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

Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 1 SC464759

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Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. Care is provided for up to four children who may have emotional, social and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. The acting manager has been in post since September 2021. She is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has had a period of instability following a number of changes to the management team. Since the last full inspection, an acting manager has been appointed. She is committed to the home and is applying to be the registered manager. The acting manager is skilled at quickly building relationships with the children. This means that children are receiving the support that they need to help them to settle and make progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements made at the previous inspection have not all been met. However, the acting manager has a plan in place to address the shortfalls. Actions taken by the acting manager and staff have resulted in each of the previous recommendations being met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have moved out of the home since the last inspection. Two returned home to live with family members. These were planned moves and were well supported by the staff team. Some children have stayed in touch with the home and always receive a warm welcome from staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three new children have moved into the home since the last inspection. A good standard of care is provided to these children. They are all making progress. One child is working towards her GCSE exams at school and has secured herself a part- time job. Another child is taking part in educational activities away from home while a more suitable education package is found for her. Staff are strong advocates for children, challenging any delays in services or planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is welcoming and comfortable. Improvements have been made to the furnishings and décor since the last inspection. Children have contributed their ideas for the development of the home. Any areas in need of repair are quickly attended to. Staff no longer smoke in the garden, which was a shortfall at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s risk assessments and care plans are accurate and up to date. Staff have benefited from additional training in this area. Information from local authorities and other professionals is now included in children’s plans and risk assessments. This has resulted in better information for staff about the needs of the children they are caring for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The acting manager has worked hard to create stability in the staff team. Improvements have been made to staff supervision and team meetings, which now take place regularly. Staff speak highly of the acting manager, stating that they feel well supported and managed. This has resulted in rising morale. Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 3 The acting manager has implemented monitoring and auditing systems, but these are not yet robust. Not all incidents are reviewed in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children complain, they receive a response quickly. This ensures that their voice is heard. However, staff are not always spoken to about complaints in their supervision. This means that learning from children’s complaints does not always take place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has not communicated with the local authority designated officer effectively. This has resulted in delays to investigations following allegations or disclosures from children. Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/06/2019 Full Good 12/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/04/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 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

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

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)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This is regarding the home’s response to complaints and allegations about adults working in the home. 30 April 2022

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

This is regarding the manager’s oversight of all incidents and ensuring that relevant documents are signed to evidence monitoring and review of any such incidents. 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and 30 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 6 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(g)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This is regarding staff supervision not evidencing discussions about complaints made by children. 30 April 2022

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and children since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC464759 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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Inspectors

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC464759 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and children, 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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