(iii)) 28 February 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records demonstrate how staff engage in team meetings through reflecting individually and as a team on their practice and the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2742263 8

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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

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2742263 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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