Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 1 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 owned by a private company. It provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 4 children were living at the home. Three of the children spoke to the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in March 2025, and the registered manager’s post is currently vacant.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 March 2026

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 has 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: 1277497 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care and protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home, and another child has moved in. There has been an increase in serious incidents during this period, including children going missing from home and incidents of self-injurious behaviour. All serious incidents have been reported to Ofsted in line with regulatory requirements.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk management plans do not reflect all known risks, and when new risks are identified, the safeguards in place to keep children safe are not clearly outlined. As a result, the plans do not provide staff with the guidance they need to manage risks effectively. On one occasion, a child was taken on a short break to a caravan without a risk assessment being completed. Although this did not impact the child’s safety, it does not demonstrate effective or safe care practice.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been a high number of physical interventions. Children and staff complete a debrief after each incident. On one occasion, a child’s pockets were searched after they took keys without permission; this action was not in line with the home’s policy. The incident record did not clearly identify who completed the debrief with the child and lacked managerial oversight and evaluation, including whether the intervention used was reasonable and proportionate.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is large and spacious, but some areas require attention to ensure that the environment is clean and well presented. One child’s bedroom requires a deep clean, there are locks fitted to 3 internal doors, and 3 fire doors were found wedged open. In addition, one child had been sleeping on their bedroom floor, and staff were not aware of this. These issues do not demonstrate that children are living in a consistently comfortable or safe environment.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have not ensured training is prioritised for all staff to meet the needs of the children. Specific training on self-harm and suicidal ideation has not been undertaken by all staff. One child has a diagnosis of asthma, and no staff have undertaken any training. This does not ensure children are always safeguarded effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

There is currently no registered manager in post. One deputy manager remains in role, as the other has recently left to manage another home. The responsible individual continues to provide support to the deputy manager. Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have not maintained effective oversight of the home and there is a lack of professional curiosity and reflection following incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Requirements made at the last inspection have not all been met and further shortfalls were identified at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 3 Following this inspection, a case review was held, and the decision was made to issue compliance notices under Regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and Regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/08/2024 Full Good 23/01/2024 Full Good 08/06/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 5

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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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)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that risk assessments include all children’s known risks and vulnerabilities.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff understand each child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. This must include possible ligature risks in the home. 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 6 Ensure that staff understand what action to take to reduce known and emerging risks.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff understand each child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. This must include possible ligature risks in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This includes any potential risks between children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the manager reviews risk management strategies so they remain effective to help staff reduce risks.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that there are safe and effective management arrangements in place.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure a review of staff skills and knowledge is undertaken. 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 7 Ensure that action is taken to address any gaps. This includes self-harm, suicidal ideation and ligature.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that effective monitoring and review systems are in place. This is to help identify any shortfalls in staff practice to make continuous improvements to the care that staff provide for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they appoint a registered manager. 10 May 2026

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 8 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited;

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to express their, views, wishes and feelings and that concerns raised are appropriately acted upon.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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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

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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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. (Regulation 5(a)(b)(c)) 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 9 In particular, the registered person must ensure that arrangements are in place for missing-from-home interviews within 72 hours.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that action is taken to address the internal locks on the door and that fire doors are compliant at all times.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that children are supported to have clean bedrooms. 10 May 2026

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 10 May 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 10 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is

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Requirement Due date

authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child is spoken to regarding the incident within 5 days of the use of the measure and that the child’s record includes who the child spoke to.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person should evaluate the incident to identify any learning and reflection.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. 26 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 11 After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that 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 children, parents and staff.

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Requirement Due date

This was not reviewed at the inspection, and the requirement has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Post vacant Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 12

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Inspector

Michelle Snape, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277497 13 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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