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

Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 1 SC436469 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

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since October 2021. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the 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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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: 26 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2020 Full Outstanding 18/07/2018 Full Outstanding 18/10/2017 Full Outstanding 09/12/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care and support from a committed team of staff who know them well. Staff show children emotional warmth and understanding. The manager and staff take pride in supporting children with their individual interests and enabling them to develop age-appropriate independence. Children build strong bonds with staff, and they are happy and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that children attend education. When children struggle or there are barriers, the manager and staff work with professionals to overcome challenges. The manager is persistent in her approach in escalating concerns where necessary. Consequently, children begin to understand the importance of learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well to see their family and friends. The manager and staff have worked effectively to strengthen these relationships. One child is now able to regularly stay overnight with his family. Another child has considerable leisure time with his friends. Staff ensure that these arrangements are enjoyable and safe for children. Children are therefore able to maintain valuable links and connections which are important to their identities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff help children to improve their physical and emotional health. Some children regularly attend their health appointments. One child is meeting with the in-house therapist and is benefiting from her support. The manager and staff are currently working with one child to reduce his anxiety about attending health appointments. He is making some progress, however, staff are yet to find effective strategies to help him attend all necessary appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are listened to by the manager and staff. Weekly house meetings take place where children raise any issues that they feel are important. Staff carry out key-work sessions with children. These individualised sessions with children focus on important topics, which contribute to helping children make good progress.

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

The manager and staff understand the risks posed to children. Individual risk assessments are thorough and contain pertinent information which enables staff to take effective action to keep children safe. The manager and staff work hard to implement the risk assessments. There are some challenges to this as the children are beginning to assert their independence. The manager and staff now recognise the importance of persisting with children when they struggle to understand the potential risks to their safety.

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

Staff take steps to ensure that children are safe online. They regularly talk to children about their internet and social media use. When needed, the use of devices Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 4 is monitored and checked. Leaders and managers are currently in the process of installing robust parental controls throughout the home. This will increase children’s online safety even further.

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

Staff use their skills and experience to keep incidents to a minimum. They provide consistent boundaries to promote positive behaviours. When incidents have occurred, they are recorded in detail and children are given the opportunity to talk through their feelings afterwards. Restorative work is undertaken following an incident to help children improve relationships. This enables children to learn healthy ways of resolving conflicts and difficulties.

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

The manager and staff have supported children effectively to reduce the number of times they go missing from home. Staff have seen good progress in this area. When there have been incidents of children going missing, the manager and staff have worked effectively to return children safely. This prevents children from coming to harm through exploitation and criminal activity.

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

The manager has established a consistent staff team that does not require support from agencies. Staff are recruited safely, which prevents unfamiliar or unvetted adults from caring for children. If children need reassurance at any time, there is always someone available. Consequently, children feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The previous registered manager left in October 2021. The senior management team supported the deputy manager to lead the home until a new manager was appointed. The acting manager has made an impressive start at the home. She has quickly gained an understanding of the home and re-established stability within a short space of time. The manager has the confidence of the team and they are responding well to her leadership style. Staff are well supported to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager regularly reviews the quality of care and addresses any areas for development. An improvement plan is currently being implemented. The manager seeks and acts on feedback from a range of professionals to ensure children are happy and well cared for. This shows the manager’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy their work. They see themselves as a ‘work family’. The staff benefit from regular supervision and training. This helps them to remain focused on the needs of the children. Following inspection, the managers recognise the importance of introducing training which reflects the current developments in research. This will help staff to further develop their understanding of children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed strong relationships with external professionals through regular communication. She is proactive about requesting and attending meetings. Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 5 The manager challenges effectively when she believes that children’s needs are not being met. As a result, children make good progress under her leadership. Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when health services are not accessible, or are withdrawn, staff inform and engage with those who also hold a responsibility for the child’s health to ensure their health needs are met under regulation 5 - engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11)  The registered person should ensure that children feel safe and are safe. Staff should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. Staff should help children to understand how to protect themselves, feel protected and be protected from significant harm. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: SC436469 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 W13 9HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC436469 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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