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

Inspection report children's home: SC475335 1 SC475335 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

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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, four children were living in the home. Of these, one has lived in the home for more than three years.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2021 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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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: 6 September 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2023 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good 24/01/2022 Full Outstanding 18/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC475335 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living at this home receive an exceptionally good standard of care. Staff provide care that consistently exceeds expectations and creates positive memories and experiences. The manager inspires a nurturing team of staff, who keep the children at the centre of everything they do. Staff have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of children’s individual needs. Children form trusted relationships with staff and benefit from high-quality care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work in partnership with the families of children, their schools, social workers and other professionals to ensure children benefit from receiving the best all-round support. A social work manager said, ‘They are very committed to the children who I have worked with them about and maintain good relationships even when they have moved on. In fact they have gone above and beyond in lots of situations.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide excellent support to help children make progress in education. Children are encouraged to consider future aspirations and career choices. The manager and wider team are persistent in seeking the support children need. They are creative in thinking of alternative ways to engage children with education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have well planned moves into and out of the home. Support and planning by leaders is robust and led by the needs of children. Additional training is sourced for staff to enhance their knowledge and skills, considering the individual needs of children. Staff support and encourage children to share their thoughts and be involved in this planning. The manager and staff have remained in contact with children who have moved on from the home. A member of staff said, ‘We pride ourselves on our ability to create lasting relationships with all our young people. We welcome past young people back into the home on a regular basis. This is just one highlight of those positive relationships remaining in place not just for their time here but for their future.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff sensitively support children with their health and well-being. Staff seek specialist help when necessary, which includes monthly meetings with a specialist social worker. These meetings focus on the needs of children and advice and guidance provided. Children can access this support too.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the value of continued family and friend relationships. Children are well supported when spending time with their family. One parent said, ‘All of the staff members communicate with myself well and keep me updated on all aspects of my child's life and arrange regular family time for days out and welcoming me into the home.’ They added that all staff ‘go above and beyond in the outstanding care they provide.’ Inspection report children's home: SC475335 4

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

Staff understand children’s risks and how to provide the right support considering their individual needs. Staff know the children extremely well. Safety plans are detailed and provide information about children’s experiences.

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

Physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour is only used as a last resort. Incident reports are very detailed and help understand what happened for all involved. Staff help children understand their emotions and how they can be best supported. Both children and staff are supported afterwards with their emotional well-being. One member of staff said, ‘I feel proud that the children can come to us when they are feeling sad, happy, nervous and sometimes angry. The openness of emotions is probably our biggest achievement and something that I am very proud of!’

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

Staff are committed and enthusiastic about achieving the best outcomes for children. They have an excellent understanding of children’s care plans. The manager and staff work together with external professionals and family members to progress care plans for children.

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

Children rarely go missing from home. However, risk assessments consider this, which ensure that staff know what action to take if this was to occur. Children have made no complaints against staff. Children are safe and protected, and risks are minimal.

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

Safe use of the internet is a priority for children. Staff help children to develop an understanding of how to use the internet safely. On one occasion, staff used the strength of their relationship with a child to explore concerns about unsafe communications on social media. Staff liaised with other professionals and previous carers of the child. This tailored the support provided to the child by staff. The home’s preferred model of care was evident as staff used curiosity with the child. Risks for this child reduced as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager have high expectations of staff and consistently high aspirations for children. They are ambitious, enthusiastic, and experienced, and they ensure that the home is managed efficiently and effectively. They lead by example and ensure that staff have a clear sense of purpose and direction. One member of staff shared how the management support is ‘second to none.’ Another added how the home ‘has a home from home feeling and I believe that this comes from the team and the relationships built with the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive outstanding care, support, and guidance from a highly committed, competent and nurturing staff team. The stable and settled staff team promotes continuity of care and strong attachments for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the importance of having thorough quality assurance systems. These systems enable the manager to continually evaluate the care and support children Inspection report children's home: SC475335 5 receive. Additionally, staff develop and improve their skills in providing care to children because of the constant re-evaluation processes. The manager and staff speak proudly of all the children’s achievements, no matter how small. As a result, children receive care that is kind, consistent and enables them to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive ongoing support, professional supervision and constant guidance from the manager. Additionally, they receive high quality training to build their individual skills and knowledge. This includes the manager seeking bespoke training from an external provider. However, one member of staff has not yet completed the necessary qualification within the required timescales. Inspection report 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff are registered on the diploma and complete this within the set timescales. 30 August 2024

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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 children's home: SC475335 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: 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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Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC475335 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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