Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 1

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Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that provides care for up to five children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. The home is being led by an experienced acting manager.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is currently posing for those we regulate. During this visit, the inspector took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken by the home to slow the spread of COVID-19. The visit took place on site.

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This monitoring visit

At an assurance visit to this children’s home on 26 and 27 October 2020, Ofsted identified serious and widespread concerns. These concerns related to safeguarding and management. Following the assurance visit, Ofsted issued compliance notices and a restriction of accommodation notice.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review compliance with the notices and assess the progress made in addressing the shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have addressed the compliance notices fully. They have also adhered to the restriction notice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager resigned his post following the assurance visit. An interim acting manager was quickly appointed. The acting manager worked with senior managers in the organisation effectively to develop a clear improvement plan. This plan includes the following: Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 2  The implementation of a comprehensive training and development programme for all staff and managers. Staff have been provided with refresher safeguarding training and behaviour management training. Staff have also been supported to improve their understanding of sensory processing disorders and how to communicate effectively with children who have learning disabilities.  Improved staff supervision and team meetings. These forums now ensure that staff have better opportunities to reflect on their practice, and that staff are more focused on the particular needs of children with learning disabilities.

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This monitoring visit

 Stronger management monitoring systems, to ensure that weaknesses and shortfalls are quickly identified and addressed.  An overhaul of behaviour management systems through a strengths-based approach, tailored to the needs of children with learning disabilities.

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This monitoring visit

The improvement plan has already had an impact. Incidents of physical intervention have decreased. Staff say that they are now more confident in their ability to provide high-quality care.

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This monitoring visit

Staff now feel well supported by the manager, who they say has ‘an open-door policy and is always available’. Staff have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities because the manager has set clear expectations.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and leaders understand that improvements in the care and protection of children must be sustained. Several requirements set at the assurance visit remain in place. Long-term management arrangements are yet to be clarified. Staff practice in relation to communication and decision-making can be improved further. Additionally, medication administration systems are not yet wholly effective.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement N/A N/A N/A Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour, and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(viii)(ix)(x)(xi)) 3 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; 3 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 4 take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensures that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h)) 3 February 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) 3 February 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 5

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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, London W13 9HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2561020 6 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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