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

Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 1 SC475335 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to care for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been some improvement since the last full inspection, but young people’s experiences are not yet consistently good.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has gone through an unsettled period, during which there have been a number of serious significant events. Staff have struggled to manage behaviour effectively. Young people have been physically aggressive towards each other and towards staff. During one incident, a young person sustained a bite injury from another young person. Another incident resulted in a young person sustaining an injury to their foot. Staff have used physical restraint several times to manage young people’s behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This has not been a settled environment for young people to live in. One young person told the inspector that they had stayed longer with a family member during a contact visit because they did not want to come back to the home during this period. Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 2 The registered manager has expressed concern about the admission of a young person while she was on annual leave. The registered manager did not feel that this was the right decision for the young people already in placement at that time. She feels that this may be the reason for the home going through an unsettled period. Additionally, staff and young people were given incorrect information about who was managing the home, causing upset and confusion. Staff meeting minutes showed that staff were instructed to restrain young people if young people were causing damage to the property. The staff meeting minutes are not clear in supporting the home’s statement of purpose and

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

regulation, which puts emphasis on the steps taken to avoid the need for restraint and only using restraint as a last resort. This ambiguity needs to be clarified to ensure that all staff are clear about the use of restraint, and to ensure that young people are not restrained unnecessarily. There is no evidence to suggest that the restraints have not been necessary or proportionate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some changes to the staff team. A lack of consistency from staff about the house rules has caused confusion for young people. Some staff have been very clear with young people that they are not allowed in the office, due to confidential information being stored in there. However, other staff have allowed young people into the office. There is no evidence that privacy or confidentiality have been compromised, but young people do not get a consistent message from staff. This inconsistency does not help young people to improve their behaviour. Staff are not yet working cohesively to help young people understand expectations around their behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements since the last inspection are evident. In particular, records are now improved to show that there is support for young people after they self-harm. The manager now ensures that when staff are on the telephone and having confidential conversations with professionals, young people cannot listen in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff training continues to improve. The large majority of staff have now completed attachment and self-harm training. Their awareness of how young people should be supported with such issues has improved. Most staff have either completed their required diploma course or have been enrolled on this course within the timescales set out in the regulations. One member of staff has not completed their qualification within the required timescale. This is now being addressed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are sufficient in number. Since the last inspection, they have been building on their skills and confidence. Staff have acted appropriately during incidents, to limit injury and to protect young people as far as possible.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The building is improved. There are new windows, facia boards and doors to the entrance hall. These alterations provide a more welcoming and pleasant environment. The manager explained that decoration is continuing, to ensure that all areas of the building look pleasant. New curtains and blinds have been ordered and money is being invested into home improvements. This should help young people to feel proud of their environment and limit damage to property. Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 3 Care planning and risk assessments are now more detailed. When one young person’s behaviour was very complex, holiday accommodation was used to manage this. Risk assessments were good and all aspects of safety were well considered. When a young person set fire to some paper in the house, there was a robust management response. This included the instigation of a visit from the local fire service, to check that

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

arrangements for fire protection remain suitable given the increased risk.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made some good quality decisions. She has made some adjustments to the group of young people, to make sure that young people are protected. She ensures that she liaises effectively with other professionals, such as placing social workers. This means that they have good quality information, and are enabled to make robust decisions. One social worker is concerned that the manager has not been overseeing her emails to the staff team, and has missed some important information. However, this matter was dealt with during the inspection. One social worker expressed disappointment that the manager had not attended what she deemed an important meeting about risk for a young person. This appears to be an isolated incident, so no recommendation has been made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been improvements since the last inspection, but there are still some shortfalls in this service. One requirement and three recommendations have been set to ensure that action is taken.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Good 17/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 20 December 2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 4 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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20) This is in relation to the leadership of the home when the registered manager is absent.

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Recommendations

 The behaviour management strategy should be understood and applied at all times by staff, and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34) This is in relation to instructions to staff to restrain young people if they damage property, without the context of making sure that this should always be a last resort.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 5 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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Flat 17, Leeland Mansions, Leeland Road, London W13 9HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC475335 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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