Children's home run by Utopia Supported Housing

Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 1 Registered provider: Utopia Supported Housing

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to six children with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. Three children lived in the home at the time of the inspection. This is the home’s first inspection since the home was registered in December 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since the home was registered. However, they resigned and left the home the week before the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Since the home opened, three children have come to live at the home. The assessment of the children’s needs when they moved in to the home was insufficient and did not ensure that children were able to live safely together. This led to a significant number of serious incidents. The registered provider decided to serve notice on all the children’s placements due to the significant and widespread shortfalls that were found during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are not provided with consistent care. This has been amplified by agency staff being used. Some staff will allow children to vape inside the home, and other staff will challenge this. This mixed approach from staff often results in incidents where children’s behaviour escalates and staff are assaulted or property is damaged and broken. The responsible individual recognises that staff need to be supported to develop their skills to provide consistent boundaries for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Arrangements to support children’s health needs are insufficient. One child with asthma had run out of their inhaler medication and had not received this for several days. Medication administration records have several unexplained gaps and, therefore, do not demonstrate that this child has been given their routine medication. Senior leaders were unaware of this, so had not taken action to address this shortfall. Children have declined to attend their routine health appointments. Additionally, children are often provided with fast food and energy drinks by the staff. This does not promote a healthy and balanced diet for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

None of the children are attending school. While the responsible individual has escalated this to the children’s social workers, there are no routines during the school day for children to engage with staff in any meaningful activity. Children usually wake up late and spend most of their days in the home, local area, or with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Several documents that would inform children’s care planning were not available during the inspection, such as children’s local authority care plans, or delegated authority and consent forms. While the provider has implemented their own placement plans for children, it is not known if these are informed by children’s placing authority plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

CCTV has been used in the home. On one occasion, it was used as part of a safeguarding investigation by the manager, who did not follow safeguarding processes or appropriate notification processes. Furthermore, there is no consent from children or their social workers for the use of CCTV, and its use is not reflected in the provider’s statement of purpose.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Communal areas of the home are tidy. However, children’s bedrooms are not maintained to an acceptable standard, with some bedrooms strewn with rubbish, several takeaway Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 3 wrappers, and dirty laundry. This does not provide children with a warm and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Some staff have started to build positive relationships with the children and will try to engage the children in key discussions to explore their feelings. However, there are no established systems to gather children’s views or seek their feedback.

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

A serious allegation regarding the inappropriate conduct of a member of staff has not been sufficiently considered and the member of staff has returned to work. Furthermore, the information provided by the registered manager to the local authority designated officer and the regulator was inaccurate and potentially misleading.

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

The registered provider has failed to take effective action to reduce risks to children and staff. For example, following an incident when a child used an aerosol and a lighter as a flame thrower, no risk plans were put in place to ensure that children were safeguarded. Furthermore, risk management practices do not identify all known risks for children or provide staff with sufficient guidance to keep children safe.

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

There are insufficient arrangements to ensure that staff are suitably vetted before they commence employment in the home. For example, some staff files have gaps in employment, and overseas police checks have not been sought. There are no records to demonstrate that agency staff have been safely recruited by the agency supplying the staff. Furthermore, some staff have not worked within the parameters of their work permits.

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

Where a child may have caused damage to property when distressed, a financial consequence was put in place by the staff to help the child to understand the impact of their behaviour. However, this is not consistently recorded or reviewed to consider the effectiveness or appropriateness of the consequence.

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

Records show that physical interventions have been used to support some children’s behaviour when they are distressed. However, senior leaders are unable to assure themselves that children and staff have been spoken to following any interventions. Furthermore, allegations arising from some physical interventions have not been explored.

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

There have been 10 instances when children have gone missing from home. When children go missing from home, staff look for them and try to contact them. For one child, progress has been made and the child will now stay in touch with the staff when not in the home and usually return to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the home opened, the registered manager has resigned and has been absent from the home for extended periods. The registered manager was not present during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders have not established effective systems for the oversight of the quality of care for children. Monitoring systems have not identified several shortfalls found in records viewed during the inspection. For example, complaints made by children and staff had not been addressed. Weaknesses were found in both the registered manager’s and senior leaders’ oversight of safeguarding matters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to take effective action to notify the local authority safeguarding team and the regulator of several serious incidents. However, the designated safeguarding lead, who has recently joined the senior leadership team, has taken some action to address previous shortfalls and made the local authority team aware.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have not felt supported by senior leaders and, at times, have not felt safe while working in the home. Some staff have taken time off work and there has been an increased use of agency staff and staff from the provider’s supported housing services. Some staff have not had regular supervision. However, the responsible individual has recently taken steps to introduce weekly team meetings, and some staff are beginning to feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have received some mandatory training and newer staff are still completing their induction. This training has been less than effective, given the shortfalls identified in the inspection. The registered provider has not ensured that there is a staff member who is suitably qualified in first aid on duty each day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated and sent to Ofsted to reflect the changes in staffing or the use of CCTV inside the home. During the provider’s registration visit, the provider assured Ofsted that the internal cameras were decommissioned. However, since the registration visit, some internal cameras have been activated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 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, 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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare

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Requirement Due date

12.— 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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 2 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 6 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.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) *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

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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)(b) (2)(h)) 2 June 2024

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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; and promotes their welfare.

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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 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h)) 2 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 7 In particular, the registered provider should ensure that staff have the skills and support needed to provide the care and outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose. The registered provider must also establish effective leadership and management, and implement monitoring systems to review children’s care and ensure that children receive good-quality care.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that all staff, including agency staff, are suitably vetted, and safer recruitment processes are in place and staff work within the remits of their work permits. 2 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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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;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 2 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that— 2 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 8 the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that children attend routine medical appointments, and have access to their prescribed medication when needed. The registered provider should also ensure that children are provided with a balanced, healthy diet.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This registered provider must ensure that children are administered their medicine as instructed by the prescriber. Any omissions in records should be investigated and action taken to address any shortfalls in children not being administered their medicine. 2 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 9 The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first-aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the continuity of care for children when agency staff work in the home. The registered provider must also ensure that a member of staff who is suitably qualified in first aid is always on duty. 2 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(c) (2)(a)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s views and wishes are listened to regarding their quality of care, and that children understand how they can share their feelings to feel listened to. 30 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 30 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 10 help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible.(Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that all children are enrolled and engaged in formal education. Where this is in process, the staff should support children with informal learning routines during the school day to help children to establish routines and ensure that they are provided with enrichment activities.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that:  Children are appropriately assessed when referred to the home and the impact of their care planning considered against other children living in the home to ensure that their needs can be met and this does not have a detrimental impact on other children’s care.  Children’s local authority plans are available and inform children’s care planning records made by the home. 2 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 11 The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure that any use of CCTV, monitoring, or surveillance in the children’s home is to safeguard children and promote their welfare, is agreed with the child’s local authority, and is no more intrusive than necessary to ensure that children have privacy. 2 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— 30 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 12 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that there is a record of any consequences used to support children’s behaviours. They must also ensure that following any measure of control, discipline, or restraint, children and the user of the restraint are spoken to within the required timeframes and a record of this is made as per the regulation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must ensure that any changes made to monitoring and surveillance are accurately reflected in the provider’s statement of purpose and supplied to Ofsted. 30 June 2024

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2748091 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Utopia Supported Housing

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: English Room, Old Free School, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0BX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Lauren Mercurius-Mascoll

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2748091 14 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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