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

Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 1 SC414296 Registered provider: Total Care Matters 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, operated by a private provider, is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 outstanding

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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: 14 December 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children make progress in all areas of their lives. They are healthy, and staff ensure that they maintain this good health through regular check-ups with appropriate professionals. Children are also making progress with their Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 2 education, and all have educational placements that meet their needs.  Children benefit from positive experiences that improve the quality of their day- to-day lives. This includes a wide range of activities that keep them active, promote their confidence and self-esteem, and enhance their skills. Children are supported to keep in touch with people who are important to them, even though this may be at some distance.  Children are safe. Staff know what to do if there are any safeguarding concerns, and these are managed well. This includes when children go missing, make allegations, or are involved in incidents of more challenging behaviour.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is inspirational, ambitious and passionate about ensuring that the children have the best possible outcomes. He ensures that children are not disadvantaged by their looked-after status, and he demands the same standards of other partners.  Partnership working is a real strength. The manager and staff ensure that communication with other professionals is good and effective so that children benefit from the services they require.  The staff team is caring and committed, and its members have very positive relationships with the children at the home. The competence of staff is assured through relevant training and good support, including the recent addition of consultation with a psychotherapist.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Although the home’s response to children who go missing, or who have unauthorised absences from care, is good, it is not clear to what extent staff prompt the local authority to undertake the return home interview. When these interviews take place, there is no analysis of the findings to inform future risk management plans.  On occasion, the recruitment of staff has not been as robust as it should be, as only one written reference has been sought.  The register of children is not up to date, and therefore does not provide an accurate record of who is currently in the home, and when someone left.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/04/2016 Full Requires improvement 30/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/05/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 3

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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, 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(b)) This is in relation to the register of children. 25/08/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that for each member of staff recruited, full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(d)) 25/08/2017

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.30) This relates to the manager demonstrating the efforts made to facilitate these interviews, and how the information is used.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress as a result of living in this home. Their individual needs are clearly documented and well met by a staff team that is committed to ensuring that children achieve the best possible outcomes. Because of their previous experiences, some children’s behaviour regresses, and they have ‘ups and downs’ that reflect their emerging issues. However, staff recognise this, and provide effective support to help children manage their emotional difficulties. This is supplemented by access to art psychotherapy, arranged by the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff. One child said that the best thing about the home was her key worker, and rated the home nine out of 10. Children feel safe, secure and valued. They know that their views matter and they feel listened to. They have regular house meetings, and a detailed record is kept of daily consultations about Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 4 their wishes and feelings, including the outcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress with their education. All have appropriate school placements, and their attendance ranges from good to excellent. Given their previous educational experiences, this is very positive. The manager has been particularly tenacious in ensuring that all the children have the best school placement possible. One stakeholder said: ‘The manager really pushed the agenda to get the best school place as quickly as possible.’ The manager and staff work well with schools to sustain placements so that children can achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are healthy, and their good health is maintained through regular check-ups with universal services, as well as specialist support. Children engage in a variety of activities that reflect their interests, such as dancing, golf, athletics, guides, and trips out. A priority for the home is ensuring that children are active, busy and engaged in meaningful pursuits with staff support. This promotes children’s good health, general well-being and self-confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into and out of the home are managed well. One young person has left the home since the last inspection. This was planned very well, and the move took place over a period of a month, to enable the young person to get to know the new area, the new staff team, and to feel confident about the future. The home also ensured that the young person had the necessary life skills, through the use of a structured independence programme. Admissions are also well planned. The manager ensures that a robust impact risk assessment is carried out, in which he assesses, as far as possible, that the home can meet the needs of the new young person without detriment to the existing residents. Depending on the circumstances, there may be visits to the home, he and other staff may visit the child in their existing placement, and information such as the children’s guide is shared. This promotes as smooth a transition as possible. The register of

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

children that records information about children moving into and out of the home is not up to date. It did not contain details of the most recent child to be admitted to the home, nor was there a record of the date that another child left the home. Although there is no detrimental impact to children because of the omission, it breaches regulations and means that important information is inaccurate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live far away from their home local authority are not disadvantaged. For example, staff ensure that meaningful contact takes place with people who are important, such as brothers and sisters. A social worker commented very positively about how staff always ensure that the child for whom she is responsible is always able to attend the children looked after ball, despite the distance. This is not only a fun event that keeps the child in touch with his home area, but is also an opportunity for him to spend quality time with his brother. Good communication between the manager, staff and other professionals ensures that children’s needs are met promptly and consistently. Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 5

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

Children are safeguarded at this home because the level of staff supervision is good, and there are clear, comprehensive and up-to-date risk management plans that provide staff with detailed guidance about how to minimise risk. Children say that they feel safe, and they know how to complain if they are unhappy or worried about any aspects of their care.

