Children's Home run by A Wilderness Way Limited in Northumberland

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . At the last inspection of the home in August 2016, six requirements and one recommendation were made. All of the requirements and the recommendation have been addressed. The acting manager and her team have shown a proactive approach to improving young people’s outcomes. This demonstrates very good leadership and management in partnership with a committed staff team. The management team has implemented monthly auditing of files, creating a proactive response in maintaining placement plans and other associated documentation. Actions are clearly identified and completed in a timely fashion. Tasks are specific and directed to individual staff members. Key-worker sessions are focused, reflective and detailed, ensuring that the young people are provided with opportunities to reflect on decision-making and life events. This level of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

participation, built on the strength of relationships and trust, enables the young people to develop resilience and to improve their self-esteem. The young people’s education and health are well promoted by the staff, ensuring that they are provided with positive messages to promote good outcomes. Healthy eating and physical activities are not exclusive to the young people, as the management and staff team is also engaged in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The young people recognise this and are motivated by this shared experience. They are also provided with their own gym membership and are appropriately encouraged to engage in a healthy lifestyle. Positive praise and targets are provided. The young people benefit from this shared ethos of the home. The young people are more likely to have a positive feeling of well-being and to grow in confidence from this level of unity. Relationships within the home are strong, and young people and staff engage with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

one another positively, with respect and understanding. One young person said: ‘I like it here, as you are not surrounded by loads of people. It is just nice! Nice area, nice house. Calm.’ The young people are provided with appropriate supervision at all times, without such oversight being oppressive. Risks, identified prior to placement, are well managed. Another young person said: ‘Staff are available when you are upset, and when you just want to be on your own, you can be provided with space.’ This supportive, nurturing environment enables young people to feel safe and secure and to develop trust in adults. The level of contact with the young people and their families has improved and increased since their arrival. Communication with professionals and parents is positive. One parent, when referring to the staff, said: ‘They are just brilliant. I am not worried at all. Communication is good and I am happy with all the staff there.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The premises, although well-resourced and in a pleasant environment, do require general maintenance work, in particular, decoration. This provides young people with the sense that they are valued and encourages them to have respect for their living space. Risk assessments are robust, in general. However, it is recognised that these are ‘live’ documents and, as such, should be updated in a timely manner. This would enable responses and processes to be followed according to the level of risk that is current. Visitors to the home are not always provided with clear guidance in relation to fire procedures. This omission could impact on the welfare of all parties in the case of an emergency.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to ensuring that general maintenance of the home is carried out, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. 28/02/2017

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other, and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Whenever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service 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’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, work-- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . 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,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

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

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