Children's Home run by Utopia Children’s Services Ltd in North Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 1 Registered provider: Utopia Children’s Services Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private company that also owns two other children’s homes in an adjoining region. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

Date of last inspection: 10 February 2017

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, one child has left the home. Her departure was unplanned. Two children remain in placement. Their local authority care plan aims and objectives are being met. Both of these children are achieving well socially and emotionally. They said that they enjoy living at the home and said that they feel safe and cared for.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the four requirements and both of the recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. The registered manager now ensures that all notifiable events are reported to Ofsted and new systems have been introduced that ensure the safe disposal of medication. Improvements in respect of missing from home interviews and sanctions have also been made. Further work is required to meet the previous Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 2 requirements relating to management monitoring and care planning.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, there have been no concerns that required referring to the designated officer or children’s services for the two remaining children at the home. Incidents relating to one child who no longer lives in the home have been appropriately shared with safeguarding agencies and notified to Ofsted.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement raised at the previous inspection in relation to management monitoring has not been fully met. The manager’s review of records is starting to improve, but further work is required to ensure that omissions and variances in the quality of records are identified and rectified.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, weaknesses were identified in the quality of children’s behaviour support plans and risk assessments. In response, the manager has recently introduced new documents that aim to provide staff with clearer information and instructions about how to recognise and meet the children’s needs. These documents are in the process of being introduced and have not been completed for all children. As a result, the care planning requirement has not been fully met.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement relating to sanctions, that was raised at the previous inspection, has been met. The approach to behaviour management is now more focused on recognising and rewarding positive behaviour. Since the previous inspection, one sanction has been imposed. This was appropriate and provided the child with the opportunity to recognise and learn from their behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, there has been one missing from home episode associated with one of the children in placement. Staff took appropriate action to ensure her safe return home. Following her return, the manager requested an independent return home interview, which was facilitated by telephone by the local authority.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s behaviour is managed well. There have not been any physical interventions or complaints and the use of sanctions has reduced significantly. The manager confirmed that there have not been any concerns that indicate that the current children who live at the home are at risk of exploitation or radicalisation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/02/2017 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 3

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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, 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must—

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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(2)(g)(ii)(h)) 27/04/2018

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, care and behaviour management plans and risk assessments need to be current and identify how young people’s needs will be met. 27/04/2018

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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. Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 4 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Utopia Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hazlewoods, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Louis Stuart-Kelso

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Inspector(s)

Sharron Escott, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 5 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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