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 Ltd

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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

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

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Information about this children's home

There is no registered manager. An acting manager has been in post since July 2024 and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident had occurred at the setting since the last inspection. This is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Information about this children's home

This inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns or allegations received by Ofsted.

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Information about this children's home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children's home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 2

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors 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 3

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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. However, shortfalls remain and managers have an action plan to address these.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are developing positive relationships with children. Staff support children to express their wishes and feelings in a variety of ways. When children make a complaint or allegation, managers respond promptly and set out what action they have taken as a result. Communication through letter writing between one child with the manager has worked well. The child’s views are taken into consideration and responded to. However, there is no record of whether children are satisfied with the response.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy access to a variety of activities within and outside of the home. One child has been supported by staff to develop a new skill in hand knitting. The child has shared they find this therapeutic. Staff provide children with structure to the day.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to engage with education and listen to their experiences and what help they need. One child who has had minimal education is now attending more frequently.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers do not always make child-centred decisions about children coming to live at the home. One child moved into the home in an emergency. There has been an impact on children already living in the home with an increase in incidents. Managers had highlighted awareness of areas for development in the team, however this was not considered at the point of the child moving in.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual risk assessments are not sufficiently detailed or up to date. Staff fail to demonstrate the skills to support children effectively. Staff do not consistently use playfulness, curiosity, or empathy with children when they are struggling with their emotions. This leaves children at an increased risk of not receiving the support they need at times of crisis.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has oversight of the care provided to children. However, this oversight lacks critical reflection. There are missed opportunities to learn from practice and improve the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager and senior leaders are committed to providing good care to children. Staff comment that there have been positive changes in the home since the acting manager has been in post. Leaders are aware of areas for development in the team and have plans to progress these, although they are not yet embedded. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 4 Areas for improvement remain. Only one requirement set at the last inspection has been met. The remaining requirements will be restated and reviewed at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/07/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 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, 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 (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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; and

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that risk assessments are updated regularly and thoroughly. They must also ensure that staff follow risk assessments consistently. 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 6 This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated.

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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

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; and

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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)(b)(c)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff are supported to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills to provide good and consistent care to children. The registered person must also ensure robust manager oversight of incidents to ensure continuous improvements in the quality of care provided to children. 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 7 This requirement was set at the last full inspection and is restated.

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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

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 staff are supported to develop more positive relationships with children and ensure that children feel listened to. The registered person must also ensure children already living in the home are consulted about other children moving in.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last full inspection and is restated. 13 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 8 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 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. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff consider how the child’s experiences may have impacted them and make use of the skills and knowledge of the wider staff team.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last full inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study; 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 9 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure staff support children to attend and participate in education. It also refers to the registered person ensuring staff are creative and persistent in encouraging children to engage with education.

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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

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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”). 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 10 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a review of quality of care is completed in line with regulation.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last full inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

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))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that records are kept up to date, are informative and are completed in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last full inspection and is restated. 13 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. 13 December 2024 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 11 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that when children move into the home, clear and detailed information is sought about their medical needs.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was set at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 12

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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, England DE24 8GX

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspectors

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464759 13 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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