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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 1 Registered provider: Utopia Children’s Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

This home was registered in September 2024, and this was the first inspection after registration.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in the home and making positive progress. All children attend college or school consistently because staff have supported them to engage in education. Professionals and family said they receive regular feedback, and communication is good with the home. One professional said they receive weekly reports and staff attend all school meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they enjoy living at the home and feel safe. They said it is a nice place to live, and they get what they need and staff support them. One child talked about playing rugby on the weekends and that staff go to watch the games.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to enjoy regular activities within the community and time with their friends. Children engage in hobbies such as swimming and trampolining. Staff promote family relationships, so they develop positively for children, and children spend time with people that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly express their views, wishes and feelings. This can be through natural and open conversations with staff in the home or in face-to-face sessions. Staff have monthly catch ups with children and share children’s views in team meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Observations of staff interacting with children showed that they are warm and friendly. Staff speak to children in a kind and caring manner, and there is laughter and fun, demonstrating the positive relationships that staff have built with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to meet their health and well-being needs. Children are taken to appointments. If any specialist support is required staff help children to access this in line with their needs. This is helping to promote children’s overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, staff give them a guide that is simple and clear to understand, which helps them prepare for the move. Staff meet with children before they move in and invite them to visit the home for tea, so they can meet the other children and staff. This helps to alleviate any anxiety, so children feel welcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is well presented, which is welcoming and cosy. There are soft furnishings and pictures on the wall, so it feels homely for children. Children benefit from large bedrooms with double beds, and bedrooms are personalised in line with children’s interests.

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

Staff spend time supporting children in a way they understand. They cover a range of topics with children including puberty, relationships, radicalisation and religious Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 3 ceremonies. Staff use child-friendly language and a nurturing approach to help children feel safe and secure.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and risks, and they know how to manage these. Detailed plans focus on behaviours of children and help staff understand how to respond to any risk or harm. Strategies are clear so staff can keep up to date and informed.

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

Children have a range of devices with internet access, but there are filtering systems in place and staff complete device checks. However, staff have not taught all children how to keep themselves safe online. This may leave children vulnerable as they grow in independence, and they may not know what safe online use is and how to recognise unhealthy relationships.

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

Staff help children to understand clear routines and boundaries, so they know what to expect. All children have a regular, structured daily routines and staff support them with these. Staff have created menu options so children can choose their own meals and know what to expect for dinner each evening.

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

Concerns about staff are addressed in a timely manner, with effective management oversight. When concerns arise, leaders and managers report these to relevant safeguarding professionals, and external professional advice is sought in the best interests of children. Leaders and managers learn from incidents to help improve staff practice.

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

When children go missing from home, staff know how to respond, and incidents have good management oversight. However, the use of restraint is not clear. Records are confusing, as there are inconsistencies in information. This makes them difficult for staff to understand and could lead to a difference in practice and how staff manage situations.

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

Staff complete regular health and safety checks within the home to ensure that children are safe. The location assessment is thorough, advice is sought from outside agencies, and risk assessments are comprehensive. This helps staff understand potential risks in the local area and provides strategies to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager focuses on children living in a settled and thriving home environment. He ensures that children feel loved, safe and welcomed in their home. Leaders and managers are committed to staff and recognise individual skills and experience but also promote training and learning opportunities. Staff are able to access training to enhance their skills which promotes their confidence to meet children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 4 As the home is new, there are ongoing plans for development. Before the registered manager moves another child into the home, he is keen to strengthen the staff team and build its confidence and the resilience of children. This demonstrates his dedication to children and to ensuring that child-centred decisions are made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel well supported by leaders and managers and have completed a range of training so they can support the child’s needs. They enjoy working at the home and said that they have built positive relationships with children. Staff share examples of progress and show they understand children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no staff vacancies in the home and agency staff do not cover shifts, which provides stability and consistency for the children. Safer recruitment checks are robust and follow practice guidelines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is comprehensive and in line with the statement of purpose. All staff have relevant qualifications or are working towards obtaining them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are clear and review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and review the opportunity to amend practice, in line with the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that staff educate children about online risk so that they understand how to protect themselves from harm and how to keep safe online. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: 2796522 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: 9 Wheatstone Court, Waterwells Business Park, Davy Way, Gloucester GL2 2AQ

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Inspector

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2796522 7 and 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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