Children's Home run by Total Care Matters Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 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

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home, and their views were sought.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was dismissed by the organisation in March 2026 following a period of suspension. However, they have not yet submitted their cancellation to Ofsted. An interim manager was appointed in February 2026 but is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: 10 February 2026

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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: 1268530 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/02/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/03/2025 Full Good 12/03/2024 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 3

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Summary of findings

The child’s progress into independence is supported by newly implemented planning but has been slow to progress. Staff support the child’s educational aspirations and use alternative pathways to help them achieve their goals. Risks are managed effectively, with staff responding proactively to safeguarding concerns, particularly around substance misuse. Leaders and managers work cohesively with the professional network and the child’s family. Leaders and managers are committed to improving outcomes for the child, and enhanced managerial oversight has supported staff to improve the quality of the care provided. Shortfalls identified during the inspection are recognised by leaders and managers, who are taking appropriate action to improve practice without further delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked to strengthen relationships and build trust with the child to better support their preparation for adulthood. In conjunction with the local authority, the manager has developed a plan to promote the child’s independence and support the development of key life skills; however, this is not yet embedded in practice. Staff are implementing structure and routines to support independence, although progress in this area has been slow.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently in education or employment. Staff have successfully identified training and apprenticeship opportunities to support the child’s learning and access to employment. While some of these opportunities have not been successful, staff continue to work with the child and partner agencies to identify ongoing and creative options for education and training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with all local health services; however, they do not attend all required healthcare appointments. Staff understand the child’s health needs and hold regular one-to-one discussions with the child, emphasising the importance of attending appointments and maintaining overall health. Staff arrange necessary appointments and liaise with medical professionals to encourage the child’s attendance and seek guidance when required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place importance on promoting and maintaining the child’s relationships with the people who matter to them. The child is supported to spend meaningful time with family members, and staff recognise the positive impact this has on the child’s wellbeing. One family member said that they have no worries at all and can speak regularly with staff if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The interim manager and staff have focused on improving communication and strengthening relationships with partner agencies. Leaders and managers appropriately challenge other agencies when responses do not sufficiently meet the child’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 4

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

Overall, staff responses to safeguarding concerns have strengthened. The manager maintains oversight of all incidents, providing a holistic evaluation and identifying any necessary actions. Any shortfalls in staff responses are promptly identified and addressed, with learning shared across the wider team. This ensures that staff practice is consistently supported to improve.

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

Staff understand the risks that the child may face. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed, updated and shared with staff, and they are generally followed consistently. However, guidance relating to the safe monitoring of the child’s medication is not fully considered or sufficiently detailed to ensure a consistent approach by staff in this area. The manager acknowledges this shortfall and has taken immediate steps to strengthen the oversight and management of medication.

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

Risks specific to the child, such as substance misuse, are well understood by staff. Through strengthened relationships and a focus on education, particularly in relation to the impact on the child’s progression towards independence, staff have supported a significant reduction in incidents at the home.

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

The child knows how to make a complaint. The manager listens to the child and takes their concerns seriously. Investigations are carried out as required, with appropriate liaison with the local authority when necessary. The child is kept informed and receives a formal response. Consequently, the child feels heard and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation dismissed the registered manager for failing to uphold their leadership responsibilities. During the investigation period, alternative management arrangements were put in place while the registered manager was suspended. A new manager has since been recruited and has supported the workforce effectively through this period of change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work collaboratively and demonstrate a good understanding of the service’s strengths and areas for development. The interim manager has implemented new ways of working, reflected on previous inspection findings, and taken effective action to strengthen practice and improve the quality of care for the child. However, leaders and managers have not consistently ensured that the independent visitor meets regularly with the child and provides opportunities for their feedback to inform care planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager has strengthened monitoring and oversight systems to better identify areas for improvement and support staff practice. They maintain evaluative oversight of incidents, discussions and the day-to-day running of the home, and they promptly identify areas where staff practice can improve. Learning is regularly shared with the staff team, supporting ongoing learning and development. However, the most Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 5 recent quality of care review was not in line with regulatory requirements. The interim manager has plans in place to ensure that future reviews are of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling well supported through regular supervision sessions and learning discussions in monthly team and clinical meetings, with input from the provider’s clinical team. This helps staff to understand and embed the preferred model of care. One staff member said, ‘I know I can always talk to them if anything has happened.’ Staff also benefit from a detailed induction and training schedule, and any additional training needs are addressed promptly. However, 2 members of staff have not attained the required qualification within the expected time frame. The manager is addressing this shortfall. Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

staff implement and maintain suitable, age-appropriate routines in the home; 19 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 7 staff respond to substance misuse plans consistently;

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Requirement Due date

staff understand and monitor children’s health needs and medications. The registered person must maintain appropriate oversight of prescription medications and ensure that any self- administration is suitably monitored, with appropriate safeguards in place;

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Requirement Due date

staff consistently implement and monitor independence work in line with agreed plans.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(a)(b)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 19 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 8 In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is consistent and evaluative management oversight of all incidents, including the administration and management of medication.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that feedback is routinely obtained from children, professionals and family members. This includes ensuring that the independent visitor meets regularly with children and obtains their views and wishes. This feedback must inform the home’s regular quality of care reviews, supporting continuous improvement in the standard of care provided.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)) 19 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 9

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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: 1268530 10

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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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Inspectors

Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Sarah Tilbury, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1268530 11 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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