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

Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 1 SC475335 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional, behavioural and/or social difficulties. The manager has been registered since May 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is experienced and has registered with Ofsted in May 2021. They are currently undertaking the appropriate management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 December 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2019 Full Good 19/09/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/04/2018 Full Good 25/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 3

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outstanding

Children receive excellent care. As soon as they come to live at this home, their life chances improve. This is because the manager provides strong leadership and the staff provide a very high quality of care. Restrictions and challenges associated with COVID-19 have not affected the quality of care provided to children.

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outstanding

Relationships between children and staff are very strong. This home is an extremely positive environment to live in. Staff very quickly build relationships with children based on mutual respect, acknowledgement of difference and lots of humour. Staff are overtly child-centred in their approach to care.

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outstanding

The manager and staff team engage particularly effectively with children who have previously not had good experiences in residential care or have experienced previous placement breakdowns. Staff are resilient and determined. As a result, children know that staff are committed to them. Children quickly recognise that they are valued, cared for and cherished by staff. Children often make meaningful progress in a relatively short period of time. This progress is life changing for children.

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outstanding

All children are engaging in education. When children come to the home with poor experiences of education, this is quickly turned around. Children learn to value education because they are so well supported by staff. For example, staff have recently provided very effective support to a child who is preparing for their exams.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to develop interests and hobbies. Staff quickly recognise children’s talents and abilities. Any successes, however small, are always celebrated. For example, a child who is a skilled costume maker and artist is being supported to showcase their talent at a show in London.

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outstanding

Managers ensure that older children who are preparing to live independently are provided with all the support that they need to develop self-care and independence skills. Staff act as a good parent would, assisting children very well to find suitable accommodation. Because of this caring approach, children’s anxieties reduce and they feel well supported.

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outstanding

Children live in a large and generally well-presented house. There is a warm and welcoming feel. There are many photos celebrating children’s successes and activities on display. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms. Children’s views are sought when changing the decor. However, some areas of the home would be further enhanced if updated and modernised. Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 4

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outstanding

Children become safer as soon as they move to live at this children’s home. Highly effective sharing of information prior to admission ensures that children’s vulnerabilities are understood. As a result, clear strategies are in place to minimise risk when children move into the home. This includes children who move into the home in an emergency.

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outstanding

Staff receive very good quality safeguarding training. This ensures that they are fully aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Managers understand that children who live at the home are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. They work diligently to ensure that staff know how to protect children from harm. When managers identify a gap in staff knowledge or experience, they quickly arrange for bespoke training to be provided by specialist agencies. This specialist training gives staff the knowledge and confidence that they need when supporting children with complex additional needs.

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outstanding

All children are encouraged and supported to make their views, wishes and feelings known. At this home, barriers to communication are removed. Although some children find it difficult to express themselves verbally, good joint working with schools has meant that strategies are in place to support communication. For example, one child is able to communicate their feelings by using hand puppets. Children are protected because they are given a voice by staff.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children’s behaviour improves and that risk factors reduce. The way the staff help children to behave well is highly effective. Children receive consistent and positive responses from the staff team. As a result, episodes of restraint and children going missing reduce markedly as they settle into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021. They are soon to complete their level 5 management qualification. The manager and senior staff are keen to develop their skills and knowledge further in therapy-based practice. They lead a highly motivated team that has the welfare of the children at the forefront of their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff morale is high. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, managers have created an environment that is supportive and extremely positive. Staff are confident because they receive clear guidance and training. Recruitment practice is very good. The manager has developed a strong and diverse staff team, with a range of skills and experience. Children feel safe and secure because they have confidence in the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have very effective relationships with other agencies. This partnership working is a key strength of the home. Stakeholders are confident in the ability of this children’s home to provide excellent experiences which support children’s Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 5 progress. Feedback from social workers is extremely positive. One social worker particularly noted the way that the manager’s approach empowers children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This home is able to provide care to children who require a placement in an emergency. The manager ensures that staff are fully equipped to meet the needs of these children while also ensuring that the care of existing residents is not compromised. Good multi-agency working ensures that staff have prompt access to the information that they need to develop a good care plan and minimise risk. For example, specialist training was provided to staff very quickly after a child was recently admitted in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality, regular and supportive supervision. Because supervision is so effective, staff feel valued and are confident in their roles. Supervision is used very effectively to build and improve the resilience of staff. Consequently, they respond to the demands of their role well. Managers support staff very well to be flexible and adaptable. This enables them to deliver very good quality care to children who move into the home in an emergency and who have very complex needs. Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 6

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Recommendation

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 for children's home: SC475335 7

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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 W139HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC475335 8 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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