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 Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Of these, two have lived in the home for more than two years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: 24 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good 24/01/2022 Full Outstanding 18/12/2019 Full Good 19/09/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build excellent relationships with children. Staff and managers use positive language which promotes a nurturing, homely environment. One child said, ‘I love it here.’ External agencies speak about the high quality of relationships staff have with children. Children who have left and are still supported by staff are similarly positive. This helps children to feel valued through lasting relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use creative means to encourage learning for children who have been out of education for some time. For one child, the manager has ensured that alternative provision is in place in a timely way on their arrival to the home. The manager appropriately challenges other professionals to progress education plans. As a result, children’s learning and development are promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to be healthy. One child is supported with gym membership and healthy eating as part of their alternative education. The manager listens to children about their health and advocates for them with other professionals. Staff are attentive to children’s emotional well-being. They encourage a child to use a discrete symbol to share how they are feeling, to alert staff to thoughts of self-harm. The child has a way of showing staff they need support if they find it difficult to say.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are sought and valued. The children’s guide is detailed and without jargon. A version has been adapted for one child’s individual learning needs. Children know how to make a complaint. The manager raised a complaint on behalf of a child about other children’s behaviour towards them. This shows understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and commitment to make sure that their voice is heard. Children are helped to have confidence that staff advocate for their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children are helped to prepare for adulthood, and they are supported in preparing to move to their new home in a way that meets their individual needs. The needs and feelings of children living in the home are considered when preparing for a child to move into the home. However, direct work with children already living in the home is not always evident.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The cleanliness of the home is not consistently kept to an acceptable standard. This does not promote children’s well-being and sense of self-worth. Repairs and improvements to the home are not addressed in a timely manner. One child’s bedroom windows have missing handles and some cannot be opened. The exterior of the home looks tired. Children’s bedrooms are not personalised to reflect their individual tastes. The manager has formulated an action plan to rectify these issues. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 4

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

Staff understand children’s needs and risks. Safety and support plans give a detailed overview of children’s previous experiences and areas of support with presenting risks and vulnerabilities. Plans are reviewed by staff and timely action is taken without delay when risks escalate.

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

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing or are absent without authorisation. Staff follow up with timely, empathic and supportive responses to children. Relevant professionals are appropriately consulted. Children are helped to keep safe.

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

Physical intervention is used only when necessary and is proportionate. Records are detailed and help staff to understand what happened. Overall, the staff carry out meaningful direct work with children to help them to understand their feelings and behaviour. This helps children to use healthier ways to manage their emotions.

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

Leaders and managers know their safeguarding responsibilities well. Allegations are acted on in a timely way and in consultation with relevant agencies. Therefore, children and staff are safeguarded. All staff have completed safeguarding training. However, one member of staff was not familiar with the organisation’s whistle- blowing procedure. Some staff have not completed essential training in topics such as how to manage allegations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides strong leadership and a supportive team culture. Staff say the manager has a focus on ensuring that the team offers a consistent approach for children. Staff hold the manager in high regard. One staff member said about the manager and deputy manager, ‘They have made my career. [Name of manager] would never ask you to do something that she wouldn’t do herself. She’s walked everyone’s footsteps.’ They added, ‘If there is criticism, it comes from a good place.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive personal supervision with an agenda that supports discussion of children as well as their own support needs. Team meetings are well structured and attended. Staff receive regular support from an external professional relating to the home’s preferred model of care. This helps staff to develop a greater understanding about how to support children who have experienced trauma. Staff respond to children in a sensitive manner, which is also reflected in their record-keeping.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Multi-agency working is effective. An external professional said, ‘[Name of manager] has worked alongside the authority to get the best outcomes for children. She communicates well with social care and has good relationships with social workers, making it easy to react quickly if an intervention is needed.’ The manager is confident to challenge partners when it is in children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of the care provided to children. However, this oversight lacks critical reflection and does not always identify actions that have been missed, Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 5 including debrief sessions for children and staff after an incident. This results in missed opportunities to learn from practice and improve the care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(vii)(viii)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the conditions of the home, inside and outside, are maintained to a good standard. This includes children being able to open their bedroom windows and having bedrooms that reflect their interests and personal choices. 2 November 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 7 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

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

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place and recorded to improve the care provided to children. This includes critically reflective practice. It also relates to staff having up-to-date training and therefore improved skills. 2 November 2023

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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 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Units 20 and 21, Pullman Business Court, Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8GX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspectors

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Helen Gronhaug, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC475335 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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