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. The company owns two other children’s homes. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The registered manager has been in post since June 2016.

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Inspection date: 14 January 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 14 January 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, one young person has left the home. This is because the registered manager and senior managers appropriately decided that staff could no longer keep him safe. Prior to this decision, leaders and managers worked in partnership with the young person’s placing authority and safeguarding agencies to agree strategies to help and protect the child. As a result of this, he received good support until he moved to his new home. A young person has recently moved into the home. He experienced a sensitive and well-planned move and is settling in well. The registered manager completed a detailed compatibility risk assessment to ensure that the home could meet the individual and collective needs of all the young people. Since the previous inspection, the incidence of young people missing has significantly reduced. Staff respond effectively when young people go missing. They ensure that discussions are held with the young people when they return and offer

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

them an independent return home interview. The registered manager closely monitors and evaluates the missing from home records and discussions are held with staff to reflect on their practice. Positive behaviour is promoted, serious incidents have reduced significantly and the use of restraint is rare. Since the previous inspection, restraint has been used once and this was a ‘low-level’ intervention. The registered manager thoroughly evaluates the incident and restraint records and looks for triggers and themes. Following serious incidents, children’s views about the incident are discussed and recorded in detail. In addition, comprehensive discussions are held with staff to reflect on their practice. Sanctions are fair and proportionate. However, some of the records pertaining to these are not always clear and concise and use ‘institutional-type’ language. Since the previous inspection, a significant positive outcome for one young person is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that he has found meaningful employment. Staff said ‘he is thriving’ and they added that they are so proud of his achievement. The young person’s social worker said, ‘This is a massive move forward for him. I have no concerns and he is getting on well.’ The registered manager ensures that staff are provided with detailed plans on how to support young people’s needs. However, some plans are not always clear and specific. For example, a young person’s plan in relation to staff encouraging him to get up does not specify how long to continue with the process and the further action to take. Staff provide young people with good and effective emotional support. Young people’s records contain comprehensive notes of the discussions and support that Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 3 they receive when facing difficult and challenging moments in their life. It is clear that staff genuinely care about the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support and encourage young people to continue with, and to engage in, education. Leaders and managers challenge education providers and the local authority when there are concerns in relation to the children’s education. This demonstrates the importance that staff place on children receiving an education. The four requirements that were made at the previous inspection have been met. Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/01/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/12/2018 Full Inadequate 10/02/2017 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 9.60)

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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.

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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 report children’s home: 1236916 6

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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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Inspectors

David Kidner, social care inspector Emmy Tomsett, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1236916 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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