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

Inspection report children’s home: SC464759 1 SC464759 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

A private company owns this home. This company provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people, with ages ranging from 10 to 17 years. Children and young people have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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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 good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and staff have experienced a settled period since the last inspection. No young people have left or moved into the home. Likewise, the staff team has remained stable. Overall, staff provide good, nurturing care to young people. Young people make good progress in all areas of their development and they are safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. Following the last inspection, he worked quickly to meet the requirements and recommendations made. He recognises that staff recording practices are not good enough yet, so this recommendation remains.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say that they feel safe and well cared for by staff. Young people feel that they can speak to staff and confide in them over important matters. Staff and young Inspection report children’s home: SC464759 2 people have developed close bonds. Staff act as any good parent would, knowing young people’s whereabouts and their friendships. Staff will take young people to visit friends and they keep in contact with young people while they are out. This is good safeguarding practice, because staff remain vigilant and cautious. This also conveys the message to young people that staff care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff understand the importance of education and training in relation to young people’s future. Young people attend school or college. Their attendance is good and they make progress. One young person was described as being ‘ambitious, helpful and polite’ by her school. Some young people are studying for GCSEs, while others are training for work. Managers and staff work closely and effectively with a range of professionals in school and college. This ensures that young people have the right support services in place to help them to succeed. Staff celebrate young people’s educational successes and motivate them to do their best, especially with homework and coursework.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s behaviour has been good overall. There have been very few incidents, indeed there has been a significant decrease in incidents since the last inspection. Staff have not had to resort to using sanctions or physical intervention when the behaviour of young people has fallen below expectations. Staff have addressed issues through discussion. There have been some concerns over potential cannabis use in the home. Following one incident of suspected cannabis use, the practice of staff could have been better. Staff did not search the young person’s room for the substance, nor did they carry out sufficient individual work with the young person regarding the dangers of cannabis.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has been stable. Staff are now either enrolled on the level 3 diploma or have completed this important training. The manager is very well respected by the team, and he makes certain that he is available to provide them with ongoing support. The manager has not ensured that all staff have had regular professional supervision that is adequately recorded. The formal supervision of staff is crucial to ensure that they receive the oversight, guidance and formal support required to provide the best possible care to young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Statement of Purpose does not provide Ofsted or partner agencies with clarity on the qualifications or levels of experience of staff. This is an omission, and a requirement is raised to ensure that the Statement of Purpose contains this important information.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/04/2018 Full Good 10/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/09/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC464759 3

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s homes in the home’s Statement of Purpose details of the experience and qualifications of staff, including any staff commissioned to provide education or healthcare. (Regulation 16 (schedule 1)(19)) 20/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees–

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(1)(4)(b)) 20/03/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff skills for safeguarding should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. Staff should encourage children to express their views about whether they feel safe both within and outside the home. Staff should support children to understand how to ask for help to stay safe and that the home environment which supports this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC464759 4

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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 difference 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.

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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.

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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: 17 Leeland Mansions, Leeland Road, West Ealing, London W13 9HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector(s)

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC464759 5 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.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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