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

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 1 SC449954 Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have a range of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has been through a period of considerable disruption. Young people have not been safe. The behaviour of staff, at times, has fallen well below acceptable.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been several serious child protection concerns over recent months. These concerns are in relation to allegations of harm made by current and former residents regarding the behaviour of staff. These allegations have not been reported to safeguarding agencies in a timely manner. This has led to an unacceptable delay in investigation and action, which has placed young people at risk. One young person has made very serious allegations of harm against a member of staff. This matter is currently the subject of a police investigation, and two members of staff have been dismissed. The Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 2 manager took swift and appropriate action once the allegations became known. However, staff had not reported allegations to the manager, as is their duty. This shows a serious deficit in staff training and staff demonstrating an understanding of safeguarding procedures, including the importance of reporting allegations without

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some staff have supplied young people with cigarettes. The actions of staff involved contradicts any efforts to help young people to stop smoking. Additionally, it creates a culture in the home of staff failing to be transparent regarding their practice. Staff had not raised concerns about how to manage young people’s behaviour with the manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care practice of staff has not always been robust when dealing with difficult incidents. Staff have placed themselves and young people in potentially worrying situations. This is because staff have failed to fully appreciate risk when young people have self-harmed, or in situations of behaviour management. The skills of staff in dealing with these incidents require improvement. The manager must be able to satisfy herself that staff can manage these situations safely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people can and do make progress. The manager presents as very committed and wants to make the changes required to put matters right and get the home ‘back on track’. Young people are making good progress in education. They attend mainstream school and, in some instances, young people are making excellent progress academically. Good care routines in the home have helped young people to make progress in their education. Staff get young people up in the morning and ensure that young people are prepared for school and ready for learning.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one new young person has moved to the home. He has quickly settled and he receives services from other agencies to help him to start making progress. Very good pre-placement assessment and planning were completed by the manager, which accurately identified the young person’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Arrangements for working with partner agencies are very good and benefit young people. The manager has well-established relationships with a range of local agencies, including the police and the local authority. Regular multi-agency meetings take place, and these meetings coordinate the efforts of all agencies for the benefit of young people. This means that the manager can make referrals to appropriate local agencies. The manager ensures that young people have the right services in place to help them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff report that they feel valued and supported by the manager. The manager has recognised the shortfalls in practice and is shocked at what has taken place over the past few months. She has acted quickly and has devised an action plan to improve staff training and develop their care practice. She has supported staff and ensured that young people and staff have access to emotional support through counselling, should they require it. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2018 Full Outstanding 12/09/2017 Full Good 13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/06/2016 Full Outstanding

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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 health and well-being standard is that-

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(ii) understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(ii)) 14/02/2019

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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. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 14/02/2019 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 4 registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (2)(1)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the homes workforce development plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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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 differences 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

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

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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector:

Phillip Morris, social care regulatory inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC449954 6 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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