Children's home run by Utopia Supported Housing

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

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to six children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since April 2024.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 12 September 2025. A restriction notice was issued on 17 September 2025, alongside two compliance notices. Both compliance notices were deemed to be met following this visit. This is because the provider has taken the necessary steps to address the serious and widespread shortfalls. Furthermore, the threshold for the restriction of accommodation is no longer met, therefore this has been lifted.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has made improvements in their safeguarding arrangements and the oversight of leaders and managers. One of the four requirements has been met, but ongoing work is required to fully meet the remaining requirements. Therefore, these requirements have been repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received training in responding to allegations and concerns raised by children. As a result, allegations are being recognised and reported by staff. Managers are taking appropriate and timely action to escalate concerns to social workers and the local authority designated officer (LADO). There has been one occasion when follow-up action recommended by the LADO has not been carried out promptly. Therefore, a conclusion has not yet been reached in relation to an allegation raised by a child that relates to staff conduct.

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This monitoring visit

There have been changes to the risk assessment guidance available for staff. However, guidance for staff contains a lot of information that is not individualised to Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 2 the child. One child’s record referred to strategies for another child at the home. Research, legislation and guidance are embedded into individual plans, but this detracts from the strategies and guidance on responding to individual children’s needs. Risk assessments remain unclear on the immediate strategies to be used to safeguard children and on the actions to be taken to reduce ongoing risk.

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This monitoring visit

Managers’ oversight of safeguarding incidents is improving. Leaders have implemented additional quality assurance systems to review safeguarding at the home. These additional systems include an organisational safeguarding review; a meeting that helps managers to reflect on safeguarding practice. This is supporting leaders and managers to learn from and reflect on challenges and successes in safeguarding children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have completed a review of incidents, making retrospective notifications when required. Since the last visit, notifications have been submitted in suitable timescales.

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This monitoring visit

Managers are making better use of systems to monitor and have oversight of the quality of care offered to children. Team meetings, children’s meetings and one-to- one sessions are beginning to support leaders and managers to obtain the views of children and staff. Managers have also used these systems to support children and staff to understand changes at the home and to ensure that staff know where to find and access guidance on responding to risks.

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This monitoring visit

There are improvements in the physical condition of the home. Children’s bedrooms are now personalised spaces reflecting their individual tastes. The children have been involved in selecting the furnishings and in painting and decorating their spaces. One child said, ‘I like my room better now.’ Leaders have started to make improvements to the communal spaces in the home and have started to develop an ongoing plan and schedule of works to provide a more homely and domestic environment.

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This monitoring visit

Cleanliness levels in the home have improved. Managers have taken action to address shortfalls in practice regarding the cleanliness of the home. They have implemented monitoring systems to swiftly identify and address when cleanliness has fallen below the expected levels. One staff member said, ‘Little changes have made such a big difference in the home, it is positive and is creating an environment the children respect more.’ Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/09/2025 Full Inadequate 02/01/2025 Full Good 22/04/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 4

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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, The 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 with 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e)) 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 5 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

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(g)(ii)(h)) 12 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and 12 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 6 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 7

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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

Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2748091 8 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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