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

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 This is the home’s second full inspection this year. It follows a previous inspection in August 2015 where significant safeguarding concerns were identified. All requirements set at the last inspection have been addressed. Leaders and managers have investigated all concerns. They have subsequently reviewed and amended the homes safeguarding practice. Improvement has been achieved. However, these improvements are not yet embedded and need to be built upon.  Improved systems, developed to ensure the suitability and compatibility of placements, are effective. Absolute clarity is being sought from placing authorities about the staffing levels required for each young person. This will help to ensure that young people are always appropriately supervised.  Improved internal and external monitoring systems also help to ensure that young people are better safeguarded. They better support continual improvement.

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because:

 A lack of robust challenge in relation to the actions of a local authority has contributed to a young person being in a position of uncertainty about his future.

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The children's home strengths

 Some young people continue to present as happy and speak positively about their experiences of living in the home. They make good progress in many aspects of their lives.

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The children's home strengths

 Strong and positive relationships with partner agencies ensure that young people receive targeted help and support to address their individual areas of difficulty.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plan. 11/11/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Staff should keep, and encourage children to keep, appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living in the home and help them record significant life events. This is with particular reference to improving how children’s and young people's positive experiences while living in the home are recorded and celebrated. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Information about this children's home

This privately run home can accommodate up to three young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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requires improvement

Young people’s experiences and progress are variable. For some it is good. One young person said: ‘I used to be in a lot of trouble. Now I am not. I am now chilled out, happier and I am looking forward to the future.’ For other young people however, their placements have been for short periods of time and some have ended with little notice. The progress and overall experience for these young people are thus limited. Regardless of the length of placements, and whether they end in a planned or unplanned way, improved recording and celebration of young people’s achievements and positive experiences would provide them with better memories of their time living in the home.

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requires improvement

Older young people are supported to develop the skills they require to move into independence and adult life. They learn to cook, clean, budget, and meet their own personal care needs. Increased confidence in these areas assists young people when they are ready to move on to the next stage of their lives. The manager and staff also recognise the potentially significant impact on young people should they move on in a poorly planned way or before they are emotionally ready. When such a concern recently arose, there was a lack of robust challenge and escalation on the behalf of the young person. This has the potential to leave them vulnerable and in a position where their future needs may not be sufficiently met.

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requires improvement

There are some strong working relationships with other agencies. For example, good multi-agency working with the youth offending team, police, and an education provider enhanced a young person’s progress. Their social worker said: ‘There is good communication and the care plan is being followed. The young person has not been in trouble with the police, he is engaging well with the support from the youth offending team, and he has completed his educational course. From when he arrived, this is good progress.’ Positive working relationships with partner agencies provide young people with the opportunity to access appropriate help and support, address their individual difficulties, and enjoy an improved quality of life in the longer term.

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requires improvement

Staff help young people to understand the importance of maintaining good physical health. They encourage them to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. As a result, young people are motivated to undertake activities such as going to the gym, playing football and swimming. They get fit, have fun, and make friends. This has a positive impact on their physical, emotional and social development. The home environment is warm and welcoming. Young people are involved in choosing the colour schemes and décor within the home. Some have helped to decorate communal areas. Such involvement helps young people to develop a sense of pride in the environment they have helped to create. It also makes it feel more like a family home.

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requires improvement

The home is a physically safe environment. Current residents report that they feel safe in their home. A young person said: ‘It feels a safe place to live. It is my home and the staff really care and are always there for me.’ The positive and trusting relationships young people have with staff creates an emotionally safe and secure environment for them.

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requires improvement

Lessons learned from the last inspection mean that managers now ensure staffing levels are sufficient to provide safe care to each young person. This involves careful exploration with placing authorities of what type and level of supervision is required, and the implementation of more detailed risk management plans. The service has also adopted a policy to staff the home at a 110% level so that there are sufficient numbers of staff on duty to allow for flexibility or unexpected situations. Safety in the home is likely to improve further as these changes become embedded.

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requires improvement

Staff knowledge of safeguarding practice has improved as a result of thorough debriefs, more effective supervision, and team meetings. These systems have been used to reflect on the safeguarding shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Internal investigations highlight the need for further staff training. This has been sourced and is likely to enhance the improvements already made.

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requires improvement

Internal investigations into safeguarding allegations are now more robust. They demonstrate that leaders and managers have a good understanding of safeguarding processes. For example, when a young person recently made an allegation about a member of staff, they were suspended without prejudice and the allegations were swiftly reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer and the police. This enabled a thorough, multi-agency, investigation to be completed with minimal delay. The manager’s good understanding of safeguarding procedures reduces the risk of harm to young people.

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requires improvement

There has been one incident of a young person going missing since the last inspection. On this occasion staff followed the young person’s agreed plan by telephoning all known contacts, searching the local area and reporting them missing to the police in a timely manner. The home has effective relationships with the local police who visit the home regularly. This enables young people to get to know the police as a positive and supportive resource should they be in need of help.

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requires improvement

Proactive behaviour management strategies and systems have a positive effect on some young people. In respect of one young person, a police officer said: ‘His behaviour has significantly improved. He has developed respect and understanding and he no longer crosses the criminal line.’ Positive incentives, and direct work undertaken with young people regarding their previous patterns of behaviour, help them reflect and consider the impact of their actions on themselves and others. This helps them to develop insight, empathy and more socially acceptable behaviour. Because of proactive behaviour management strategies, the use of sanctions and physical intervention is rare. Management monitoring of behaviour management ensures that behaviour plans remain effective.

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requires improvement

The manager is suitably qualified and has extensive experience to undertake her role. The staff team hold her in high regard and share her commitment to improving the quality of care that young people receive. A member of staff told the inspector that: ‘Our manager is the best, very supportive and approachable. The whole team get on and work well together. We were actually looking forward to you returning so that you can see how we have moved forward and improved.’

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requires improvement

All requirements set at the last inspection have been met. Consequently, the home now makes proper provision for the welfare and safety of young people. An action plan to improve practice further is well underway. This now needs to be fully implemented to ensure that the positive changes are maintained and built upon to raise standards further.

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requires improvement

The manager is clear that only those young people who meet the criteria for admission as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose will be considered for future placements. Recently introduced placement matching assessments help to ensure that any new admissions to the home are appropriately matched with existing residents. They also ensure that the staff have sufficient skills and knowledge to meet identified needs. This significantly improves referral and admission processes.

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requires improvement

All staff have had an opportunity to meet with the manager to reflect on the reasons for the previous inadequate judgement and learn lessons from this. They receive regular supervision and attend regular team meetings that discuss practice issues. This ensures that practice is monitored and provides scope for further improvements.

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requires improvement

Training programmes for staff have improved since the last inspection. Additionally sourced safeguarding training is imminent and provides scope for further improvements in safeguarding practice. Leaders and managers have also been proactive in sourcing new training courses relating to potentially emerging issues such as radicalisation, attachment and child development, deprivation of liberty, and bereavement. This is work in progress. It supports staff to improve their skills, knowledge and practice so that they are better equipped to meet the complex needs of the young people in their care.

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requires improvement

Quality assurance systems have improved. Additions made to external monitoring templates now provide prompts which help to ensure that any safeguarding concerns or allegations are analysed each month. New internal monitoring systems, compatible with the Quality Standards, are also in place. These systems provide for regular consultation with young people and help to ensure that the quality of the service continues to be analysed in order to drive improvements.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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