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

Assurance visit report: SC378600 1 SC378600

p.1

Information about this children’s home

An independent provider runs the home. It is registered with Ofsted to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people between the ages of seven and 17 who may have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 21 October 2019

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Declined in effectiveness

p.1

Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

p.1

Findings from the visit

We identified the following serious and or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit:

p.1

Findings from the visit

 staffing levels are insufficient to ensure the safety and protection of children Assurance visit report: SC378600 2  training in mandatory courses is out of date for a significant number of staff  care plans and risk assessments are poor  staff do not fully understand children’s and young people’s complex needs  monitoring of the service is insufficient, resulting in poor-quality care for children and young people.

p.1

The care of children

There are serious and widespread concerns in several areas of practice relating to the care provided to children and young people. This places them at serious risk of potential harm. This has relevance during the COVID-19 lockdown.

p.2

The care of children

Children’s individual needs are not identified in care plans and there is an absence of information about progress, goals and outcomes. This means that although their day-to-day physical care needs are met by staff, the emotional needs that have led to their admission to the home are not addressed. Staff record key-work sessions as generic conversations that do not link to any particular plan or outcome. There are no identified actions following these sessions, so children’s progress cannot be monitored. This means that children gain no sense of achievement, which affects their emotional well-being.

p.2

The care of children

Behaviour is managed day to day through a consequences programme. However, some of the consequences are sanctions, but are not recorded as such. Therefore, these sanctions are not monitored and scrutinised to ensure that they are appropriate. This practice does not link to any care plan and therefore children are not helped to understand their behaviours or how to change.

p.2

The care of children

Children do not have a voice in the home. Their views about the home are not captured. Their voices are not in care plans and there are rarely any comments from children on any records.

p.2

The care of children

Tutors address children’s educational needs either in the home or virtually, during lockdown. Children engage well. Schools have not been identified for either child living in the home, and for one child this has been for a significant amount of time. Staff have raised this regularly with the local authorities without success. This means that children’s education is affected, along with their ability to make friends and develop socially.

p.2

The care of children

Children do engage in activities regularly, both within the home and, following the lifting of restrictions under COVID-19, in the community. However, such activities are in the main undertaken with staff. Children do engage with their peers online, but the safety aspects of this are not always acted on by staff. This potentially leaves children at risk of harm.

p.2

The care of children

The home is a large house with a series of smaller rooms which, without appropriate staffing levels, would make it difficult to supervise children. It would be particularly Assurance visit report: SC378600 3 difficult to manage challenging behaviour safely. The home looks tired and worn. There are lots of marks and damage to walls and doors, along with damage to furnishings. The walls are bare and there are very few homely aspects. For example, there are no photographs displayed of the children. This makes it difficult for children to feel valued and have a sense of belonging.

p.2

The safety of children

There are significant shortages in staffing to safely meet the needs of the children placed. This means that the care is delivered by staff who are inconsistent in their approach and who have variable levels of skills and training.

p.3

The safety of children

Risk assessments are of poor quality and out of date for review. Risk assessments are not based on identified criteria and therefore the strategies are not effective in guiding staff practice. This leaves children at potential risk of harm.

p.3

The safety of children

The inspector found that the individual safeguarding needs of children are not identified in their plans. As such, there is a lack of detail about how the staff team will meet these needs and measure progress. Recording indicates that staff do not understand or have the skills to meet the complex needs of children, particularly in relation to attachment and trauma.

p.3

The safety of children

Children are physically held by staff in response to periods of crisis and associated behaviour. However, management oversight of such incidents is insufficient to ensure that the practice is safe and that the views of children are heard and acted on.

p.3

The safety of children

A significant proportion of staff do not have up-to-date physical intervention training, but they are involved in incidents where children are held. Records show a lack of understanding and knowledge about the use of physical intervention and restraint by staff, who often respond quickly without detailing any attempts to defuse or de- escalate situations. These issues expose children to a potential risk of harm.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Insufficient leadership in the home has resulted in children not reaching their full potential during the COVID-19 pandemic period. A lack of management oversight has exposed the children to an increased risk of harm. Staffing levels have been minimal and training has not been updated. This leaves children at potential risk of harm.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Leaders have failed to take effective action to address and challenge staff practice. Therefore, staff are not consistent in the care they provide to children. This means that while children’s experiences day to day are adequate, their long-term progress is poor. Assurance visit report: SC378600 4 A lack of monitoring and scrutiny of practice from leaders means that children’s experiences are not fully understood. Leaders have failed to identify shortfalls in the quality of care provided to children. Consequently, leaders have missed opportunities to identify and implement a suitable action plan to remedy these shortfalls. This results in poor outcomes for children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The registered manager resigned in December 2019. There have been acting managers in place since that time but none have registered. The current manager came into post in September 2020 but has yet to submit an application. She has already devised an in-depth development plan but needs adequate support from the provider to ensure that this can be achieved. So far, she has only received one formal supervision to help her settle into her role, but she has had a mentor identified.

p.4

Leaders and managers

Supervision of staff has taken place, but records do not show any reflective practice or challenge that helps staff to develop. There are no development plans or up-to- date appraisals on staff files. This means that practice remains stagnant.

p.4

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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and 29/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC378600 5 enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(iv)(c)(i)(ii)) The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— develop positive relationships with them;

p.4

Requirement Due date

engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff— help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iii)(iv)) 29/11/2020

p.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust; an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(v)(ix)) 29/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC378600 6 The protection of children standard is that children are

p.5

Requirement Due date

protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(b)) * 29/11/2020

p.6

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— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; 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; demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— feedback on the experiences of children, including

p.6

Requirement Due date

complaints, use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) * 29/11/2020 Assurance visit report: SC378600 7 The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)) 31/10/2020

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— undertake appropriate continuing professional development; have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(c)) 29/11/2020

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must— supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 29/11/2020

p.7

Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ page 46, paragraph 9.36) Assurance visit report: SC378600 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Total Care Matters Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Susan Atkinson-Millmoor, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance visit report: SC378600 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9