Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 1 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home, providing care and accommodation for one child who may have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. On admission, the child will be aged between 10 and 18 years. The manager was registered with Ofsted in November 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2018 Full Good 26/09/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive and rewarding experiences. They make good progress overall. One child’s progress at the home has enabled a successful move to a foster placement. The foster carer praised the manager and staff, stating that the support she received was essential to the success of the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have mixed experiences in education. Some children have been anxious about attending school and have lower than expected attendance levels. The manager has not collaborated effectively with the placing local authority to clarify plans and develop strategies to support children who require additional help to engage in education. This has the potential to hinder good education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children are registered with primary healthcare providers and attend all routine appointments. If children use tobacco, they are provided with useful information and support to stop smoking. Children who require additional support with their emotional and mental health have access to a counsellor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a comfortable and well-maintained home that is decorated to a high standard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff listen to the children’s views and act on them. Staff use young people’s meetings well to gather children’s ideas and opinions so that they can be fully involved in decisions about the home. Children grow in confidence because they feel empowered to make decisions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. They produce good and detailed risk assessments. Risk assessments are kept under review and amended in line with the child’s changing needs. The manager attends and contributes to multi-agency risk management meetings, working within the agreed plans to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand the underlying causes of any negative behaviour exhibited by children. Staff de-escalate aggressive and confrontational situations well. Incidents in which staff have to use physical intervention to keep children safe have reduced in frequency as a result, with no incidents over recent months.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are safer because the manager has developed a good-quality location risk assessment. The assessment takes account of local crime statistics and other information provided by the police. This means that staff take steps to prevent children going to areas where they might be vulnerable to exploitation. Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 4 Children are safeguarded because the manager and staff provide a safe environment. Health and safety arrangements are strong. The manager oversees a rigorous medication procedure that minimises the potential for medication errors.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A confident, committed manager leads this home. She provides clear and decisive leadership, develops good relationships with children and is ambitious for this home. She is currently undertaking the required qualification for managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Directors of the organisation have recently appointed additional senior managers. This helps the registered manager because she receives greater support. Senior managers visit regularly and provide an additional layer of management capacity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager supports staff well, particularly when they face challenging situations. She understands the impact on staff of managing challenging behaviour. Consequently, she brings in additional staff when required. This provides staff with time and space they need to reflect on their practice so that they can continue to deliver high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are better supported because the staff team is stable and consistent. Staff feel supported by the manager. They say that their views and ideas are listened to and taken seriously. Staff training and ongoing development are strengths of the service. Most staff are either undertaking or have attained the required qualification for residential workers. However, one member of staff has not completed the qualification. The manager is urgently addressing this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive monthly individual supervision. They say that supervision is informative and helpful. Safeguarding is the central focus of supervision. This ensures that each member of staff can confidently manage safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and quality assurance systems are very good. The manager’s quality assurance reports are detailed and evaluative. In addition, monthly visits by the home’s independent visitor are challenging and generate improvement. Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 5

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home

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Requirement Due date

if the individual has the appropriate qualification.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (2)(3)(4)(a)(b)) 14/04/2020

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Recommendations

 For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: 1259419 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited

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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

Phillip Morris, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1259419 7 to 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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Inspector

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