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

Inspection report children’s home: SC474894 1 SC474894 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection on 4 July 2017, one young person has moved out of the home following a serious incident. The registered manager carried out an internal investigation and a comprehensive action plan was implemented. The young person was supported to move on positively to another provision within the organisation to enable a period of assessment to take place and a subsequent decision was made to end the placement. The young people who have moved into this home have settled quickly, due to a thorough assessment of risk and careful matching considerations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people have benefited from a period of stability following an incident that necessitated improvements in the security of the building. The staff and management team work tirelessly to ensure that all young people are safe while living at this home. Engagement with wider services such as the police and other professionals is very good. The staff are skilled in building relationships with young people and ensure that their individual plans are tailored to meeting their needs. Risk assessments are comprehensive and crisis/behaviour management plans are ‘live’ documents that are routinely updated to reflect current patterns of behaviour. Records are maintained and kept up to date; benefiting from a good-quality system of review and monitoring. The staff team is supported through positive, reflective supervision and inclusive team meetings. The young people are discussed and practices reviewed routinely to ensure positive

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

outcomes. The young people progress in all areas of their development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Learning and development are an integral part of this service and events that occur are extensively investigated and reviewed, involving staff and management inclusively. Internal and external relationships ensure that strengths and areas for development are identified and plans, thus, implemented. The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection were addressed immediately. The external visitor reports ensure that any areas for improvement are detailed to support the management in the analysis of the service they provide to young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of missing from care and physical intervention are rare as a result of strong relationships and trust between young people and their caregivers. Incidents that do occur are notified in line with regulations. The young people are supported in their contact with family and siblings. Contact with families is managed through close supervision and paced to enable young people and their families to repair their relationships. The young people are supported to develop confidence and maturity in their decision-making; for instance, through safely navigating independent travel arrangements and time within their family home. Management and staff work closely and effectively with the wider care team to maintain young people in education. The young people develop confidence and positive friendships as a result of spending time with their peers at school and, where possible, sleepovers with friends. This provides a

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

sense of normality and positive activities that enhance young people’s feelings of well- being.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2017 Full Good 31/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. In particular, incidents that occur that involve the safe care of all within the home occur and have a direct impact on them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Manor House, Brisco, Carlisle CA4 0QS

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Inspector:

Michael Dack, social care inspector 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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

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