Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 1 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

This children’s home is privately owned and provides care for one child who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is qualified and experienced.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 January 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2023 Full Outstanding 15/12/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Good 28/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 3

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outstanding

The highly dedicated staff team provides exceptional care that promotes excellent outcomes for the child. The staff use their knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the child in a nurturing manner. Staff morale is remarkably high at the home.

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outstanding

The child has secured positive relationships with staff and has benefited from a stable period in the home. A family member said, ‘They have wonderfully put him back together and given him his self-worth back.’ The child has had a high number of previous placements and this is the first time in a long time that the child has benefited from stability. Staff know the child extremely well and careful planning and proactive interventions have supported the child to make significant progress in all aspects of their life.

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outstanding

Children’s emotional health and well-being needs are exceptionally well met and understood. A therapist said about the team, ‘Their excellency is in their ability and skills to be consistent and nurturing to the child as a team. I am in admiration at the standard of care at the home.’

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outstanding

From the child’s starting point, they have made exceptional progress in all areas of their development. Behaviour management incidents have reduced dramatically. Staff speak extremely positively about the child and say how proud they are of them.

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outstanding

The child has made excellent progress in education. The child’s hours of study have gradually increased and they enjoy learning. The manager is committed to maintaining consistency in education. She has done this by being a key part of the education, health and care plan and by ensuring very regular contact with education services and other agencies in promoting the child’s education. The commitment to improving educational engagement for this child has been exceptional. Staff have gone above and beyond.

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outstanding

The child’s views are truly at the centre of practice in this home. Achievements are celebrated and the child receives positive affirmations from staff. The child has progressed to writing contributions to his own weekly meeting. This ensures that their views are listened to and responded to, as well as supporting them with educational development.

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outstanding

Staff promote the child’s understanding of their life experiences. The staff understand the importance of life-story work and are working well together to ensure that the child is supported with knowing where they have come from. Staff are proactive in recording memories and milestones in a meaningful and creative way. This is an integral part of the life-story work. Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 4

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outstanding

Staff work tirelessly to ensure that the child is safe and is kept safe. Highly effective planning of risk assessments and plans contributes to the reduction in risky behaviours. The child’s potential risks are well known. Staff share and document information and work hard to respond effectively and consistently. An overview of the progress in reducing risk-taking behaviour is well documented and is fed back to other agencies.

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outstanding

There has been a significant reduction in the use of physical interventions. Any incident of physical intervention is reviewed by an external training department. This ensures independent scrutiny and promotes good safeguarding practice. Bespoke training has been given to staff to upskill them on safely carrying out physical interventions specifically for this child. Any physical intervention is used as a last resort. The therapist said, ‘Staff are working proactively with [name of child] using the suggestions/strategies given by the therapist. As a result, the child’s ability to self-regulate improved. This has also reduced the need for physical intervention to keep him safe when dysregulated.’

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outstanding

When any potential risks are identified, staff are proactive in addressing these risks. In a key-work session, the child raised questions around vaping. Staff responded to this with direct work on the potential risks of vaping and were able to get this accredited so that the child received an official certificate. Staff are responsive in holding direct-work sessions to support the child to reduce potential risks.

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outstanding

The child is creatively helped to understand that he is making progress with behaviours. This progress is regularly reviewed and celebrated with the child. For example, travelling in a car used to be a high-risk activity. This is now low risk and the child understands that he has made progress in this area. Staff work creatively to help children to repair behaviours in a way that is beneficial and promotes positive outcomes.

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outstanding

The child is safer because of the rigorous vetting and checking of prospective new staff by the manager. The pre-employment vetting of staff is thorough and likely to deter unsuitable adults from seeking employment working with children. There has been some use of agency staff, however, this has not impacted on the consistency of care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational, confident and ambitious for the child and staff in her home. This is evident throughout all management processes and monitoring. She has ensured that she and the team have been the best advocates for the child. This has had a significant impact on the child’s stability and progress since being at this home. Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 5 The home’s development plan clearly evidences strong management monitoring and a focus on the development of key areas of the service. The manager is committed to upskilling staff and is adept at succession planning. When staff start work at this home, they are quickly supported in their professional development. This is key to the success of the home. Staff supervisions and appraisals reflect this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home operates a research-informed model of care. All staff are trained and almost half are trained to an advanced level. This training is then further embedded in team meetings, care plans and supervisions and supported by the company therapist. A staff member said this training is highly beneficial and excellent learning for practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the importance of continuity of care and stays in touch with children when they have left care. She maintains contact with all children who have lived at the home. Children are supported beyond their time living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervisions are detailed and record staff’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Staff are well supported and signposted to services of support. In addition, staff have regular sessions with the company therapist, providing an opportunity for reflective practice. Staff are well supported in their roles and with clear performance management processes. Staff say the manager is ‘fantastic’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures a positive learning culture in the team. This is embedded through training, staff supervisions and team meetings. There are creative ways to test staff’s knowledge and understanding of roles and responsibilities and the child’s individual care plan. Staff are also upskilled on any areas of learning and development relevant to their role. The ethos of the home is based on a strong nurturing approach towards both the child and staff. There are close and positive working relationships within the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All feedback from professionals and family members is very positive. They say that the child is making good progress. The child has been supported to make commendable progress in education. There is consistent feedback about the positive levels of communication with the child’s family, school and other key professionals.

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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: 1259419 6

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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: Unit 20-21, 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

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Angela Duffus-Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1259419 7 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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