Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 2500044 1 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children aged between 10 and 17 years at point of admission. Children have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private company.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted in December 2018 and holds the Diploma level 5 in leadership and management.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s experiences and progress have been variable since the last inspection. One child has made strong progress, both in relation to her educational achievement and behaviour. As a result, she has become increasingly settled. Other children have not made good progress.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff encourage and support children into education. They work with partner agencies to maximise children’s participation and achievement. One child recently received an award for her attitude at school. This signifies strong progress for her. Inspection report children’s home: 2500044 2 Staff ensure that children’s health needs are met. Children are registered with primary healthcare services. Staff make certain that children attend their appointments. Some children require additional help with their emotional and mental health. This is provided through effective partnership working with the local child and adolescent mental health services.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff act as a good parent would and set clear boundaries. They have clear expectations of good and acceptable behaviour. Children’s behaviour support plans are robust. There have been incidents of aggressive behaviour exhibited by children but staff have consistently followed agreed plans. At times, the staff have had to use physical intervention to keep children safe. This has been carried out in line with correct procedure. Staff reflect on any incidents so that they can learn lessons to inform future practice.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff report that they are happy in their work. They feel valued by the manager. They receive regular supervision and performance reviews.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

An area for improvement is the working relationships with social workers. The manager has not always ensured that social workers provide the correct level of information before children move to the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a good grasp on the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She has several systems to continually evaluate the services provided to children. She uses monthly reports from the independent visitor to help improve the service. However, the manager has not made certain that the visitor is supported to speak to external professionals about the services provided.

p.2

Recommendations

 Regulation 5(a) requires the registered person to ‘seek to involve’ the placing authority that places a looked-after child in the home, which in practice means working primarily with their statutory social worker. The requirement to work with social workers and other relevant people is repeated at other places in the Regulations and Guide, but in this instance the duplication is justifiable reinforcement in light of the crucial importance of a strong working relationship between the home and the authority with parental responsibility for a child there. Not all children in Inspection report children’s home: 2500044 3 homes are looked-after – for these children too, a close working relationship is essential with those with parental responsibility for them, usually their parents or other carers. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.5)  The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through

p.2

Recommendations

observation and engagement with: each child; the home’s staff; each child’s family/carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care or protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), teachers, clinicians and other health professionals, etc. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.23)

p.3

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.3

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.3

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 2500044 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

p.4

Inspector

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2500044 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5