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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 1 SC436469 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 registered to provide care for up to three children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two 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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good 26/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a warm, welcoming and well-maintained home. The home is spacious and thoughtfully furnished to a high standard. Personal touches, such as photos and artwork by the children, help to create a sense of belonging. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, ensuring they feel comfortable and valued in their living space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in key areas of their lives. One child who had previously been out of education for a significant period has successfully reintegrated into full-time education. Feedback from education professionals is highly positive, with one saying, ‘The support they give [name of child] is amazing.’ This child has also developed positive peer relationships through college, reducing their social isolation and enhancing their overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop strong, trusting relationships with staff, who know them well and provide individualised care. Interactions between children and staff are warm and nurturing, demonstrating the positive impact of a child-centred approach. For one child, the consistency and emotional support provided by staff have contributed to a significant reduction in distressed behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are actively involved in shaping their care and the day-to-day running of the home. Regular children’s meetings provide a meaningful platform for them to express their views, wishes and feelings. The manager ensures their voices are heard, by responding thoughtfully to their requests and acting when appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in supporting children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. They work in close partnership with families and professionals to ensure these connections are sustained and nurtured. Staff take a creative and flexible approach to facilitating time with family, recognising its importance in promoting children’s identity and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves from the home are well planned and highly supportive, ensuring that children leave with a sense of value and belonging. When a child recently moved back to live with their family, the home provided ongoing support for two months, helping to ensure a smooth and positive transition. Thoughtful planning and comprehensive supporting documentation enabled the child to reflect on their journey, celebrating their achievements and progress.

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

Children are kept safe from harm by staff who are proactive in identifying and reducing risks. Serious incidents in the home are rare and there have been no instances of children going missing since the last inspection. This reflects the effectiveness of staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 4 intervention and the nurturing environment that promotes children’s safety and well- being.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of children’s individual risks, which are well documented in regularly updated risk assessments. These assessments are written in a child-friendly style; however, opportunities to involve children in reviewing and understanding their own safety plans could be strengthened. Increasing children’s participation in this process would further enhance their awareness and engagement in their own risk management.

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

The use of physical intervention is minimal and only occurs when necessary to keep children or others safe. There has been only one recorded incident since the last inspection, which was well documented. Records show that appropriate de-escalation techniques were used before the intervention, and a detailed debrief discussion was conducted with the child afterwards. Staff promote positive behaviour consistently, ensuring that any restrictive practice is a last resort.

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

When incidents do occur, they are managed effectively. There is clear management oversight, ensuring that incidents are evaluated and any lessons to be learned are identified. Staff demonstrate appropriate levels of professional curiosity and provide children with the support they need during and after incidents. All relevant professionals are informed in a timely manner, ensuring a coordinated approach to safeguarding.

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

Children’s safety is further promoted through robust safer recruitment practices. All necessary background checks are completed before staff begin working with children. This ensures that only suitable individuals are employed to provide care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for children. Since joining the home, they have begun to implement positive changes while being mindful of the impact on the staff team. The manager has a clear understanding of the team’s strengths and areas for development and has established plans to support staff development and upskilling.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive and feel valued in their roles. They demonstrate a strong understanding of children’s individual needs and associated risks. Staff interactions with children are nurturing and child focused, reflecting their commitment to providing high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals provide positive feedback about the home, particularly regarding communication and the quality of care provided. One social worker commented, ‘[Name of child] has made significant progress during their time at the home. They have built strong relationships with key staff and really enjoy living there.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 5 Families also value the support they receive. One parent said, ‘I can’t speak highly enough of the home. They gave me so much advice and support. Anything I needed, I only had to ask. We really felt ready for [name of child] to come home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and attend team meetings that provide both support and challenge. This helps to create a culture where good practice can develop and thrive. However, supervision sessions are not always reflective, which limits opportunities for staff to explore their practice in greater depth. Strengthening this aspect of supervision would further enhance staff learning and professional growth. Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as living documents, supporting them to view and contribute to the record on a regular basis in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC436469 7

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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: 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: SC436469 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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