Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 1 Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and registered with Ofsted in 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 3

p.2

improvement to be good

The quality of relationships between adults and children in the home has been significantly disrupted by staffing changes. Since the last inspection, nearly all of the staff team have left the home for a variety of reasons. This means children have not always had trusting relationships with adults who know them well, which has had a negative impact on their progress.

p.3

improvement to be good

Some children have made progress in some areas. Promoting children’s education is a strength of the home. The manager and staff are ambitious for children who attend school or college. One education professional reported that liaison with the home’s staff was effective. They praised the team’s communication efforts, which have strengthened the relationship between school and home for a child.

p.3

improvement to be good

When children are dissatisfied with the quality of care they receive, the complaints policy is not always adhered to. Children’s views are not always recorded as complaints when it is clear they should be. Children are not always supported to understand what has happened as a result of their complaint, which gives the impression that leaders do not take these matters seriously enough.

p.3

improvement to be good

One child currently lives at the home. Improvements are needed to his bedroom to ensure that this is consistently a warm and nurturing place to be. The decor does not promote a sense of belonging for the child.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s individual risk assessments and care plans do not address their known vulnerabilities effectively. Managers have not ensured that such documents are accurate or understood by staff. As a result, staff have misleading information about how to keep children safe, which has the potential to increase risk of harm.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff responses to incidents in the home have at times fallen short of good practice. There are occasions when staff have not understood what action to take or have not acted quickly enough to keep children safe. An out-of-hours system has not always been used as intended, which prevents managers from guiding staff during difficult situations. This has in some instances increased risks to children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Incident reports and restraint records need improving. Staff do not always make an accurate and descriptive record of such events in the home. Crucial information is often lacking or missed. The use of body maps to record injuries to children is particularly ineffective. Managers have not ensured that they discuss incidents with children and staff involved, and do not always evaluate these events. This is a missed opportunity to learn from practice and to improve children’s experiences. Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 4 Two children who previously lived at the home often went missing together. Staff understood the risks this posed for both children. Staff responded to these events in a coordinated manner that helped to reduce the risk of harm. Good communication with placing authorities and local police colleagues contributed to keeping children safe during incidents of going missing.

p.3

good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager was away from the home for a period of planned leave. Temporary management arrangements created uncertainty for children and staff. Upon her return, the manager identified a multitude of shortfalls which she has set about improving. She has the support of senior leaders and directors of the organisation to implement her action plan.

p.4

good

At times, the home has not been properly staffed and resourced to meet children’s needs. Staff are often from other homes within the organisation or from an agency. This creates instability for children and impacts on their progress and experiences. The manager tries to mitigate this by working shifts herself, using familiar staff from other homes and by requesting the same agency workers where possible. Staffing has recently improved so one of the manager’s priorities now is to build team morale and induct new staff thoroughly to assist with staff retention.

p.4

good

Weaknesses are identified within management oversight and monitoring systems. Managers have not ensured a robust evaluation of the home and its care of children. Not all incidents and complaints are analysed or evaluated thoroughly. This prevents the manager being confident that staff are working to an acceptable level and prevents lessons from being learned. The manager is keen to rectify this and understands the importance of diligent monitoring.

p.4

good

Staff have access to a wealth of online training activities. Some face-to-face training has been implemented by the organisation. A new initiative is being developed by the organisation so that it can be assured that staff are learning and developing the necessary skills and competencies to care for children with complex needs.

p.4

good

Professional supervision is regularly offered to staff. Managers are good at supporting staff and promoting their well-being at work. Some supervision records lack reflection on incidents, and do not always triangulate concerns about the conduct of staff. This prevents staff development needs from being properly appraised and communicated.

p.4

good

The manager has completed a risk assessment in relation to the home’s location. This has not been reviewed regularly, and when a new child is welcomed into the home, to ensure that all known risks and vulnerabilities are considered and assessed for every child in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.5

Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care;

p.5

Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(vi)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to capturing and evaluating children’s views about the quality of care they receive. When children make such complaints, this should be recorded as a complaint and dealt with in line with the relevant policy. 31 March 2023

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 31 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

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;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

p.6

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s risk assessments and care plans identify known and potential risks, and that staff are skilled to deal with any such risk or associated behaviour. This also relates to ensuring that records of incidents are clear and detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection and learning.

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— 31 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

p.7

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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.

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having sufficient staff, with the relevant qualification and experience, at the home each day to care for children and to meet their assessed risks. This also relates to ensuring that robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly and recorded by the manager.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.7

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 31 March 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 8 within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.7

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.8

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.8

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.8

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.8

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff follow the behaviour support policies and write records that are a factual description of any measures of control used. Managers must speak to the child and staff involved and ensure that there is a written record of such discussions. Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 9 Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

p.8

Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

p.9

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4))

p.9

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to how children’s complaints are handled and responded to by leaders. A procedure must be established whereby any outcomes and responses are recorded in detail. 31 March 2023

p.9

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise behaviours or practice that might indicate that a child could be at risk of harm. Specifically, there is a need to test out staff’s learning and understanding following online safeguarding training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)  The registered person should ensure that all risks related to the location of the home are understood and there is a strategy in place to manage those risks. There should be reference, under regulation 46, to the following non-statutory advice about the location assessment process: ‘Children’s homes regulations amendments 2014: Advice for children’s homes providers on new duties under regulations that came into effect in January and April 2014’. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64,

p.9

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) Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 10 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 11

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited

p.11

Children’s home details

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

p.11

Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2541993 12 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.11

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 . 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.12

Inspector

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

p.12

Inspector

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

p.12