Children's home run by A Wilderness Way Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 1 SC441978 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way 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

The children’s home is run by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people become increasingly safe and make significant progress at this home. They receive a high level of support and guidance to help them Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 2 understand their vulnerabilities and address concerns surrounding their risk- taking behaviours, such as gang-related crimes and substance misuse. Consequently, these behaviours dramatically decline following placement. Placement planning is thorough and detailed. It positively addresses young people’s specific vulnerabilities and individual needs. Young people are central to this process and clearly understand what to expect from the placement and what is expected from them.  Young people take part in a wide range of adventurous activities that require them to work with staff and trust their judgement to keep them safe. Activities are not only enjoyable but focus on raising young people’s self-esteem, confidence and resilience.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are extremely well supported to engage in formal education and alternative learning opportunities. Despite having little or no engagement with education prior to their placement, young people consistently achieve a high number of recognised awards and qualifications. Young people share excellent relationships with staff. They enjoy spending time with staff and say that they are caring and very supportive. They say that staff listen to their views and wishes, making them feel respected and valued. Staff promote young people’s positive behaviour with frequent praise and encouragement. This helps young people focus on what they need to achieve and successfully helps build their self-confidence and self-esteem. High staffing ratios ensure that young people are well supervised and supported. Consequently, there is a low incidence of young people going missing from this home. There have been no occasions when young people

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Key findings from this inspection

have been missing since the home’s registration conditions were varied. Staff are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with challenging behaviour and only ever use disciplinary measures when it is absolutely necessary. Consequently, the use of both sanctions and physical intervention is rare. Staff feel extremely well supported in their role. They highlight numerous training opportunities and the personal support and guidance of their registered manager as being invaluable in promoting their personal development. Consequently, they are able to provide a high standard of care. Parents and professionals speak highly of the service, specifically young people’s progress and the high quality of care and protection they receive. Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/11/2016 Full Good 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/01/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection of this home on 6 March 2017, the home’s conditions of registration have been varied to meet with a change in Ofsted policy. This home now has the ability to offer longer periods of care, support and accommodation as well as the time-limited outreach placements previously offered. The home acts as the hub to another property which is within close proximity to this home. This supports the home’s ability to be flexible in the placements they can offer, providing the option of two single- occupancy placements to meet the specific needs of young people placed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive a high standard of care and support. Staff work in close partnership with social workers and other professionals to ensure that young people’s needs are well understood prior to their placement. Staff are trained and experienced in securing young people’s engagement. They are skilful in developing a positive rapport with them at an early stage. The communication and support techniques used by staff are informed by research and identified as being successful in gaining young people’s trust and helping them to feel accepted. Consequently, young people make remarkable progress in this home and enjoy warm and friendly relationships with staff. A social worker commented, ‘It is brilliant to see the improvement in him so quickly and see him so settled in placement.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s views and wishes are central to the placement planning process. Plans are highly personalised and focus on the individual young person’s needs and vulnerabilities. Young people greatly appreciate that they have a shared responsibility with staff to shape their support and unique activity programme. Consequently, they feel well motivated and encouraged that their views are valued and respected. An independent reviewing officer commented, ‘They offer the highest level of care and clear coordination of that care. The home is outstanding; [name] is so safe here. The change in her since our last meeting has been remarkable.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people greatly benefit from the wide range of highly stimulating and adventurous activities and opportunities offered at this home. These include activities such as climbing, paddle boarding, ghyll scrambling, bushcraft and camping. Staff leading these activities are suitably accredited as instructors and are highly experienced in their field. A parent commented, ‘He’s been climbing and loves this. He’s boxing at the moment, paddle boarding and camping. He is very energetic and is now doing things he wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s involvement in these activities helps them learn about the activity and gain new skills. This also successfully introduces them to alternative ways to have fun without compromising their safety. All adventurous activities are regulated and inspected by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) to make sure that the home is following good safety management practices to promote young people’s safety and well- being. Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 5 In the course of their involvement in these activities, young people are increasingly successful in achieving a considerable number of recognised awards and vocational qualifications. As part of their programme, young people are also expected to engage in some formal learning. This is coordinated and led by qualified teachers employed by the organisation. This has proved to be highly successful, especially as many young people

