Children's home run by Total Care Matters Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 1 SC414296 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

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to 4 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. Both children were involved in the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023. This manager also manages another setting.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Good 07/11/2023 Full Good 14/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s overall experiences and progress are good. Where there are challenges with progress, staff and managers explore different ways to support children, based on their individual needs. Managers and staff seek support from external professionals for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by staff who know them well. Interactions between children and staff are positive and indicate that positive relationships are built between children and staff. A social worker said: ‘Staff do an amazing job and the relationships built with children are fantastic.’ One child said: ‘They [staff] are the nicest people you could meet and they are sweet.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, this is well considered by the manager and explored with staff. One child expressed their wishes to move out the home as soon as they were able to, as they wanted independence. This was supported by staff in conjunction with the social worker, with a clear plan put in place to ensure the child was prepared as much as possible. The plan was adapted by staff in response to the needs of the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are creative in listening to the wishes and feelings of children. Staff design a newsletter about the week, including celebrating activities children have been involved in. One-to-one sessions with children are focused on their individual needs. However, records of these sessions do not always reflect the voice of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to attend education and support them to make progress. Communication between staff and education providers is good. Children’s views are considered in relation to upcoming education plans and moving into further education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is child friendly, warm and welcoming. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. However, one child needs more support from staff to develop skills in keeping their room clean and tidy.

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

Staff have a detailed understanding of children’s needs. Individual risk assessments are updated regularly and help staff understand how to provide the best support to children. Positive relationships established between children and staff enable children to share their worries or concerns and receive the support they need.

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

When children make complaints or allegations, investigations are thorough and timely. Managers carefully consider the impact of complaints or allegations on children. External professionals are informed by the manager, and plans are put in place to support children and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 4 When children go missing, staff do all they can to locate children and return them home. Communication by staff with other professionals and adults who are important to children is good. Staff are supportive of children when they return. They show care and empathy through supportive discussion and ensuring children’s health and wellbeing.

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

Risks are reduced as staff know children well and understand their needs. Specialist advice is sought by staff, developing a deeper understanding of children’s needs, and as a result, improved care.

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

Physical interventions to manage children’s behaviours are used infrequently and only as a last resort. Incident reports are detailed and help all involved to understand what happened. Staff support children to explore their emotions using empathy and curiosity to establish how they can be best supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are reflective and committed to improving and sustaining good care for children. The manager has high expectations of staff and consistently high aspirations for children. This is mirrored by the whole team. There is a clear focus on the needs of children being the priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are strong advocates for children. They strive for children to achieve the best they can and speak proudly about children’s achievements. A social worker commented on how the manager challenges professionals appropriately and in the best interests of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular professional supervision sessions. There is a clear agenda which includes discussion about children and their needs, and the team and staff’s individual support needs. Staff are positive about supervision sessions and feel their views are listened to and acted upon. Reflective discussion is promoted, and areas for staff development are explored with appropriate actions set as a result. In addition, staff are well supported through attending regular team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and oversight of the functioning of the home by the manager is evident. This includes positive reflection and critical evaluation of staff practice. This approach enables the manager to continually evaluate the care and support given to children. The home is regularly reviewed by an independent visitor. However, the independent visitor does not always seek the views from professionals, parents or carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a range of training, including training that focuses on the specific needs of children. Additional training is explored during regular team meetings. Some staff have not completed the necessary qualification within the required timescales. Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b)) 29 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 29 April 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children live in an environment where the general cleanliness is consistently good and required maintenance is addressed without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: SC414296 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

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC414296 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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