Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 1 Registered provider: Total Care Matters Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It offers care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was previously registered with Ofsted until leaving their role in December 2025. The manager returned to their role in January 2026 and has applied to re-register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 24 October 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2024 Full Outstanding 29/01/2024 Full Outstanding 14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has made exceptional progress when measured against their starting point. Staff support the child to build positive, trusting relationships with adults, which in turn has allowed the child to feel safe living in their home. One professional shared that the child’s complex needs and risks have significantly reduced due to the commitment and nurturing care provided by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the child to engage in education effectively following several years of non- attendance. Staff’s persistence, creativity and close partnership working have enabled the child to achieve qualifications and positively progress on to post-16 education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prioritise the child’s health and wellbeing which has notably improved. Staff encourage the child to lead a healthy lifestyle, including access to regular physical activity and a nutritious balanced diet. The child is now experiencing improved physical and emotional health as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote the child’s independence while ensuring the child’s safety, resulting in meaningful progress that is clearly evidenced in the child’s day-to-day life. The child’s comprehensive support plan drives staff’s practice in this area in a purposeful and aspirational way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff engage the child in excellent quality conversations that are meaningful and reflective. Staff have demonstrated courage and professionalism in addressing complex and sensitive issues with the child. Staff have persevered in sourcing specialist advice and resources for the child to ensure that they are equipped to challenge and support the child appropriately. This has meant that associated risks have significantly reduced. However, the child’s voice is not always accurately reflected in the home’s records.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely with the child’s professional network and family to rebuild and progress family relationships after a significant period of non-engagement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff’s advocacy for the child is fantastic. Staff ensure that the child’s views are shared and heard. They also appropriately challenge delays and barriers across agencies. This has resulted in the involvement of services to support forward-thinking and sustained planning for the child’s future as they approach adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has experienced many positive ‘firsts’. These experiences have enhanced the child’s confidence, social skills and emotional resilience.

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

Risk management and support plans are highly individualised, of good quality and work cohesively to provide clear and consistent guidance for staff. These documents are well Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 4 understood and implemented effectively, ensuring that the child’s needs and risks are comprehensively addressed.

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

Staff demonstrate a high level of skill and confidence in using de-escalation strategies. Practice is consistently aligned with the child’s support plan, enabling staff to respond calmly and therapeutically to emerging difficulties. Consequently, incidents have significantly reduced.

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

When incidents have occurred, staff have helped the child to reflect and learn positive coping strategies, supporting the child to better understand and manage their emotions. The child’s improved emotional regulation has directly contributed to a marked reduction in risk.

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

Staff support the child to take positive and appropriate risks in line with their developing independence. This approach has led to significant progress. Previously socially isolated, the child now attends college and engages in community activities independently.

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

Supervision in the home has been appropriately relaxed in response to the child’s progress. These decisions are well-considered, reflecting the child’s growth, resilience and developing self-management skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads a culture of aspiration for both the child and the staff team. The manager sets high expectations and consistently models values that place the child’s needs, progress and long-term outcomes at the centre of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides strong, therapeutic leadership that is embedded across the whole staff team. Staff are supported and encouraged to think beyond presenting behaviours and adopt a trauma-informed and therapeutic approach. This enables staff to respond sensitively and effectively to the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The care provided to the child is consistently aligned with the provider’s ethos and values and is embedded in every aspect of care and support. Staff clearly understand and apply the home’s principles in their daily work, ensuring a coherent and child-centred approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report feeling well supported by the manager and the wider management team. They describe receiving consistent reassurance, guidance and encouragement, particularly during challenging periods. This strong and stable leadership has helped maintain staff morale, resilience and consistency of care during times of complexity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly reflective and demonstrates a clear understanding of both strengths and areas for continued development. Their approach is creative and innovative, with a willingness to adapt practice to achieve the best outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 5 Professionals across the child’s network value the manager’s collaborative approach and report strong, effective partnership working that supports shared decision-making and positive outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training and opportunities for reflection are well embedded. Team meetings are used exceptionally well to promote learning, reflective discussion and shared problem-solving. This reflective culture has had a clear and positive impact on staff confidence, professional development and the child’s experiences and progress. Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’, supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. Children’s view should be accurately documented. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: 2627028 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: 11 Chantrey Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7NR

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Inspector

Chloe Harvey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2627028 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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