Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 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 home is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned in May 2024. A new manager has been recruited and is in post. Her application to register with Ofsted has been received.

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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: 20 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child had lived at the home for just a few days at the time of the inspection. A carefully considered welcome to the home ensured that the child felt as ready as possible to move in. Staff made efforts to meet the child before she arrived, and they welcomed her in a positive way. This has supported the child to settle quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child lived in the home briefly. Staff worked tirelessly to keep the child safe in challenging circumstances. The provider did not feel able to keep the child safe despite their best efforts. Staff supported the ending despite the challenges and helped the child move to a new home in a sensitive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff team have established good communication with the child’s professional network. They have introduced themselves to her family and friends. This is significant for the child as such relationships are important to her. In line with the legal status of the child’s care, the manager ensures that the child’s parent is involved in care planning and decision-making where appropriate. This is valued by the parent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has benefited from redecoration internally since the last inspection. Shared areas are spacious and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is decorated and furnished to her tastes. Vast areas of outside space are well maintained by staff.

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

Staff have a detailed understanding of each child who lives in the home and how to keep them safe. Safety plans are detailed and provide information about children’s experiences and identify how staff can best support them. Staff achieve this even when information from placing authorities is lacking because their persistence in seeking information pays off.

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

Staff manage significant incidents well. They use distraction techniques and reassurance when children struggle to manage their own feelings. Staff encourage children to reflect on their actions and help them to understand the impact of their behaviours on others. Physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour is only ever used as a last resort. Incident reports are detailed and capture what happened for all involved.

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

Children do not go missing from home. Safety plans do consider this, which ensures that staff know what action to take if children go missing. This is particularly important due to the isolated rural location of the home.

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

There have been no complaints made by children. A complaint made by a safeguarding partner has been considered and responded to by a senior manager. To develop and nurture relationships with partners, a joint training event has been scheduled to take place at the home. This is good practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 4 On one occasion, the manager failed to take prompt and appropriate action following an allegation. Therefore, an opportunity was missed to carry out an investigation, and significant delays were encountered informing others. This delay prevented the child being listened to, which should have been a priority in the circumstances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since May 2024. A new manager is in post and received a handover as part of their induction. They have identified areas of improvement they wish to make as they develop themselves in the new role. The manager has prioritised getting to know the staff team and the children in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff sufficiency has improved since the last inspection. If not already qualified, staff are enrolled to study the relevant qualification for residential childcare. There are no vacancies currently. The manager has a deputy manager, who is respected by the team. Some members of staff have been promoted to senior positions, which has helped with staff development and retention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision with their manager. This is welcomed as an opportunity to reflect and promote professional development. Staff speak positively of the support. Leaders and managers have demonstrated their learning and have focused on improving their pre-admission processes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager requires more time to embed her quality assurance processes. On one occasion, an allegation was not adequately followed up. The manager takes responsibility for this and intends to improve this area of practice without delay. Immediate liaison with senior managers began during the inspection to ensure that this does not happen again. Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 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, 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

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

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

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager using quality assurance and monitoring systems to evaluate safeguarding incidents and events effectively to support learning and development of the home and to ensure that correct procedures are always followed. 31 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for the prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response;

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Requirement Due date

describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

describe how and to whom staff are to report, without delay, any concern about abuse or neglect of a child. 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 6 (Regulation 34 (2)(b)(d)(e)(f))

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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: 2669259 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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Inspectors

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Chloe Harvey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2669259 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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