Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited in Nottingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from living at this home. They are safe, happy and are making good progress. Two of the children and young people who gave the home a score said is was nine out of 10, but could not say how it could achieve a 10. When asked what the best thing about the home is, one child said: ‘The staff because they look after us.’ Another young person said: ‘Staff listen to you, talk to you and take us out.’ Each child and young person is able to highlight areas where they have made progress, be it in relation to their behaviour, reduction of self- harm or improvements in education. They like the staff, they feel the staff know them and understand their needs, and they feel listened to. Individual needs and interests are responded to, and children and young people engage in activities, such as guides, swimming, trampolining and ice skating. This enables them to develop skills, make friends, become more confident, and it also encourages a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

healthy lifestyle. Young people also develop the necessary skills to enable them to live independently, and one young person commented: ‘I’m really good at cooking now.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions into and out of the home are managed well. The last admission to the home was completed in a planned way. The young person concerned had a visit and an overnight stay before deciding that she wanted to move in. A young person is currently moving on to adult services, and this is also a planned move, involving a number of visits, as well as sharing of information. This enables children and young people to have the best start to a placement and helps them to settle in more quickly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has responded effectively to the six requirements and one recommendation set at the last full inspection. As a result, the experiences and progress of children and young people are improved. One requirement related to staff supporting education and training targets. The two children now have excellent school attendance and are making good progress. The young person has received support in exploring college placements and apprenticeships. One child commented very positively about how well she was doing at school, and her delight in being in the top set was evident. Not only does this improve educational attainment, it also develops self-confidence and self-esteem through achieving well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another requirement related to the health and well-being standard. Children’s and young people’s health, both physical and emotional, is supported well. All access universal and specialist services as required. Staff are now able to utilise consultation from the child and adolescent mental health service in order to understand how to meet a child’s needs in the best way. A representative from that service commented that staff are, ‘really receptive’, and, ‘take the advice on board’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A further requirement related to challenging partner agencies. The manager and staff work well in partnership with a number of different agencies. Two stakeholders commented that communication was good and that any issues are resolved promptly. However, the manager has developed a greater understanding of his role since the last inspection and is now more tenacious in pursuing the services that children and young people need. For example, he has been able to obtain access to a local therapeutic service for one of the children. This is working well, and the child is benefiting from the therapeutic input. The manager is also more proactive in talking to education providers, and is fully engaged in all relevant meetings. This has improved children’s educational outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people feel safe in this home, and are safer because of the actions that staff take. Staff are recruited according to good practice recruitment procedures, and, in response to a requirement, the records of agency staff used now provide the manager with assurance that they are suitable people to work in the home. Children and young people are not going missing from this home, although staff are guided by written protocols should this occur. One young person occasionally leaves the home without permission, but she described how staff keep her safe because they know her well, know where she goes and understand her needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff have responded well to incidents of concern. They have notified relevant agencies and worked in partnership to ensure good outcomes. For example, when there have been concerns about self-harm, they have sought appropriate support, and a stakeholder complimented them on their ‘professionalism, understanding and compassion’, which prevented an incident escalating further. Staff have now received training in self-harm, to further their understanding and competence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour is well managed, and incidents where physical intervention are used are reducing in number. These are recorded appropriately and subject to managerial oversight and reflection to improve practice in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home has improved through a positive response to two requirements set at the last inspection. These related to both external and internal monitoring systems. The manager has ensured that the independent visitor now carries out visits when children and young people are at home so that their views can be obtained. He also uses the views of children, young people and stakeholders in his own monitoring of the home. This adds robustness to his oversight of the home. The company is currently implementing further means to monitor behavioural progress, so there is a pictorial representation of the impact the home is making in improving this area.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 30/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/05/2015 Full Requires improvement 18/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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