Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2850473 1 Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Limited

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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 operated by a private provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2025. She is dual registered with another children's home.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection one child was living at the home and spoke to the inspector.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2850473 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a well-presented home where careful consideration has been given to meeting their sensory needs using varied textures, colours and lighting. Although the child's bedroom can be untidy, staff work sensitively with them to ensure it remains hygienically clean and safe. They do this while also respecting the child's preferences and views about how they like their personal space to be.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager carefully planned the child's move here. She spent time building a rapport with the child beforehand, getting to know their character and establishing the basis for a positive relationship. The manager also ensured that staff were fully briefed on the child's needs and behaviours, and that they had the appropriate skills and experience to support them effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to maintain meaningful relationships with the people who matter most to them. Staff have placed positive emphasis on repairing and sustaining family relationships, and they maintain regular communication with family members. The child has enjoyed having relatives visit them at home, particularly for special occasions and celebrations. One family member told the inspector, 'this is the best place she has lived by far. The staff understand her, and they are brilliant'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child previously had a disrupted experience of education and was not engaging in any learning before moving here. They are now attending regular sessions with a tutor and taking part in Maths and English lessons. A notable achievement has been their growing engagement in hair and beauty, an area they enjoy and excel in. The child is beginning to talk about their ambitions for the future and has developed a new sense of self-belief. They have recently visited a local college and Army Careers to explore potential next steps.

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

The child is subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Order, which is well understood and implemented by the staff team. The manager has developed and presented a clear reduction plan that demonstrates how risks are being actively managed and how the likelihood of harm is decreasing. Since the child moved here, there have been no missing from home incidents or physical interventions. This marks significant progress, given that these behaviours previously posed some of the greatest risks.

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

The manager has a strong understanding of the child's vulnerabilities and the situations in which risks may escalate if safety plans are not consistently followed. She has appropriately challenged professional decision-making when necessary to ensure the child's welfare remains the central focus. This approach is well-balanced with enabling Inspection report children's home: 2850473 3 the child to take part in age-appropriate activities and experiences without unnecessary restriction.

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

A multi-agency safety plan has been agreed to address concerns around the child vaping in the home. The plan is realistic and reflects a thoughtful approach to reducing risk while working at a pace that is supportive for the child. However, the rationale for decisions, along with the staff team's expectations and responsibilities, is not fully captured within the child's risk assessments.

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

Staff have carried out room searches when there have been concerns about the child's safety or the risk of self-harm. Although the manager and staff demonstrated confidence in their reasoning, the associated documentation does not clearly record the decision- making process, nor does it specify whether the child was present during or informed about the room search.

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

Overall, safeguarding incidents are generally well documented, with clear chronologies and descriptions of the actions taken by staff to support the child. However, one serious incident involving the child receiving medical treatment in hospital was not notified to Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to her role and invests considerable time and effort in supporting children who have experienced significant and complex adverse childhood experiences. She takes pride in getting to know children individually and being a consistent and dependable presence in their lives. Staff speak confidently about the manager's leadership and follow her example in delivering high-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As this is a new home, team meetings have played an important role in bringing staff together, promoting reflection, and developing a shared understanding of the child's needs. The manager has secured input from a psychology service, which provides a bespoke support package for the team. This includes attendance at team meetings and one-to-one consultation sessions. This additional support has helped staff understand the child's background and the possible reasons behind her more challenging responses.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are recruited safely and complete a thorough induction programme. Before the child moved here, staff benefited from working alongside the manager in her other registered home, which allowed them to put their learning into practice and develop confidence. Since then, staff have completed further training tailored to the child's specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have not been receiving regular supervision. This is largely due to the manager working across two homes and the absence of an established or experienced senior team to assist with managerial responsibilities. Despite this, staff consistently speak positively about the support they receive from the manager. They value her advice, accessibility and the guidance she provides in both personal and professional matters. Inspection report children's home: 2850473 4

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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, The 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular this relates to the registered manager ensuring that staff receive supervision in line with the statement of purpose and this is documented. 10 March 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that bedrooms are only searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child's or another person's safety or well-being. The reasons for completing the search, and any findings should be clearly recorded, as well as ensuring children's views have been obtained. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure they notify Ofsted and any other person if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). This is not an exhaustive list and homes must assess each case individually taking into account any patterns of

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Recommendations

behaviour or unusual behaviour which may indicate an increased risk to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 63, paragraph 14.11)  The registered person should ensure children's home staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child's needs and developmental-stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action, including when a child is vaping or smoking. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 42, paragraph 9.7) Inspection report children's home: 2850473 5

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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: 2850473 6

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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: Blue Mountain Homes Limited, 21 Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8GX

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspector

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2850473 7 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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