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 for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: 31 January 2023

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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

31/01/2023 Full Good 02/02/2022 Full Good 18/11/2019 Full Good 15/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1232200 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home, and four children have left. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said that they like the staff and can talk to them if they are worried or upset. Positive, warm and nurturing interactions were observed between the child and staff, with lots of laughter. The child appears to be very comfortable in the company of staff and has built trusting relationships with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand barriers to education for children. The manager and staff work closely with schools to support children with their individual learning needs and attendance. The child living in the home is making progress in education. One child who has moved on from the home was not engaging in education when they lived at the home. The managers failed to collaborate and escalate this with relevant agencies to support the child with their educational needs. This meant opportunities to re-engage the child in education were missed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a wide range of opportunities to try new activities and experiences. These have included playing on the piano, going to the gym, attending cadets and playing in-house games. Children engage in fun and enriching experiences. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their tastes and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of sensitively supporting children, after a serious incident occurred. One child’s placement came to an end following an incident. The staff continued to support the child after they had moved from the home and supported them to move to a new placement. One parent of a child who has moved on from the home said, ‘The home is exactly what my child needed at the time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a spacious home with a relaxed family feel. The home is clean and tidy, with love hearts posted on the walls around the home with special messages of appreciation shared between staff and children. There are goal posts in the garden, which provides outdoor space that the children enjoy.

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

Staff have undertaken mandatory safeguarding training. They are confident in their roles and understand their duties in reporting and escalating any child protection concerns. Staff also have a good understanding of the whistle-blowing policy. They understand children’s risks and are sensitive in how they approach and support children to identify and understand the risks posed to them. One social worker said, ‘I am happy with how our child is safeguarded.’ Additionally, a school reported that one child said they feel very safe in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1232200 4 There have been some incidents of physical intervention. These interventions have been appropriate, proportionate and necessary. Some staff have undertaken refresher training in physical intervention to ensure they have the right knowledge and skills in this area.

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

There have been several allegations against staff. The managers ensure that allegations made by children are investigated promptly and that children are kept safe. The manager informs relevant professionals about allegations and works collaboratively with these professionals to ensure robust investigations and the right outcomes are reached for children.

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

One child was regularly missing from care. The staff knew where the child was and managed these incidents well. The staff worked closely with the police and the child’s social worker to keep the child safe.

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

Following one external complaint, managers have taken appropriate action to investigate this promptly. The managers have completed a lessons-learned exercise and reflected on practice. Being open to learning ensures that continuous improvements can be made.

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

The children’s guide is child-friendly and gives children a sense of what it is like to live in the home. The guide also contains information to help children understand who to speak to if they are worried or if they need support outside of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds a relevant level 5 diploma and has support from a competent deputy manager. The managers are ambitious for children and have a good understanding of their needs. Staff said that the managers are very supportive. Staff morale is high, and staff say they would not change anything about the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with and is supported by the director; this provides an extra layer of management oversight of the home and support for the children and staff team. Effective management systems are in place. Records are of a good standard and provide information about the care that is provided to the children. Regular audits take place, with actions to address any shortfalls or learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff undertake a wide range of training, which includes therapeutic training. The deputy manager is in the process of completing the level 5 diploma. Some staff hold a relevant level 3 qualification, and those who are not qualified are working towards completing their qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular one-to-one supervision and are happy and fulfilled in their roles. However, staff do not receive annual appraisals, which means that opportunities for staff development are missed. Inspection report for children’s home: 1232200 5 Feedback from external professionals is very positive; one social worker said, ‘The manager is approachable and is a good advocate for the children.’ She believes that communication is very good, and she has a good working relationship with the manager and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good, safe recruitment practices in place. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them. Inspection report for children’s home: 1232200 6

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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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)) 26 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 28 May 2024

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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

Anver Rose, 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 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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