Children's Home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC475335 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Blue Mountain Homes Ltd Registered person address 17 Leeland Mansions Leeland Road London W13 9HB Responsible individual Pradeep Kumar Manaktala Registered manager Jacqueline Yvonne Mee Date of last inspection 23/10/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 03/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the home’s first full inspection, post registration, in October 2014 the overall effectiveness was judged as good. Four requirements and one recommendation were set. The manager has demonstrated within this inspection that all of these shortfalls have been met.

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This inspection

Improvements to supervision arrangements include the Registered Manager now receiving monthly supervision from a peer. However, supervision records do not consistently provide sufficient details, such as time and duration of the meeting; this means it is difficult to assess how much formal support is offered to the manager.

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This inspection

Records are clear, and include up to date care and placement plans. This ensures staff deliver care in accordance with agreed plans. Case records are comprehensive, professionally presented and accessible to young people, upon request.

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This inspection

Improvements to the interior and exterior of the home are nearing completion and have resulted in a homelier feel. The final stage of improvements is the fitting of new carpets throughout hallways and stairs. Sleeping accommodation for staff has been altered to ensure that staff do not sleep in communal areas of the home. The home benefits from a large enclosed garden and playground. Young people say they enjoy this area; however, a lack of well-maintained play equipment and seating restricts their ability to play within the grounds of the home.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, young people have been admitted into the home. They receive a pre-admission assessment prior to a placement offer. This ensures the home can fully meet their holistic needs. Care planning involves a range of agencies including social care, education, health and mental health services. Consequently, all young people benefit from well-planned placements with clear arrangements for the progression of their care plans. 3 of 6 Some young people are making a transition to independence. They receive well- coordinated support and preparation for their eventual move to independence. All eligible young people have a pathway plan that clearly outlines actions necessary for preparing them for their move to independence. The staff team work proactively with social workers and leaving care services to coordinate transitions. Young people benefit from a gradual move from the home, with a programme of outreach work.

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This inspection

This means they are fully supported to adapt to living in their own independent environment. A young person said, ‘It would not have been possible without the staff supporting me. I feel I am ready to leave.’

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, it has been necessary for some young people to leave the home. This is because higher levels of protection have been necessary to ensure their safeguarding and welfare needs are met. In such circumstances, the manager and staff team have been resilient in managing complex and risk taking behaviours. The management and staff are highly instrumental in participating in all safeguarding meetings to share information and contribute to plans to safeguard young people.

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This inspection

Staff training includes learning about how to recognise, manage and respond to self- injurious and suicidal behaviours. Newly recruited staff have a training package that prioritises awareness of self-harm. This ensures that all of the staff team have the knowledge, skills and understanding to respond appropriately to such incidents. Moreover, consultation with child and adolescent mental health teams ensures staff work within a multi-disciplinary framework to manage such complex behaviours.

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This inspection

Safeguarding practice overall is effective. Where safeguarding incidents occur, the Registered Manager ensures robust actions are taken to safeguard the young people. This includes ensuring notifications are made to the safeguarding agencies, police and placing authorities. However, failure to notify Ofsted in a timely manner causes delay in the regulator being able to review the home’s response to incidents.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has worked hard since the last inspection to promote improved outcomes for young people and ensure high standards in quality of care. Rigorous internal and external quality assurance processes have identified shortfalls, actions and timescales to deliver improvement. These combined processes have been effective in promoting positive changes. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This is a home for four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private organisation who have other similar children's homes.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are provided with appropriate leisure facilities and activities. With specific reference to playground and outside play equipment (Regulation 18 (b)) 09/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the Registered Person shall without delay, notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 30) 09/04/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure a written or electronic record is kept by the home detailing all supervision meetings. It is to include the time and date and length of each supervision held for each member of staff, including the registered person. The record is signed by the supervisor and the member of staff at the end of the supervision. (NMS 19.5) 5 of 6 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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