Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 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

A private company owns this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. An acting manager has recently been appointed to lead the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Outstanding 06/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 3

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improvement to be good

There was one child at the home during this inspection. Overall, the experiences of children require improvement due to shortfalls in safeguarding and the leadership and management of the home. The child has been the victim of financial abuse while living at the home. This has caused emotional harm to the child. Senior managers did not maintain adequate records of the child’s finances. This allowed the abuse to happen over a prolonged period. This has been investigated by the appropriate agencies, and the right actions have been taken. Staff have supported the child to overcome this adversity. He has shown tremendous resilience during this challenging time.

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improvement to be good

Despite this, he is making progress in all areas of his life. Staff have supported him well to prepare for moving from the home. A structured plan is in place to support his transition from the home into the right provision. As a result of the positive relationships he has built with staff, the child is keen to keep in touch once he has left. This is a testament to those positive relationships.

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improvement to be good

The child has succeeded in education. He has successfully completed a college placement. Staff have been ambitious for the child, which has contributed to his achievements. The child has told the inspector that he is looking forward to securing a job and earning a wage.

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improvement to be good

The child enjoys a good standard of living. The home is warm, welcoming and comfortable. There is ample space for privacy. It feels like a family home and gives the child a pleasant environment in which to thrive.

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improvement to be good

Staff working in the home failed to follow safeguarding procedures in a timely manner. Delays in reporting concerns about the conduct of adults working in the home caused potential harm to the child. Senior leaders failed to act swiftly when staff did raise whistle-blowing concerns. This is poor practice and means that action was not taken swiftly.

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improvement to be good

Once leaders commenced an investigation, this was handled quickly and fairly. Information was shared with appropriate agencies. The child was supported and protected from further harm. Support was offered to the person who was the subject of the allegation in accordance with protocols. Leaders and managers ensured that the appropriate procedures were followed to make certain the investigation was robust and objective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 4 There are effective links with the relevant local authorities and other important external safeguarding agencies. There is good communication about safeguarding issues with these agencies, including the police. Information provided by external agencies suggests that they were kept well informed during child protection investigations.

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improvement to be good

The notification of serious events that relate to the welfare of children is not made in a timely manner to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from having oversight of safeguarding practice. This was a recommendation from a previous inspection and has continued to be a shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager since May 2021. The provider has not taken effective action to appoint an appropriate manager within a reasonable timescale. An acting manager is now in post but has not yet registered. The distinct lack of leadership has affected the stability and functioning of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management oversight is poor. Opportunities for learning from care practice, safeguarding and information from other agencies have been missed. Leaders have not listened to staff feedback. This means weaknesses in the home were not recognised and leaders have been ineffective in making improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not actively monitored the quality of care provided to children. They have not inspired a culture in the home which keeps children safe. Action is not taken in a robust manner to address issues of concern. This has, at times, resulted in a negative culture developing of bullying and intimidation toward staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders failed to operate an effective disciplinary procedure. As a result, an employee continued to work in the home, which was not in the best interests of the child. In addition, the failure on the part of an employee to report suspected safeguarding concerns swiftly posed a significant risk to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have not kept the statement of purpose under review. Currently, it does not accurately reflect the management structure. This obstructs Ofsted and other external agencies from being clear on the services provided by this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders recognised the shortfalls identified. They acknowledge that the child in their care and the staff team have been through a difficult period. They accept that, at times, care practices and safeguarding have not been effective. Improvements in management oversight have already started. Leaders have implemented a company-wide learning review because of these shortfalls to assure themselves this will not happen again. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi) (vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to failures to act following whistle- blowing concerns within an appropriate timescale which left children at potential risk of harm. 30 November

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; and 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 6 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly and recorded effectively.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to there being no registered manager since May 2021. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provides for the suspension from work of an employee if necessary in the interests of the safety or welfare of children; and

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Requirement Due date

provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse, whether past or present, in relation to a child to the appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted. (Regulation 33 (2)(a)(b)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 7 This specifically relates to staff failings in reporting concerns in a timely manner and leaders failing to suspend an employee in the interests of the welfare of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy for the prevention of bullying in the home, which must in particular set out the procedure for dealing with an allegation of bullying. (Regulation 34 (3))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to a culture of bullying and intimidation identified in the home which was not prevented or addressed effectively by senior leaders. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to an incident that was not reported to Ofsted in a reasonable time frame, preventing the regulator from evaluating such incidents. 30 November

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Requirement Due date

ensure that adequate financial records are maintained and kept up to date in respect of the home. (Regulation 47 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the safe management and auditing of petty cash, children’s finances, the home’s finances and the use of the home’s bank card to prevent fraudulent activity. 30 November

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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: 2532661 8

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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 NG2 2ER

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2532661 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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