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

Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 1 Registered provider: Utopia Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for three children up to the age of 18 with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/08/2021 Full Good 09/12/2019 Full Good 25/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop close and trusting relationships with those who care for them. This is because the manager and staff team are nurturing and reflective. They go out of their way to spend time and work closely with the children to help them to share their thoughts and feelings. One child described the team as ‘like my family’. As a result, children have a good sense of belonging and develop in self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly attend school and college. Even when children experience considerable challenges within a school environment, they make progress in education. This is due to the significant support given to children from the manager and staff in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff support children well. They provide good opportunities to enable children to develop independence skills. As a result, children are well prepared for adult life. One child has bought a significant amount of household items ready for when she moves into her own accommodation. This has been encouraged and supported by staff. Her pathway adviser stated, ‘Staff are doing everything in their power to support her in this journey as she approaches her 18th birthday.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff spend a considerable amount of time developing positive relationships with birth families. This has also included taking on the roles and tasks of other professionals to bring about positive changes for children. As a result, children are supported to develop their identity and a sense of permanency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear and detailed transition plans for when children move out of the home. Children and their families are fully involved to ensure that this is a positive and successful move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a comfortable place for children to live and is furnished to a high standard. The manager is considering plans to introduce more photos and pictures in communal areas now that the home has been decorated. The children’s bathroom is tired and in need of attention. Children’s bedrooms are of a good size and personalised to their individual tastes. This helps children to settle in the home and develop a sense of self-worth.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not go missing from the home or put themselves at risk.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding. This is reinforced by a range of risk assessments that are implemented well to ensure that children are safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 4 Staff discuss relevant topics with children to help them to understand the world around them and how to keep safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home has a location risk assessment that is regularly reviewed by managers. However, this not wholly effective as this does not include all risks associated with the nearby town or include feedback from relevant people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff spend time developing strong and trusting relationships with the children they care for to bring about desired behaviour. Effective use of positive incentives helps to ensure that positive behaviour is reinforced. As a result, there have been no incidents requiring staff to physically restrain children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff recruitment procedures are thorough. This helps to ensure that staff working at the home are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for children. She has a clear vison for improvement and how this will be achieved. The staff team is established and well qualified. There has been a long and well-considered handover period for the new manager who is due to take over the running of the home in August. This is helping to provide consistency and continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight into the running of the home. This ensures that she knows and understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses well, taking effective action when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team are child-focused and share a clear ethos within the home. Staff are motivated. They receive a good level of supervision that supports their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a wide range of training opportunities to meet the needs of the children. The manager makes good use of team meetings to further support staff practice, bringing in external professionals when needed to support this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed effective working relationships with placing social workers and other external professionals. Placing social workers, teachers and others are overwhelmingly positive about the home and the quality of care given to the children. They cite the significant support staff provide as being instrumental to the progress children are making. Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming. In particular, to finalise and implement plans to introduce pictures and photos now that the home has been redecorated. In addition, to address issues identified in the bathroom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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 for children’s home: 1269072 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: Unit 9, Wheatstone Court, Waterwells Business Park, Davy Way, Gloucester GL2 2AQ

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Inspectors

Suzanne Young, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1269072 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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