Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 1 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

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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 for up to four children who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties due to past trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an interim manager in post who has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 30 November 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Four children are living in this home. Children have positive relationships with one another and staff. Children told the inspector that they are happy and feel safe. Since the full inspection, one child has moved into the home. The manager matched the child’s needs appropriately and, as a result, they have settled in well.

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The care of children

The care provided by staff helps children to have improved self-esteem and confidence. One child now takes pride in their appearance. This child is now more able to articulate how they feel about living in the home. This is in stark contrast to previous inspections. They also show empathy for new children who have moved into the home.

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The care of children

There have been some improvements to the home environment. The home has undergone redecoration, with new soft furnishings. Staff display photos of children around the home, including photos of when the children were younger. This contributes to a homely atmosphere. All children have had the opportunity to personalise their bedrooms. This helps children to feel valued and enjoy a sense of belonging.

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The care of children

Staff have ensured that all children are engaging in some form of education. Two children have made positive progress in comparison to their starting points. Before living in the home, their attendance at school was poor or non-existent. However, they are now attending more regularly. They are also engaging in their learning. Staff supported another child to complete exams by attending school with them. As a result, they were able to secure a place on a college course.

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The care of children

Staff consult children about their wishes and feelings. The manager meets with children regularly and children understand the home’s complaints process. The inspector discovered that one child had recently made a complaint. The manager had failed to disclose this initially. The complaint is about a staff member who no longer works in the home. Senior managers are currently investigating this.

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The safety of children

Overall, risk assessments outline the risks pertinent to children’s needs. Staff understand the risks posed to children and how to respond to keep them safe. However, the rationale for safety measures is not always proportionate or reviewed. For example, one child has a bedroom door alarm, to alert staff if they attempted to leave the home, despite them not having done so. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 3 Staff help children to develop good self-awareness. One child’s behaviour has recently been escalating due to a bereavement. They describe their emotions as ‘dropping a peppermint into a bottle of fizzy pop’. Staff help children to recognise when they need support to manage their feelings. Staff know children well. They recognise signs in children’s behaviour which indicate they need support and help children to process their emotions.

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The safety of children

Children are developing maturity and independence. Staff have helped children to understand their needs and what they need to do to keep themselves safe. Children contribute to their own safety plans and risk assessments. One child is now able to spend time outside the home unsupervised. They formulated their own safety plan, which identified risky people and places. Staff helped them to identify measures to manage these risks. This included staff staying in the vicinity to support the child should they need to.

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The safety of children

Staff help children to complete training in relation to keeping safe online when using the internet. However, the manager and staff do not always model this in the best way, in particular when using social media. This undermines the support and education children receive about the internet.

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The safety of children

Significant safeguarding incidents remain low. There have been no incidents of children going missing, or allegations or physical restraint in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is well regarded by children and staff. Professionals commented that the changes in the staff team are positive. One professional said the manager ‘has built a very good team. The home has changed significantly and the children are so much happier.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has developed some new improved monitoring systems. They undertake regular audits of children’s case files, including risk assessments. The manager’s monitoring identifies shortfalls in staff practice. They take appropriate action to rectify the shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has good oversight of any incidents which occur in the home. Prompt action is taken to ensure that children are safe. This includes debriefs with other children living in the home. Senior managers also ensure that they review any incidents. This encourages the manager and staff to reflect on their practice to improve children’s experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All managers and staff are undertaking training in relation to the home’s model of care. This remains ongoing and the model of care is not yet fully embedded in staff practice. As a result, the effectiveness of this training is not yet known.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The quality of care report still does not fully consider consultation with children or evaluate effectively the quality of care children receive. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 4 The independent visitor still does not always consult with children, staff and professionals. This hinders the effectiveness of the external scrutiny of the home and does not help the provider to improve. Also, the regulator does not receive the required reports on time. The provider has now recruited a new independent visitor, however, their effectiveness is not yet known.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/07/2022 Full Good 20/04/2022 Full Inadequate 25/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 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 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s risk assessments are reviewed at appropriate intervals and that measures in place to ensure children are safe are proportionate. In addition, the rationale for such measures must be clearly recorded.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff educate children about online safety on a continuous basis and that this is monitored for effectiveness. In addition, that the manager and staff follow any precautions necessary to ensure they are acting as good role models for children. 27 January 2023

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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 promotes their welfare. 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 6 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

ensure 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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the manager and staff are supported to have the knowledge and skill to understand children’s experiences and the impact these may have on children and to consistently implement the home’s therapeutic model of care in their practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 7 and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the independent person’s report is shared with the regulator within the required timescales.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they gather the views, wishes and feelings of children to incorporate into their review of the quality of care children receive.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, they must ensure that the written report is evaluative and analytical and includes actions that they intend to take to promote continuous improvement.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 27 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 8

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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, West Ealing, London W13 9HE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2600978 9 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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