Children's home run by Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

Inspection report 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 owned by a private provider and cares for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. The inspectors met and spoke with all three children.

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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: 11 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2588370 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2025 Full Outstanding 22/11/2023 Full Outstanding 13/12/2022 Full Good 12/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2588370 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a warm, welcoming and nurturing home environment where there is a strong family ethos. This positive culture is reflected in the caring and respectful interactions between adults and children. As a result, children are relaxed, comfortable, and develop trusting relationships with staff who know them extremely well and show genuine interest in their wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is consistently prioritised. Children attend their educational provisions regularly and speak positively about their learning. When children are at home on school days, staff ensure that routines continue to support educational engagement. This approach has contributed to all children making good progress. Notably, one child who had experienced a prolonged period of school refusal has been successfully supported to return to mainstream education, where they are now thriving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is an effective advocate for children. Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of each child’s individual needs and the support required to meet them. Referrals to external services are followed up promptly, to ensure children access specialist help without unnecessary delay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and broaden their experiences. For example, a child with a passion for K ‑ pop was supported to travel to see their favourite band, a memorable experience the child spoke about with enthusiasm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child moving into the home within the last year has had a noticeable impact on the dynamics. The pre ‑ admission risk assessment did not fully explore how the new child’s behaviours might affect those already living in the home. One child reported that this change has influenced their happiness negatively and that they sometimes feel they receive less attention than before.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite this, staff have worked proactively to help all the children build positive relationships. They have been creative, reflective, and persistent in helping the new child settle and integrate. Staff ensure the child is fully involved in their plans, and this has supported their developing sense of safety and belonging.

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

Staff respond to significant incidents, including those involving physical intervention or self ‑ harm, with care, professionalism and a clear focus on keeping children safe. Immediate actions prioritise children’s welfare, and this is followed by thoughtful reflection and key ‑ work sessions that support children to understand their experiences. Children are encouraged to share their views about what happened, why it may have happened and what could help them in the future. Staff demonstrate a commitment to Inspection report children's home: 2588370 4 safeguarding, often going above and beyond to ensure children receive consistent support at times of heightened need.

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

Risk assessments identify key risks and, in many cases, provide clear and individualised guidance to staff. Where these are detailed, they enable staff to respond confidently and consistently. However, some assessments lack clarity, contain subjective language or do not fully explain the strategies expected of staff. Therapeutic approaches, such as PACE, are referenced, but not always described, which may lead to variations in practice.

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

Children do not go missing from home. This is a positive reflection of the trusting relationships they have with staff and their sense of safety. Children report that they feel safe, and they appear settled and secure in the home environment.

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

Staff provide sensitive, age ‑ appropriate guidance to children about keeping themselves safe in the community and in their personal relationships. For example, one child has benefited from open and honest conversations about sexual health. Staff’s relatable and non ‑ judgemental approach has helped the child reflect on advice and make safer, more informed decisions about their wellbeing.

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

The approach to investigating safeguarding concerns is not robust. Although investigations have led to clear outcomes, including staff being removed from duty and disciplinary action where appropriate, there are important gaps in the quality of recording, the depth of enquiries and the triangulation of children’s views. Investigations are not completed by the registered manager, limiting their oversight and reducing opportunities to identify and address practice concerns with staff. This reduces assurance that safeguarding matters are consistently explored in full and that learning is used to strengthen practice.

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

These weaknesses have a direct impact on children. Incomplete investigations limit professional curiosity, and insufficient engagement with children means their lived experiences are not fully understood or used to inform safeguarding decisions. Missed opportunities to question staff conduct thoroughly, combined with occasions where concerns were not reported through the correct channels, create a risk that unsafe or inappropriate behaviour might not be identified or challenged promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager provides effective leadership and maintains clear oversight. They have a detailed understanding of each child’s needs and daily lived experiences, and this informs decision ‑ making and practice. Staff skills, training and professional development are monitored well, contributing to a stable, confident team and a consistent, child ‑ centred environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professional supervision is regular, purposeful and child ‑ focused. Records demonstrate in ‑ depth discussions about children’s progress and needs, and there is evidence of reflective practice, particularly where children’s behaviours present challenges. These conversations support staff to review their responses and adapt strategies to better meet Inspection report children's home: 2588370 5 children’s needs. No performance or conduct concerns have been identified through supervision, and staff report feeling well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the required training and are encouraged to pursue relevant qualifications. Leaders prioritise professional development, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals speak positively about the workforce. They report excellent communication, timely updates and good multi ‑ agency working. Professionals are confident that staff understand children well and provide good ‑ quality, nurturing care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and provide helpful opportunities to share updates and consider children’s plans. However, the handwritten minutes do not always capture the depth of discussion or the actions and assurance arising from those conversations. For example, a brief reference to whistleblowing procedures lacked context or follow ‑ up, which is particularly relevant given recent concerns identified in investigations into staff conduct.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective oversight of most areas of practice; however, oversight of safeguarding investigations is not yet sufficiently robust. Some investigations have been completed by individuals other than the registered manager, limiting their ability to fully scrutinise the quality of enquiries, triangulate children’s views and ensure learning is captured and embedded. This shortfall links to weaknesses identified in safeguarding responses. The registered manager recognises this is an area that requires strengthening.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While most stakeholder feedback is positive, one parent expressed concern that their child appears unhappy and that their emotional wellbeing is not fully supported. Leaders acknowledge this and are taking steps to explore the concerns further, strengthen engagement with the parent and ensure the child’s experience and views are fully considered. Inspection report children's home: 2588370 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, 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 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

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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff understand how to report concerns they may have about other staff members in the home and that these concerns are reported in a timely manner. These concerns must then be fully investigated and reviewed by the registered person and any learning from the investigation be embedded to improve practice. 26 April 2026 Inspection report children's home: 2588370 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2588370 8

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

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

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Inspectors

Lauren Barwell, social care inspector Patrick Rowell, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2588370 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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