Children's home run by Hopscotch Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638535 1 Registered provider: Hopscotch Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company and provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2021. The manager registered in January 2026.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child was spoken to during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection for report for children’s home: 2638535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/06/2025 Full Inadequate 29/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/08/2023 Full Good 25/10/2022 Full Good Inspection for report for children’s home: 2638535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said, ‘I am happy here and can talk to the managers and staff, it is perfect for me.’ The child’s social worker confirmed that the home has been positive for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The management team worked closely with the child’s placing authority to plan a well-structured and thoughtful transition into the home. This included a meeting with the manager and the child in advance and visits to the home prior to the move in date. Because of this careful planning, and the regular communication between the managers, placing authority, previous care provider and the child, the child settled in quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consistently support and encourage the child to develop a healthy daily routine, including settling at night, engaging in education and taking part in afternoon activities. The manager is also working collaboratively with the placing authority and the virtual school to secure an appropriate education placement. This will help the child to work toward their goals and aspirations for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to learn informally and develop their independence skills. The staff guide and encourage the child to participate in cooking, shopping, budgeting and cleaning their bedroom. This supports them to develop the required skills ready for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The managers and staff understand the child’s complex health needs. As such, the child is supported to attend routine and specialist health appointments and to take their medication. Staff take quick and responsive action when health concerns arise to ensure that the child receives the medical attention they require. Staff ensure that the child’s safety, wellbeing and dignity are promoted.

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. As such, appropriate risk management plans are developed and kept under regular review. This supports the staff to manage and reduce the risks to effectively safeguard the child.

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

The managers and staff are knowledgeable about the child’s past experiences. If the child expresses their anger or frustrations, the staff understand how best to respond to support the child to co-regulate. This has had a positive impact, resulting in no serious incidents occurring and the child’s risks reducing. Inspection for report for children’s home: 2638535 4 Staff have positive discussions with the child about relationships, their health conditions, smoking, online safety and regulating their emotions. These discussions help the child to develop socially acceptable behaviour and to make positive changes.

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

The child does not go missing from home and physical intervention has not been required. However, staff understand the actions they should take if a child goes missing from home. All staff are trained in physical intervention and de-escalation techniques.

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

Clear processes are followed to ensure that staff are recruited safely to the home and can meet the children’s needs. However, on one occasion the manager failed to follow up why a person had left a previous employment working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a good leader and has a clear vision for the home. The manager holds a relevant childcare qualification and is currently working towards a management qualification. The manager is supported by a qualified and enthusiastic deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team are held in high regard by the child, staff and professionals they work alongside. One member of staff said, ‘[Name of managers] have made me feel comfortable and have answered any questions I have. I think [name of home] is very homely and welcoming and both managers are very organised, so you know what is expected when you are on shift and this makes it run smoothly.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have opportunities to attend regular team meetings, development days, supervisions and training. This supports the staff to reflect on their practice and look for ways to enhance their performance, discuss the child and generate new ideas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The training on offer to the team is of a good variety and helps them in their role and meeting the needs of the child. However, the manager should ensure that all staff complete training in areas specific to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive a thorough induction into the organisation, their role and the home. Once they successfully complete their probationary period, new staff are enrolled onto the relevant qualification if they are not already suitably trained. This ensures a consistent and knowledgeable staff team, which contributes to stable, high-quality care and support for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team have effective reviewing and monitoring systems in place to continually assess and review the quality of care. This supports leaders and managers to capture and address any shortfalls in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements raised at the last inspection are met. Inspection for report for children’s home: 2638535 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff complete training to meet children’s individual needs. This will enhance their knowledge and develop their skill set to support the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice by ensuring that any concerns arising about a person’s reason for leaving employment when they have worked with vulnerable adults or children are verified as far as reasonably practicable to safeguard children and minimises potential risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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 for report for children’s home: 2638535 6

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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

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection for report for children’s home: 2638535 7 and inspects 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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