Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd in Ealing

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 1 SC059998 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The care provided to young people is inconsistent. Some young people have a positive experience of living at this home, whereas others do not. One young person’s care has been poor, particularly with regard to behaviour management.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and young people have access to a holiday home, and use this for short periods to manage young people’s behaviour and/or the dynamics between young people. One young person has struggled to regulate their behaviour for the last few weeks. Prior to his planned discharge from the home, it was agreed that he would stay at the organisation’s holiday home for a period of time, until the local authority can find a new placement. There are shortfalls in how staff have supported this young person away from the main home. Incidents of restraint have not been recorded properly. The significant event forms do not describe to the reader what happened, what strategies Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 2 were used to avoid the need to use restraint, or how the young person was restrained. Restraints are not recorded in the appropriate restraints log. This shortfall has gone unnoticed by the manager, who has not established the details of what happened. This

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

does not safeguard young people as there is no oversight of the appropriateness of the restraint. Additionally, opportunities are missed to learn from these incidents. Significant information from key-working sessions is not reviewed. The inspection found that one key-working session recorded the young person’s anger about the way staff had dealt with him, on a day when staff restrained him several times. Nobody has asked the young person about the restraints that were used, and whether he thought they were used fairly or effectively. Restraint records show that, at the time of the restraint, the young person had declined to comment. However, the young person has not had the chance to talk about these restraints since. This is contrary to regulation and is a significant shortfall. The young person’s voice is completely lost.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not been able to successfully de-escalate challenging behaviour, resulting in prolonged incidents at the holiday home. Two members of staff who have been caring for the young person do not know him well. They are relatively new to the company, with one member of staff actually being employed at another home within the company. The inspection found that there were no induction documents available relating to either member of staff. It was difficult to establish whether they had received specific guidance about how best to work with the young person, or how to follow the home’s policies and procedures. Inexperienced staff were charged with caring for an incredibly complex young person at the holiday home, yet they had little experience of working with the young person previously.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The inspector was invited to view a video of a young person engaging in activities during their stay at the organisation’s holiday home. During the activity, a member of staff swore in front of the young person. Modelling this behaviour does not help vulnerable young people to learn about prosocial behaviour, manners and respect.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Allegations have been made about staff using restraint. The registered manager has ensured that safeguarding procedures are followed in managing allegations, but some aspects of the allegation have been handled inappropriately, and could potentially have an impact on the investigation of allegations.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The holiday home is sometimes used to give young people a break from the registered children’s home. It has also been used, as a temporary measure, to manage behaviour and manage transitions during a young person’s notice period. This has proved to be useful as it allows time for local authorities to organise a suitable move-on placement, without compromising the safety or care of other young people in the home. A shortfall has been identified in care planning, and how care is being delivered and managed away from the main home. Care planning documents do not sufficiently reflect the care arrangements.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are very effective in some areas and provide clear, direct and helpful information to staff about how each area of risk should be managed. There is also a specific risk assessment for the holiday home. However, risk assessment documents do Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 3 not cover any new risks to young people, despite the different location and different risk factors. The manager has not been effective in monitoring the quality of care provided when young people stay at the organisation’s holiday home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are mixed views from social workers about the home. One social worker was extremely positive about the care provided to a young person. Another social worker reported that a young person was concerned about the way that their behaviour is managed.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Not all young people are confident that if they raise an issue, they will be listened to.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the shortfalls identified, there are some positive aspects. Some young people have had a good experience of being at this home. When the decision is made to end placements, this has either been in accordance with young people’s care plans to move to independence, or in order to keep a young person safe. Staff provide support to young people when they are preparing to move on from the home. Young people sometimes keep in touch with staff at the home after they have left, if this arrangement is appropriate. This demonstrates that there are often positive relationships between young people and staff.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are positive about the registered manager. Equally, one young person spoke very positively about the manager, saying: ‘He is sick.’

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager carefully considers new admissions. Impact risk assessments are used effectively. Each area of risk or need for new admissions is well considered against other individual young people already living at the home. This ensures that existing young people’s care is not disrupted. A young person commented very positively about his experience of moving into the home. He talked about the deputy manager, saying: ‘The deputy manager was the first person I saw. She made me feel like I deserved to be here and she made me feel like I belong.’

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people go missing from the home, staff are vigilant in following procedures and they make sure that young people return as soon as possible. Staff understand the risks to young people when they go missing from the home. They constantly look for young people, and work well with other professionals until the young person returns safely. There have been some very positive comments from the police about staff practice. Individual staff have been commended by the police for their collaborative working, which is very positive. Joint working is likely to ensure that young people are missing from the home for the shortest time.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

One of the recommendations set at the last inspection has not been fully met. This referred to the need for placing authorities to arrange independent return home interviews after young people return from a period of being missing from the home. When placing authorities do not provide independent return home interviews, the registered manager does not always follow this up. Opportunities to learn lessons and better protect young people are therefore missed. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 4 The manager has ensured that he has met the one requirement and one recommendation set at the last inspection regarding the house. Despite recent damage to the home, it is well maintained. The home is decorated to a good standard and has a homely feel, which results in a clean, pleasant living environment.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2017 Full Good 02/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 15/12/2015 Full Requires improvement

p.4

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.

p.4

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— helps children to aspire to their full potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and to use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 17/02/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 5 demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on- feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) 2(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement is made with particular reference to the registered manager, and the need to monitor behaviour management and review the quality of care when young people stay at the organisation’s holiday home. It is also made in relation to ensuring that staff working at the holiday home have the skills needed in order to work with young people effectively.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving and moving on from the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

that arrangements are in place to manage and review the placement of each child in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this requirement is made to ensure that there is effective care planning and risk assessment when young people use the holiday home. 17/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding of acceptable behaviour; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— 17/02/2018 Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 6 help each child to develop socially aware behaviour.

p.5

Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(ii)(viii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement is made with particular reference to staff swearing in front of young people.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi)(vii)

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement is made with particular reference to the registered manager’s actions following an allegation. 17/02/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must- ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction. (Regulation 33 (1)(a)) 17/02/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all the elements (i) to (viii). (Regulation 35(3)(a)) 17/02/2018

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 17/02/2018

p.6

Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 7 ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer that 5 days after the incident of restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

p.6

Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

p.7

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

p.7

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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

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.

p.7

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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

p.8

Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, social care regulatory inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC059998 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9