Children's Home run by Hopscotch Care Limited in Cumberland

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 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 operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 2 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 2 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 12 November 2025

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: 2741833 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The barriers to a child engaging in education are well understood by staff. A bespoke education provider is now working with the child to support them to re- engage in education. Concerns previously raised by professionals about the child’s access to the internet have been addressed. There are clear rules and boundaries in place to support improvements in the child’s routine.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has an informal education plan in place for staff to follow each week. Staff record each informal education activity the child engages with. However, the logs lack detail about the child’s engagement and learning. The manager does not oversee the logs to consider staff practice or identify any additional actions.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are well met. Outstanding immunisations for one child have been addressed. Staff are helping a child to improve their sleep hygiene.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand one child’s anxiety and work hard to find ways to encourage them to engage in the wider community. The child said that staff know them well and that they help other professionals to understand how they feel.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been few incidents for children. Care plans and risk assessments are specific to children and set out clear strategies for staff to follow in practice. A historic disclosure made by a child was managed well with effective multi-agency work. A child who recently moved into the home has settled well, and there are clear expectations in place for their behaviours, which staff support consistently.

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Findings from the inspection

An incident where a child caused damage in their bedroom was not responded to well by staff. Staff did not demonstrate professional curiosity to understand the situation. Staff were not aware of the full extent of this incident until the following day. This is a missed opportunity to support the child when they are in crisis. The manager’s oversight of the incident was not effective. The record of the incident does not reflect what the manager or responsible individual said took place. The manager did not identify how staff could have responded more effectively to the situation.

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Findings from the inspection

Records of each child’s day are sufficiently detailed. They extend into the evening and show children’s engagement when they are at home and their routines.

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Findings from the inspection

A sensor to monitor movement in the home was removed following the last inspection. It was put back in place after a child moved into the home, in line with the child’s risk management plan. The appropriate consents are in place, and children understand the reasons for its use. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 3 Records of team meetings and staff supervision lack detail. They do not show input from staff or demonstrate how they are supported to reflect on their practice. When training has been completed in team meetings, records do not reflect staff learning or development.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive training that is specific to children’s needs. Managers support staff to consider the effectiveness of the training they complete and how they will use it in practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/10/2024 Full Good 24/01/2024 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 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

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

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;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 6 Specifically, staff must have the skills to demonstrate professional curiosity to ensure that children are safe.

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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;

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; 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) (2)(a)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are supported to reflect on their practice.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must have robust oversight of incidents so that any shortfalls in staff practice are identified and acted on. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 30 April 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 7 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation— must include details of—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to sustain or regain their confidence in education and engage children in suitable structured activities. Any activities should be recorded in detail, setting out the child’s understanding and learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2741833 9 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 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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