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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as Good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has declined in effectiveness because a number of shortfalls have been identified.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has become unsettled, with an increasing number of significant incidents occurring following the new admission of a young person. This young person was admitted in an emergency, out of hours, when very limited information was available to the manager. This was a very risky decision, taking into account the vulnerabilities and complexities of the other young people already living in the home. This has had a negative impact, to varying degrees, on all young people living in the home. Fuller consideration of matching and some reflection on the decision made is required to inform and improve practice in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During one significant incident, staff did not stringently follow the home’s safeguarding procedures. This compromised young people’s safety and welfare and resulted in police intervention and the risk of criminalisation. On this occasion, the two staff members on duty were very inexperienced. They failed to pre-empt risk and seek advice from the on–call service when a potential difficulty arose during the shift, which increased the risk of young people engaging in risky behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the majority of staff working at the home have now completed or are booked to complete all of their mandatory and additional training in response to a requirement set at the last inspection, at the time of the above incident, the two staff on duty had not completed their first aid, full fire or medication training. As a result, those on duty were inexperienced and poorly equipped to meet the complex needs of the young people. Although this staffing situation was an isolated incident, the lack of experience and skill of the staff on duty on this occasion left young people very vulnerable and at greater risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In response to the increased number of incidents, the manager has taken action to improve the safety of young people. For example, in response to young people climbing out of windows during the night after removing window restrictors, windows have been sealed and one young person has moved bedrooms to a different part of the home. Procedures and check lists for staff to follow each evening to help ensure safety have also been updated to provide absolute clarity for staff in respect of their responsibilities. Sustained improvements are now required to enhance the quality of care that young people receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recording also needs to improve. Daily logs do not sufficiently capture all that staff are doing to safeguard young people, for example whether they have removed lighters and cigarettes from young people before they go to bed as per their risk assessments. This makes it difficult for the manager to monitor the effectiveness of practice. Additionally, risk assessments are not sufficiently up to date in terms of recording what actions staff need to take in response to new or increased risks. This would have a particular impact for new staff or those from other homes covering shifts, who would need quick reference to the major risk factors associated with each young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation set at the last inspection in relation to the decor of some aspects of the home has not been met. Although this does not have an impact on the safety and well-being of young people, it means that the home environment is not as warm and welcoming as young people deserve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the identified shortfalls, young people living in the home speak positively about their experiences and relationships with staff. One young person said: ‘Out of all of the homes I have lived in, this is the best. The staff care and have my back. They spend lots of time with me.’ They also make progress in some aspects of their lives. A social worker commented: ‘Overall, this young person is making steady progress. Staff have worked hard to get him engaged in education and he is now moving forward.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One requirement in relation to the recording and administration of medication set at the last inspection has been met. Improved recording systems ensure that the manager can now clearly monitor the effectiveness of medication administration practices.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to care for four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/09/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must: (2)(a)(v) ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. 06/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must: (2)(b) ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and protect each child effectively from harm. 06/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 06/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person is required to: (2)(f) 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. This is with particular reference to decision-making and reflection in relation to placement matching. 06/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records for each child which are kept up to date. This is with particular reference to ensuring that risk assessments 06/01/2017 are promptly updated after significant incidents and that the recording of daily logs are detailed. (Regulation 36 (1)(b))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  ensure that the home is a homely and domestic environment. This is in particular relation to decoration to the annex in the back garden and the main building entrance, landing and hallway. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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