Children's home run by Utopia Children’s Services Ltd in Stroud

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . At the previous inspection, four recommendations were made. All of the recommendations have been met. Records of restraint and sanctions now contain a review of the effectiveness of the measure used. This information is then used to develop staff practice and the responses to each young person. The records of sanctions, on occasion, use vague and emotive words such as tantrum, antagonistic, aggression, disrespectful or rude. These terms do not provide a clear record of young people’s actions and may be misconstrued. There has been no recruitment of new staff since the last inspection. The systems for recording interviews have been reviewed and now provide an explanation of the scoring system and the decision to appoint or not. Medication records have been reviewed to include a record of any young person

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

who refuses to take their medications. This addition now provides a clear audit trail. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. The recording format has been reviewed and now provides a prompt to staff to record if the complainant is happy with the outcome of the investigation. The reports of the independent visitor are not routinely being sent to HMCI as required. In addition, the independent visitor is not consistently having discussions with social workers or parents to gather their views on the care provided by the staff team. Admissions are managed well, even when these are at short notice. Time is spent with new young people to ensure that they understand what the team can provide for them and the expectations staff have of the young people. Staff also ensure that young people know what to do in the event of the fire alarms sounding. One young person has successfully moved home to their family since the last

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection. Staff stress the importance of education with the young people they care for. Currently, one young person is awaiting a new college placement and another has returned to school after a suspension. The remaining young person is attending an alternative education provision. Staff work effectively to reduce the incidents of young people going missing. They have a very good working relationship with the local police and local safeguarding officers. This promotes information sharing which, in turn, protects young people. The team has a good working knowledge of safeguarding systems, including the team’s roles and responsibilities. Young people benefit from living in a home which is furnished to a high standard. They are cared for by a stable staff team that has a good knowledge of young people’s needs and how it will meet these. Young people are able to take part in a wide range of fun and purposeful activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to maintain their own interests, as well as trying new things.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

13/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person, if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1)(2(a))(7(a)) 30/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, staff should not use vague or emotive language when describing young people’s behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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