Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 1 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 registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a suitably qualified manager who has been registered with Ofsted since January 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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: 22 November 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: 2588370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2023 Full Outstanding 13/12/2022 Full Good 12/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 3

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outstanding

Children thrive in a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment that mirrors a family home. The atmosphere is relaxed and child focused, with staff and the manager actively engaging with children. The home is filled with personal touches, including photos of the children and staff, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging and community.

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in all areas of their development. They are engaged in education that meets their individual needs, with outstanding outcomes. For example, one child has successfully completed their national exams, transitioned to high school with excellent attendance and is excelling in their learning. Another child is progressing towards independence, securing part-time employment, taking driving lessons and preparing to transition from the home with confidence and ambition.

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outstanding

Building and sustaining meaningful relationships is a key strength of this home. Staff invest time in truly understanding each child, developing strong, trusting bonds that provide emotional security. The well-being of every child is at the heart of the home’s practice, ensuring that they feel valued, listened to and cared for.

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outstanding

A culture of joy, laughter and playfulness permeates the home. The positive and nurturing relationships between staff and children foster a deep sense of safety and emotional resilience. One child affectionately described the staff as ‘family’ and the other children in the home as ‘siblings’, demonstrating the strength of the home’s nurturing approach.

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outstanding

Children have a strong voice in shaping their care and daily experiences. Regular children’s meetings are well attended and provide meaningful opportunities for children to express their views. Their contributions are taken seriously, with the manager providing clear feedback, which is documented and accessible. This inclusive approach empowers children and reinforces their sense of ownership over their home and future.

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outstanding

This is a home where children receive exceptional care, make outstanding progress and feel a deep sense of stability, belonging and emotional security.

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outstanding

The home demonstrates exceptional practice in safeguarding children, creating an environment where they feel safe, secure and valued. Staff implement highly effective strategies that significantly reduce children’s vulnerabilities and associated Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 4 risks. As a result, there have been no missing-from-home episodes, reflecting the home’s proactive approach to safeguarding. Children consistently express that they feel safe and well cared for.

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outstanding

Risk management is meticulous and dynamic. Staff have an in-depth understanding of each child’s individual risks, and the manager ensures that safety and support plans are continuously reviewed and updated. These plans are comprehensive, detailing historic behaviours to provide crucial context and guide staff in delivering tailored, responsive care. Children are actively involved in shaping their safety plans, ensuring that their voices are heard and their perspectives are valued.

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outstanding

Serious incidents are rare due to the home’s proactive and child-centred approach. When challenges do arise, they are managed with skill and sensitivity, minimising disruption and distress. There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection, demonstrating the home’s outstanding ability to de-escalate situations and support children in regulating their emotions safely.

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outstanding

A culture of learning and reflection is embedded in practice. Every incident is subject to rigorous management oversight, with clear evaluations and feedback informing continuous development. Lessons learned are shared across the team, reinforcing a culture of accountability and professional curiosity. Communication with external professionals is timely and effective, ensuring a coordinated and well-informed safeguarding response.

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outstanding

The home’s commitment to safeguarding extends to its robust recruitment processes. Stringent safer recruitment procedures ensure that all necessary checks are completed before staff begin working with children, maintaining the highest standards of safety and protection.

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outstanding

This is a home where children’s safety is paramount and where exceptional care and vigilance enable them to flourish with confidence and security.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership within the home is inspirational and highly effective. The manager demonstrates an exceptional understanding of each child’s individual needs, experiences and aspirations. His unwavering commitment to improving outcomes is evident in all aspects of the home’s operation. He leads with passion and dedication, fostering a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment where children flourish. This commitment extends beyond the children to the staff team, who feel valued, empowered and well supported under his leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feedback is overwhelmingly positive. They are highly knowledgeable about the children’s care, educational progress and risk management. The sense of belonging within the team is profound, with staff describing the home as a ‘family’. One staff member said, ‘I come to work and don’t feel like I am at a job. I love coming here; it feels like a home from home.’ This culture of care and mutual respect is reflected in a Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 5 stable staff team, with minimal turnover since the last inspection, ensuring consistency and security for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External professionals also praise the home’s leadership and staff. A social worker stated, ‘They are a lovely team. [Name of child] has strong relationships with staff members; they know her really well.’ This reflects the home’s exceptional ability to build trusting relationships that foster emotional security and positive attachments for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides strong oversight, ensuring that staff receive the right balance of support and challenge to drive continuous improvement. Regular supervision, reflective team meetings and access to high-quality, child-specific training equip staff with the skills and confidence to provide outstanding care. A culture of professional curiosity and learning is embedded, ensuring that the highest standards of practice are consistently maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s voices are at the heart of decision-making. Their views are actively sought and meaningfully influence the running of the home, demonstrating a strong commitment to inclusive and child-led practice. Staff go above and beyond to ensure that each child’s individual needs are met, further reinforcing the home’s reputation for excellence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

This is an exceptionally well-led home where strong, ambitious and child-focused leadership creates an environment in which both children and staff thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been made following this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 6

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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: 2588370 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

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2588370 8 and inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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