Children's Home run by Total Care Matters Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 1 Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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 good

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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: 18 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2019 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good 14/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress. They are happy and settled at the home. This is because staff provide good-quality care in a safe and secure environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children know that staff care about them. As a result, they feel listened to and valued. They also enjoy positive and trusting relationships with one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to have fun and enjoy themselves. They have lots of positive experiences and are given opportunities to try new activities. One child is particularly looking forward to a summer holiday this year. These experiences help to build children’s confidence and improve their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education attendance and progress is variable. One child is making good progress and is on track to achieve GCSE qualifications this year. Another child, who is awaiting a suitable school placement, engages with the staff in alternative educational activities away from the home. This provides structure to his day but is not fully addressing his educational needs. The registered manager has escalated her concerns about this lack of education to the placing authority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Where appropriate, staff support children to manage diagnosed conditions and prescribed medication independently. The management of medication is safe. There is good communication with health professionals to ensure children have access to specialist care when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Because staff engage well with families, all the children were able to spend Christmas Day with their families. Staff provide supervision and transport for children’s visits to their families. As a result of this, positive family relationships have been supported for all the children.

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

Staff are committed to ensuring that children learn how to keep themselves safe. They create trusting relationships with children. As a result, children say they have adults in the home that they can talk to about any worries or concerns. The children have regular key-work sessions about safety and risks. They become safer over time.

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

Missing-from-care incidents decrease significantly as children settle into the home. Staff understand child protection well and know how to report any concerns. Safeguarding practice has been enhanced by the appointment of a safeguarding lead in the home; risk assessments and behaviour management plans have improved, with greater emphasis on analysis and debriefs. Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 4 When physical restraint has been necessary to maintain safety, it is used proportionately and appropriately. All incidents are reviewed by the manager and used as learning opportunities to identify the underlying causes and triggers. The use of restraint reduces over time as children adapt their behaviours and develop better strategies to manage their emotions. For one child, the improvement in behaviour has meant that he requires much less restrictive supervision and now has more independence.

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

Staff have a good understanding of why children behave the way they do. They know each child well and can identify their risks and vulnerabilities. This means that they can use strategies effectively to promote positive behaviour. Individual care plans set out clearly what action should be taken to keep children safe. Plans are reviewed regularly and updated in line with children’s changing needs.

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

Allegations or concerns are handled well, with prompt referrals to appropriate safeguarding agencies. The well-being of the child is always prioritised. By ensuring that all safeguarding processes are managed in an open, transparent manner, the manager supports both the children and the staff. Links with the local authority designated officers are effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified. She has many years’ experience of working with children. She provides the home with clear direction and leadership. An experienced deputy manager adds to the effectiveness of the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff value the manager and praise her supportive nature. The manager is described as approachable and inclusive. She ensures that staff have a clear focus on providing children with enriching, nurturing care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a skilled team. Training and development activities for staff are effective and can be tailored to meet the needs of individual children. The organisation has identified that behaviours such as aggression and self-harm reflect children’s experiences of neglect and trauma, so have plans to deliver attachment and trauma-informed training to the team. This is likely to further improve the quality of care. Induction plans for new starters are thorough. A new member of staff said they were enjoying their job and felt well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professional supervision is provided regularly and focuses on children’s needs and care experiences. The manager provides a reflective space in supervision to discuss incidents with staff. This practice has improved since the last inspection and is no longer a weakness in practice. Supervision now provides effective support and challenge to the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight of the home is of generally good quality. However, some quality assurance reports do not currently include children’s feedback. Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 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, 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 complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5)) 4 March 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 6

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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: 1232200 7

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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, The Meadows, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG2 2ER

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1232200 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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