Children's Home run by Utopia Childcare Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 1 Registered provider: Utopia Childcare 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 company and is registered to provide care for up to 2 children with social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in December 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

A new responsible individual has recently been appointed. Ofsted is checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 2

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Summary of findings

This is the home’s first inspection since registering. The leadership and management of the home is strongly focused on positive outcomes for the children. This is supported by a caring and nurturing team of staff who share these aspirations. This has helped the children to settle quickly and make progress in a relatively short period of time. Staff work collaboratively with their professional colleagues to support the children to progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since registering, 2 children, who are siblings, have moved into the home. Staff and leaders have provided these children with stability, enabling them to stay together and maintain their school and health provisions. This has helped the children to settle quickly in their new environment and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to make sure children’s transitions into the home are positive. Despite short notice being given, staff made time to meet children before they arrived and supported a visit to the home. A child-friendly guide to the home also helped the children understand what to expect. This helps reduce some of the anxiety for children undergoing a significant change in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and want children to do well. They work collaboratively with their education colleagues to support children and help them achieve well. Both children have good attendance at school. Education is also continued in the home in a fun way, through bedtime reading, quizzes and board games, which the children enjoy. Educational achievements are celebrated and staff proudly display children’s certificates in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to maintain healthy and active lifestyles. The children regularly participate in physical activities they enjoy, such as football and swimming clubs. They are also encouraged to try new foods so that they have a varied and balanced diet. In addition, children have regular sessions with a therapist. This support has led to improvements in children’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend positive time with people who are important to them. This is done at the children’s pace. Since moving in, the children have started to reconnect with a family member. This has helped them with their sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and inviting. It is furnished and decorated to a high standard and has lots of space for the children to play. A range of books, toys and games, along with photographs contributes to the homely feel. The children’s rooms are beautifully decorated in line with their wishes. This provides children with a home they are proud of and want to spend time in. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 3

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

Children are cared for by the staff in the home who understand their needs and have built positive and trusting relationships with them. Staff speak warmly about them and use a nurturing approach. This helps the children to feel safe and speak about their feelings and past experiences.

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

Staff understand the importance of structure and routine in children’s lives. Staff’s consistent approach helps children to feel safe and secure. This has contributed to the low number of significant incidents.

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

Staff are skilled at supporting children when they are distressed. When incidents occur, staff manage them well. Staff help children to use strategies that help them to manage their emotions and self-regulate.

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

Staff rarely use physical interventions to manage children’s behaviours and only use it if it is proportionate to do so. After such interventions, children have opportunities to reflect on what happened and how they feel. This helps children feel heard and understand what has happened and why.

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

Staff make time to help children understand how to keep safe. Staff regularly have important conversations with the children, so they understand safety and risks. These conversations are carried out in a child-friendly way, suited to children’s ages and understanding.

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

Staff use rewards and consequences to help children to understand the expectations of them. Each child has individualised goals that they work towards. Rewards are child led and fun. This further incentivises them and helps children to develop positive life skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children and the staff team alike. They understand the home’s strengths and areas for development and have embedded a child-centred culture within the home. They are focused on ensuring that the right team is in place that can deliver care in line with the ethos of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by an appropriately qualified and experienced manager. They receive opportunities to learn and develop. Staff say they enjoy coming to work and are happy to cover any absence of colleagues so that children have continuity in their care. Staff are also empowered to take on further responsibilities that develop their skills. As a result, children are cared for by a dedicated, stable team of staff who can meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are creative in gaining feedback from children to ensure their views, wishes and feelings are central to their care. Child-friendly systems have been developed to help children make choices about their day-to-day lives and articulate their feelings about the Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 4 home. In addition, children are given feedback about the action staff take in response to their views. This gives children the confidence to speak up because they know they will be listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals praise the registered manager and staff team. One professional said, ‘Communication with me is excellent. Any concerns and [name of manager] is on it, even if it seems insignificant. This goes across the team.’ Another professional said, ‘The children are flourishing with nurture.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. Routine audits and checks are undertaken and any areas for improvement are addressed. Staff supervisions and team meetings are reflective and help improve practice. This supports improvements in the quality of care children receive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 5

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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: 2850345 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Utopia Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Audley House, 9 Bedford Grove, Alsager, Stoke-on- Trent, Cheshire ST7 2SR

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Inspector

Louise Naylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2850345 7 regulates 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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