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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2016 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since the home registered.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good 21/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1236916 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and cosy, with a range of soft furnishings. Framed photos are displayed of the children and staff. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and are decorated to a high standard in line with their interests. The welcoming home gives children a sense of belonging and stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff interactions with children are kind, caring and fun. Staff join in activities with children that children enjoy, such as taking the dogs for a walk. Children engage in conversations with staff and benefit from positive encouragement and friendly/good- humoured interactions. Staff have built positive relationships with children, which means that children enjoy spending time with staff and feel relaxed and comfortable in their presence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by a consistent team of staff who have built trusting and secure relationships with them. Children talk positively of the home, and staff have a good understanding of children’s history, experiences, likes and dislikes, so they understand their needs. Children have regular one-to-one sessions where they can express their views, wishes and feelings and be open with staff. The registered manager shares issues or views in regular team meetings so that all staff are kept informed. Advocates or mentors support children, so there are regular opportunities outside the home for children to speak to external professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with independence so that they make positive steps towards adulthood. Staff provide ongoing support and remain in contact with children when they move on from the home. Professionals say that there is effective communication and that staff prepare the children well for independence. Plans for moving children into and on from the home are robust and structured. When there are unforeseen circumstances, staff support children to help relieve any anxiety and to help them settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals say that staff have high expectations for children and show commitment and support so that they can succeed. A professional commented that one child has made significant progress at the home and said, ‘Staff really do go that extra mile.’ Family time is promoted so that children can maintain positive relationships with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create memory books for children to take with them when they leave the home. These serve as keepsakes of the memory’s children share with each other and staff and include photos of the enjoyable times they have had and the variety of engaging learning and practical activities the children have taken part in. Inspection report for children’s home: 1236916 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding processes and protocols and work closely with children to help them keep safe. Children are cared for by a stable and compassionate team of staff who provide a therapeutic and nurturing environment and give children daily opportunities to talk about their feelings and worries.

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

The use of physical intervention is minimal. However, during a recent incident, staff took appropriate and proportionate action to address a situation, when de-escalating techniques were not successful. Staff recognise and understand how to promote positive behaviour and set clear and consistent routines and boundaries to help children keep safe.

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

Staff understand children’s behaviours and how to respond to any risks or harm. Risk assessment strategies are clear, so staff keep up to date and informed. Staff have effective working relationships with external professionals, who comment that when children go missing, staff support them to return home safely.

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

Staff spend time with children exploring risks and consequences and how they can keep safe out in the community. Staff understand that allowing children to explore and take risks is part of growing up, and they support children to develop their understanding and skills to help keep themselves safe.

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

Staff have developed effective professional networks, so there is close multi-agency working and support services to address risk-taking behaviour. Professionals say that the home is flexible and adapts to support children’s needs.

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

Children live in a positive environment where they are supported to develop and progress, while taking manageable risks and learning from mistakes. Therefore, children feel valued, respected and have a sense of belonging.

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

Physical and emotional behaviour can sometimes be challenging, so staff use consequences to help children understand how they can respond differently. The staff use reparation work so that children learn how to make amends and face the consequences of their behaviour in a positive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have a very good understanding of children and lead the team effectively to ensure children receive a high level of care. Staff speak with enthusiasm and care about children and show an excellent understanding of their needs. Staff recognise the progress children make with education, behaviour, engagement, personal hygiene and confidence, and celebrate these achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have skilfully built trusting relationships with children and children are well prepared for independence. For example, children have a key to the home, and they Inspection report for children’s home: 1236916 5 stay home alone, which builds their sense of responsibility and maturity and develops their independence skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers support staff to undertake a range of training activities to help them meet children’s needs. Staff described how the registered manager is ‘supportive’ and ‘always has time for everyone’. Staff say they enjoy working at the home because it is a ‘lovely, nurturing environment’ and has a ‘family feel’. Staff and children always cook and eat dinner together, and they watch television together in the evenings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager shows a high level of dedication and commitment to children, which helps them to experience a positive family home and feel stable and secure. Leaders, managers and staff ensure children have positive and aspirational experiences in this home, the same as other children of a similar age. For example, children go on holidays with staff, older children can have driving lessons, and the manager and staff are ambitious in their attempts to provide children with love and care so that they benefit from positive and nurturing relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that it does not feel like work and that they look forward to spending time with colleagues and children each day. They say that it has been an honour to see children grow. Staff are committed to their work with children and say that everyone ‘knits’ together. They say that they are ‘one big, happy family’. This helps children to flourish and thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have confidence in management and say that staff are competent and passionate about implementing the routines, boundaries and care that children need. An ethos of the home is to provide a strong family environment, where children are happy to live. Inspection report for children’s home: 1236916 6

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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: 1236916 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Utopia Children’s Services Limited

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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

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Nicola Lownds, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1236916 8 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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