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 Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

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

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Good 28/02/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child spoke briefly with inspectors, offering a warm greeting and sharing their plans for the day. Although they chose not to speak alone, observations showed the child to be relaxed and confident in the home, interacting positively with staff and demonstrating secure, trusting relationships.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment provides a warm, nurturing and family ‑ orientated welcome. Living spaces are clean, well ‑ organised and personalised, with children’s photographs contributing to a sense of belonging. Children’s bedrooms reflect their individual preferences and help them to feel valued. The spacious outdoor area further promotes play and physical activity. While the manager has identified future improvements, such as converting the garage into a gym, the current environment offers children a consistently safe, comfortable and enriching place to live.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is prioritised. Staff show ambition for children’s learning and work tirelessly to promote progress. One child, previously disengaged from education, now participates confidently in a personalised learning programme. Through sustained support and sensitive encouragement, the child is preparing to transition to a mainstream high school with well ‑ planned assistance in place. Staff have acted proactively, engaging with the receiving school at an early stage to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition. This demonstrates the team’s focus on enabling children to achieve their potential.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move out this is carefully planned and child centred. Staff work closely with each child and their support network to ensure moves are positive, stable and emotionally secure. One child experienced a nurturing and sensitively paced move into foster care, with staff consistently prioritising their voice and emotional readiness. Another young person moved successfully into independence through tailored practical and emotional support that strengthened their confidence and skills. These examples illustrate commitment to promoting successful, well ‑ coordinated moves that reflect each child’s individual needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Direct work with children is a significant strength. Staff capture children’s views effectively, and there is clear evidence that these inform daily practice and planning. Direct work records are written in an accessible, child ‑ friendly way that reflects the team’s nurturing, playful and relational approach. This ensures children feel heard, understood and actively involved in their own plans.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager demonstrates exceptional advocacy. In one case, they took determined action when a young adult faced unsafe and unsuitable move ‑ on options. After initial concerns were not addressed by the placing authority, the manager escalated the matter to the Children’s Commissioner, clearly outlining the risks and challenging inappropriate expectations placed upon the young person. This led to intervention, halting the proposed move and requiring the authority to improve planning, Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 4 communication and oversight. As a direct result of the manager’s tenacity and child ‑ centred leadership, a suitable property was identified and the young person moved safely. This exemplifies the manager’s outstanding commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for children.

p.3

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

Risk assessments are consistently child ‑ centred, detailed and demonstrate an excellent understanding of each child’s needs, strengths and vulnerabilities. Personal profiles are written in warm, accessible language that prioritises children’s individuality, ensuring staff gain an immediate and accurate insight into who each child is before exploring areas of risk.

p.4

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

Historical risk information is clearly recorded and used effectively to guide practice. As a result, children experience reduced risks, including one child whose previous missing episodes and offending behaviour reduced to a single missing incident during their placement. Another child has made substantial progress, with all high risks reducing to medium and medium reducing to low. Chronologies are comprehensive, updates are clearly tracked, and staff are well informed. This high ‑ quality documentation underpins outstanding safeguarding practice and directly contributes to excellent outcomes for children.

p.4

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

There has been only one physical intervention which was carried out safely, proportionately and in line with the child’s agreed plan. Records provide clear and detailed accounts of antecedents, de ‑ escalation attempts, staff actions and the child’s views. This demonstrates effective practice and a strong commitment to ensuring physical interventions are used only when necessary and always in the child’s best interests.

p.4

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

Safeguarding incidents are rare, reflecting the strong, trusting relationships and proactive support children receive. When incidents do occur, staff respond with calm, consistent and highly child ‑ centred approaches that prioritise safety and emotional regulation. Each incident is followed by reflective discussions, with timely debrief discussions for both children and staff. This supports learning, strengthens relationships and promotes children’s ability to understand and manage their feelings.

p.4

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

There has been just one missing ‑ from ‑ care episode for a child who was previously assessed as at significant risk of this behaviour. The incident was managed effectively and in full accordance with the child’s plans and missing procedures. Staff acted swiftly and collaboratively, demonstrating strong safeguarding practice and consistent implementation of agreed strategies.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate creativity and curiosity in supporting children to stay safe, particularly online. ‘Social Networking Sunday’ is an example of this proactive work. This relaxed, informal initiative creates a safe space for children to talk about their online activity, discuss who they have been interacting with and explore how to keep themselves safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 5 This approach encourages open conversations, strengthens trust and empowers children to develop safer digital habits, while also enabling staff to remain well ‑ informed about emerging risks.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager provides exceptional leadership that brings clear direction, strong ambition and a sustained developmental focus to the workforce. Her commitment to reflective practice has significantly strengthened the team’s understanding of the therapeutic approaches they use, embedding regular workshops and thoughtful discussions that build staff skill, confidence and professional curiosity. She has notably enhanced child ‑ centred planning, ensuring children’s voices meaningfully influence care plans, risk assessments and decision ‑ making. This has resulted in clearer consultation, more creative direct work and consistently improved outcomes for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A particular strength is the manager’s ability to recognise potential resistance and turn it into meaningful growth. She has introduced structured development programmes, empowered staff to take ownership of specific practice areas and created tailored tools, including development boxes, to build competence, especially among emerging leaders. As a result of her highly effective leadership staff are confident and motivated, and children benefit from stable placements, improved educational engagement and demonstrably reduced risks.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff know the children extremely well and demonstrate a strong understanding of their individual needs. They use creative, highly personalised approaches to sustain engagement in education and promote learning. Staff describe feeling exceptionally well supported by the manager, highlighting her clear guidance, consistent oversight and child ‑ centred expectations as key factors enabling them to deliver high ‑ quality care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External professionals report that the staff team maintain excellent communication and demonstrate unwavering commitment to promoting children’s needs. They describe collaborative and coordinated working relationships, noting that staff consistently advocate for children and ensure support from partner agencies is purposeful and effective.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has established robust, well ‑ embedded systems that guide and strengthen practice. Supervision is regular, reflective and focused on professional development, while team meetings provide valuable opportunities for in ‑ depth discussion about children’s progress, needs and care plans. Staff knowledge is continually enhanced through quizzes, scenario ‑ based learning and reflective workshops, all of which support critical thinking and reinforce core safeguarding principles. This has created a culture where learning is prioritised and practice is continuously refined.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates creativity in recognising and celebrating children’s achievements, which has positively influenced the wider team. Staff have shown initiative in developing bespoke, home ‑ based education packages tailored to one child’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC436469 6 needs, resulting in significant educational progress. This reflects a staff team that is highly motivated, child ‑ centred and confident in delivering innovative and effective support.

p.5

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blue Mountain Homes Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 21 Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8GX

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pradeep Manaktala

p.7

Inspectors

Lauren Barwell, Social Care Inspector Theresa Kambani, Social Care 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8