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

The incidence of children going missing from this home is low. However, individual protocols are implemented promptly when this does occur, and staff take appropriate action to try and locate the child. All the children are vulnerable because of their age, so reporting to the police is also undertaken promptly. On one occasion, the manager was particularly proactive and creative in asking to access the CCTV for the area, in order to try and elicit what had actually taken place. The relevant local authorities have completed return home interviews on most occasions. However, it is not clear what action the home takes when these interviews are not forthcoming. In addition, when these interviews have taken place, there is no evidence that the reports of these interviews have been analysed to see what lessons could be learned to prevent further incidents. This is a missed opportunity to help children become safer.

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

Staff have all received training in safeguarding children, and more recently this has included risks from extremism, female genital mutilation and honour-based violence. Not all staff have benefited from this enhanced training, but the manager is in the process of sourcing online training for the rest of the team. Staff benefit from training that is relevant to the needs of the children in the home. For example, some staff accessed training in understanding and preventing self-harm and suicide when these were issues.

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

The home has experienced a more unsettled period recently, and there has been an increase in incidents of challenging behaviour and the use of physical intervention. Physical intervention is used appropriately, and there is good managerial oversight to see what lessons, if any, can be learned to minimise its use. A welcome addition to addressing how behaviour is managed is the monthly team consultation with the psychotherapist who works with some of the children. This enables the staff team to have some reflective time to consider different strategies as well as gain a greater understanding of what lies behind the behaviour.

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

The manager has a strong understanding of safeguarding arrangements, and there is appropriate consultation with, and referral to, the designated officer when allegations are made about staff. These have been dealt with in a way that keeps children safe. The manager has a good and effective relationship with the local community safety officer, who describes the manager as ‘very proactive and approachable’.

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

The company has a robust staff recruitment policy. However, on one occasion, a member of staff has been recruited with only one written reference, instead of the two that are required. The risk has been mitigated by the other reference being a verbal one; however, this is not as rigorous as it should be. Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has had a significant impact on improving the overall effectiveness of the home. He displays a high level of commitment and passion to improve the lives of the children in his care, and has demonstrated this success over the past year. The manager is an inspirational leader who leads by example, and his enthusiasm encourages the staff team to follow his lead. Staff say he is ‘great’, and ‘always available’. He is currently undertaking the required management qualification, and is due to complete this by the end of 2017.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is a real strength. The manager in particular is singled out for his creative and imaginative approach to problem-solving and promoting positive outcomes. One education provider said: ‘If all care homes functioned like this one, our looked-after children would get a far better deal. I have never worked with anywhere so professional. They are adaptable and do whatever is necessary to make sure he is successful in school.’ A team manager commented: ‘It has been a pleasure to work with them. I can’t praise them highly enough.’ The manager is tenacious in ensuring that all of the children have the best possible service from partner agencies. He has challenged education providers when he thinks that they have not been acting in the best interest of a child. He has acted as any good parent would for their own child, as he is not prepared to accept second best for these children. He is proactive in seeking out and engaging

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

resources to meet children’s emerging needs, so that they provide a positive service to improve children’s outcomes and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are at the heart of the service. The ethos of providing a genuine parenting approach to care, as described in the statement of purpose, is implemented in practice. Positive relationships, reflective practice, and a search for the meaning behind behaviours, are evident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an excellent understanding of the impact the service has on the progress and outcomes for children. There are effective monitoring systems, both internal and external, that ensure that this information is easily accessible. The manager also understands the strengths and shortfalls of the service and has a development plan to address improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported through regular, reflective supervision. They have regular team meetings to promote good communication and consistency. Staff feel valued, and they know that their views count in developing the home. Their competence is assured through access to regular and relevant training, and all staff who have passed their probationary period are either in the process of obtaining the level 3 qualification or have it already.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Tolerance, and a respect for equality and diversity underpin the service. Children are treated as individuals, and their specific needs are recognised and met. Any unacceptable behaviour or comments are addressed through key-working sessions. The manager has designated a member of staff as a ‘head of culture’ to further promote children’s understanding and tolerance of difference. Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 7 Children’s views are taken seriously and elicited frequently. This includes day-to-day matters as well as more wide-ranging areas. The manager is actively involved in ensuring that he knows what children are saying, and that they always receive a response to their requests. This ensures that children feel valued and important.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC414296 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Total Care Matters Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 230 Bathley Street, Nottingham NG2 2ER

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Inspector

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC414296 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 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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