Children's Home run by Utopia Childcare Ltd in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 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

This home is owned and run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

In this home, ‘adults’ is the term used to describe staff who work at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 2

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Summary of findings

This is the first inspection since the home opened in November 2025. At the time of the inspection, there was one child living at the home who contributed to the inspection and spent time with the inspectors. The child has lived at the home since March 2026.

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Summary of findings

While the child has settled and made some progress, they are currently out of education and being home schooled. Family contact has also been limited. However, the relationships with adults who were at the home are positive.

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Summary of findings

There was a warm and friendly atmosphere, with fun and laughter shared between the child and adults.

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Summary of findings

Prior to the child moving in, the home had seen a significant reduction in the number of adults employed as they have moved on to other job roles. This has resulted in adults from other homes supporting this home. This has impacted on the level of care being given to the child.

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Summary of findings

Due to the lack of a team of adults, there are shortfalls in leadership and management oversight, future planning, and a lack of reflection and learning for those employed at the home.

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improvement to be good

The child recently moved into the home in a planned and sensitive way, with the manager and adults ensuring thorough preparation, plans and tailored support. However, the departure of some of the adults has created some anxiety for the child, indicating the need for continued stability and reassurance to promote their sense of safety and stability.

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improvement to be good

The child’s education provision has ended. The manager and adults encourage and engage the child to create learning in the home and out in the community. The adults work to facilitate and motivate the child to learn with a variety of educational and leisure activities. While this supports the child with their learning, further professional challenge is required to ensure that the child’s education needs are met.

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improvement to be good

The child’s contact with their family has not been encouraged and supported. While arrangements are in place for the child to spend time with people that matter to them, this has not occurred regularly. This does not support the child’s care plan or maintaining relationships with people who are important to them.

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improvement to be good

The child’s health needs are well understood by adults. The child receives appropriate healthcare support and attends routine appointments. Adults promote healthy lifestyles Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 3 by providing home-cooked meals and supporting the child to be active through activities such as going to the skate park and motorbike races. The child is encouraged and enabled to develop and maintain good health.

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improvement to be good

The child does not have access to an independent advocate. The introduction of an independent advocate may offer the child with a dedicated and impartial support person. This could help facilitate the child’s voice being heard and help in decisions affecting them.

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improvement to be good

The child is encouraged to participate in various enjoyable activities. This includes taking age-appropriate and well-managed risks. Adults confidently support the child in accessing community facilities and having new experiences. This helps the child to progress in all areas of development, boosts their self-confidence in their abilities and enhances their life skills both at the home and out in the community.

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improvement to be good

The home is welcoming and well maintained and is decorated in homely colours that help to promote a relaxed atmosphere. The current child’s bedroom is personalised with their belongings, helping them to feel a sense of ownership and belonging.

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improvement to be good

Adults undertake the mandatory safeguarding training and have a good working knowledge of their roles and responsibilities. However, safeguarding is not always routinely discussed in one-to-one adult supervision sessions as these sessions have not occurred. This does not provide adults with the opportunities to reflect and develop their practice.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys the trusting relationships that are being built with the adults who care for them. These relationships are built on providing a consistent routine, which the child benefits from. This has supported the child to begin to build secure and meaningful relationships with the adults who they know, trust and can rely on.

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improvement to be good

The child’s complex needs mean that there are times of upset, distress and behaviour that is challenging. The adults are skilled at promoting positive behaviour and are embedding a consistent response on these occasions. When incidents occur, these are being managed effectively.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments are reviewed, clear and up to date. This means that adults have guidance to manage any potential risks for the child.

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improvement to be good

Concerns about adults’ practice are taken seriously. Safeguarding policies and procedures are followed, and relevant agencies are consulted, such as the local authority designated officer. Appropriate safeguards are put in place to reduce risk, for example the suspension of adults. Thorough internal investigations are undertaken, and disciplinary processes are duly followed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has been in post since November 2025. Shortfalls in leadership and management have persisted. This is due, in part, to a lack of a team of adults who are qualified and experienced. The manager is aware of the shortfalls and how these impact on his ability to carry out the management tasks, while also being absorbed in the day-to-day care of the child living in the home and trying to model good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The severe staffing shortages have impacted on the care provided. The home is being supported by adults from another home, and the responsible individual is also monitoring the home. However, shortfalls remain in several areas, and these have the potential to obstruct the child’s care, progress and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Adults do not yet receive regular professional supervision. This means they do not have the opportunity to share concerns about practice with their manager, or receive professional guidance to develop their care practice. This fails to equip adults with an understanding of their duties and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Adults do not yet have regular team meetings. This impacts on opportunities for the adults to be reflective and learn as a team, although adults do receive daily support and guidance from the manager and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are some management systems in place to review the quality of care provided. However, not all records have management oversight, for example gaps in audits, health and safety, family time records, staff meetings and inductions. Monitoring does not provide oversight or demonstrate understanding about the impact and effectiveness of care. This limits capacity to learn lessons and make continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

External scrutiny from the regulation 44 visitor supports the manager in the monthly review of the home. The current visitor is insightful in identifying the strengths and areas for improvements and highlighting the positive experiences and progress for the child at this home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 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, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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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, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans . (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that family contact is maintained in line with the child’s plans. 20 July 2026

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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

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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 work as a team where appropriate; 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 6 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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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)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each permanent appointment of an employee is subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 20 July 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support, and where possible this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure they have the support they need to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)

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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: 2849934 8

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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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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Sarah Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2849934 9 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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