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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 1 SC464759

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Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection date: 1 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 1 November 2023

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: SC464759 2

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Outcome from the inspection

We identified the following serious and widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection:

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Outcome from the inspection

 Leaders and managers do not provide effective oversight and monitoring of the home. There is a lack of critical scrutiny of incidents, and lessons learned to improve staff practice are not identified.  Staff have not consistently followed the safety and support plans for children, resulting in children being placed at increased risk.  Allegations made by children are not responded to effectively, leaving children and staff increasingly vulnerable.  Leaders and managers have failed to inform Ofsted of serious incidents.  Staff are not provided with regular and effective professional supervision.  Not all staff have attended or been provided with the required training and there is evidence that staff are not always putting into practice what they have learned.  One child’s bedroom is in a very poor condition. Attempts made by staff to support the child are limited. There is a lack of creative thinking by staff to

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Outcome from the inspection

support the child and improve the situation.

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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was brought forward due to an increasing level of concerns reflected in the monthly reports completed by the independent visitor. Safeguarding incidents relating to children have also increased.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do not feel that staff listen to them or provide them with the right level of support. One child said, ‘There are staff that don’t know what they’re doing. Staff aren’t experienced and I do not like it when people don’t work with me.’

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Findings from the inspection

Staff’s support for children leaving the home is inconsistent. A child recorded in their feedback that some staff did not help them when they moved. One child was moved to a new home by staff unfamiliar to them. This does not help the child to make such an important move.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers lack professional curiosity when incidents with children take place. On one occasion, staff failed to monitor a child’s tablet computer use in accordance with their plans. During an incident at the side of a busy road, staff failed to use necessary safety intervention techniques. This increases the risk of potential harm to children. Leaders and managers do not challenge staff who fail to follow agreed strategies as recorded in children’s risk assessments and safety plans to improve staff practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 3 Leaders and managers have not provided consistent oversight of incidents that children have been involved in. At times, the evaluation of incidents is weak and lacks critical scrutiny over the care and support children receive. Reflective debriefs with staff do not always take place. Lessons to be learned to improve staff practice

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders’ and managers’ compliance with child protection procedures is weak. Following an incident in the home, an allegation of assault made by one child against a member of staff was not reported to the local authority designated officer or Ofsted for several weeks. A timely assessment of a child’s injuries did not take place. As a result, investigation by the responsible local safeguarding agencies was delayed. Poor information-sharing and safeguarding practice places children at increased risk of harm.

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Findings from the inspection

The failure of leaders and managers to inform Ofsted of allegations made against staff, in a timely way, limits Ofsted in assessing the delivery of safe care and protection of children in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers fail to provide staff with adequate support and guidance. Staff do not receive regular reflective supervision. At the last full inspection, a requirement was made to improve staff’s training and skills. Not all staff receive training to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to meet children’s specific care needs. This is a continued failing.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do not live in an environment that promotes their safety and well-being. Staff fail to identify and remove hazards and risks. One child’s bedroom is in a poor state. The direct work with the child to improve this has been ineffective. Leaders and managers have failed to progress this work and ensure that the bedroom is in an acceptable state. They do not seek the advice of a counsellor working in the organisation or consider the impact of children’s earlier experiences on their self- esteem and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers do not monitor and oversee the day-to-day running of the home effectively. They do not take action to improve and develop the service, as they fail to use quality assurance systems effectively. There are multiple shortfalls that can compromise children’s safety and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

The shortfalls highlighted show poor leadership and management. Ofsted is concerned that leaders’ and managers’ evaluation and oversight of the care provided to children at the home are not to an acceptable level.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements made at the last inspection have not been met and are restated. Compliance notices are also issued in relation to leadership and management. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/07/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance 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, The 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 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

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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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

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to 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

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; 17 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 6 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)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement a system to ensure effective monitoring and oversight of the home. In particular, ensure that improvements are made to the training and supervision of staff, evaluation of incidents and management of allegations.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that they inform the local authority designated officer and Ofsted without delay when there is an allegation of abuse against a person working in the home.

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Requirement Due date

This also relates to the registered person ensuring that children live in an environment that promotes their well- being and does not expose them to unnecessary hazards and risks that may cause physical harm.

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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

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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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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. 17 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 7 (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff understand individual safety and support plans for children and act in a timely manner where worries are raised about the safety of children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the previous inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that careful and considered decisions are made when admitting children into the home and that children have a positive experience of moving into and out of the home.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated. 17 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

engage with them; and 17 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 8 take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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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

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child;

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Requirement Due date

is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when children have made an allegation, appropriate actions are taken and children are helped to understand any decisions made. This further relates to the registered person supporting staff to develop more positive relationships with children and ensuring that children feel listened to.

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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 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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; 17 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 9 ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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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 personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that improvements required in one child’s bedroom are addressed without delay. It also relates to ensuring that staff consider how the child’s experiences may have impacted on them and utilise skills and knowledge of the wider staff team.

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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

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 feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it;

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality-of-care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (2)(b)(c) (3))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 17 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 10 The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 17 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)) 17 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 11

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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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Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC464759 12 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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