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

have been disengaged from education for some considerable period of time. Staff and teachers work successfully together, stimulating young people’s interests in learning. Attendance at the organisation’s education facility is consistently high and young people show a renewed enthusiasm for learning. For one young person, his education plan includes entering him to complete some GCSEs later this year. His parent commented, ‘He has asked to do his GCSEs. I cried; he has never been interested in education before.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s health significantly benefits from the support they receive at this home. They have good access to routine and specialist healthcare services. Staff show diligence in making sure that they keep routine appointments and follow up any concerns or healthcare issues without delay. Young people receive excellent guidance from staff about good nutrition and the avoidance of those activities that are likely to seriously compromise their long-term good health. One parent commented, ‘He is a different boy. I can see the joy in his face. I can see a huge difference, he has put weight on and is now a healthy weight.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people living in this home invariably have been purposely placed some considerable distance from their home authorities for their own safety. Often clear risks exist that prevent young people returning immediately to their home authority to visit their families. However, appreciating the importance for young people to maintain positive contact with their parents and other family members, the registered manager and his staff team have facilitated visits by family members, organising accommodation for them in the local area. For the young people currently placed, this meant that their families were able to enjoy the festive period with them and staff teams at the home and its outreach property. One parent said, ‘It was the best Christmas ever since having my boys. We stayed in the house, I made dinner and it was fantastic; we played games together.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents and professionals speak highly of the home in relation to the quality of care provided and the positive experiences and opportunities that young people receive. A parent commented, ‘They are absolutely brilliant. This placement has been the only one that worked. Staff are brilliant and they understand him totally. They have a way of explaining things to him that calms him down.’ Another said, ‘The care [name] is getting is excellent they have been so caring and she is doing so well. I can’t thank them enough.’

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

The safety and protection of young people living at this home is of paramount importance to staff. Young people have been moved considerable distances from their home authorities to this home due to significant concerns that exist for their safety and Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 6 well-being. Consequently, their vulnerability to concerns such as child sexual exploitation, gang-associated activities and substance misuse significantly declines. Young people say that they feel safe and well cared for at this home. A parent commented, ‘He has made considerable progress and engaged well with staff. He said he feels safe. This is amazing, he has never said that before. He is very vulnerable.’

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

Staff work in close partnership with the police and other professionals to plan and maintain young people’s safety. Their individual vulnerabilities and risks are accurately assessed with partner agencies as part of the placement planning process. Young people’s individual plans provide staff with a full account of the level of support required and specific strategies to be used to reduce risks to maintain their safety.

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

Staff receive regular and extensive training to make sure that they are kept up to date and familiar with current safeguarding issues and best practice. With this knowledge, staff are well equipped to explore often very difficult and sensitive issues with young people. This helps young people understand the extent of the concern for their safety shared by professionals. It also provides excellent opportunities for them to explore with staff alternative choices that will improve the safety and well-being.

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

Staff promote young people’s positive behaviour with frequent praise and encouragement. The range of outdoor activities offered provides young people with a rare opportunity to take part in adventurous activities that they would not ordinarily have access to. Young people learn about each activity’s associated risks and safety measures and are introduced to alternative ways to find fun and excitement. This provides excellent opportunities for young people to develop new skills that help in building their resilience, confidence and self-esteem.

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

High staffing ratios ensure that young people are well supervised and supported. Despite the locations of these homes not being as rural as others run by the organisation, young people rarely go missing from this home. Young people say that they enjoy the time that they spend with staff and do not feel the need to run away, which would further compromise their safety.

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

Staff are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with challenging behaviour and only ever use disciplinary measures when it is absolutely necessary. Young people’s positive behaviour is a reflection of the high-quality relationships they share with staff. Young people feel included and respected and have learned with staff support to successfully discuss and negotiate when they feel unsettled or unhappy. Consequently, the use of both sanctions and physical intervention is rare.

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

Young people’s use of smartphones and computers for maintaining contact with family and educational use is encouraged. Staff take stringent measures to ensure that young people’s use of technology does not compromise their immediate safety. Agreements are reached with young people that this will include the use of parental controls, applications to track online sites visited, regular monitoring by staff and in some cases direct supervision of use. In addition, the home uses a variety of resources and training programmes that help young people learn about internet safety and the use of social Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 7 media. These measures contribute significantly to keeping young people safe.

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

Health and safety standards are a clear priority for the registered manager and his staff team. Frequent monitoring routines and safety checks carried out by staff make sure that the home remains a safe environment for young people and staff. The organisation’s outdoor activity coordinator has specific responsibility for the safety of outdoor equipment and to ensure that high standards are maintained when providing outdoor activities. This includes ensuring that risk assessments are completed, that staff have the appropriate training and those leading activities are appropriately qualified. The coordinator and the registered manager work effectively together to make sure that all risks to young people and staff have been thoroughly assessed, with measures identified to successfully eliminate or reduce those risks.

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

The organisation’s designated safeguarding officer works in close partnership with the registered manager to ensure that high standards exist in safeguarding practice. She has a comprehensive overview of all safeguarding activity and provides additional guidance and support to the registered manager and his staff team.

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

Recruitment and selection arrangements are thorough and robust. All staff are fully checked and vetted following a rigorous interview process. This ensures that young people are only cared for by adults who are deemed suitable and unlikely to undermine their safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s registered manager has considerable experience of working with young people in residential care. Prior to his recent appointment as registered manager of this home in September 2017, he has held two previous deputy manager positions that have provided him with invaluable learning experiences. He has a relevant childcare qualification and is enrolled and working towards his level 5 diploma in residential care leadership and management. The home is being operated in accordance with its statement of purpose, ensuring that its aims and objectives are achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Despite his relatively short period of time in post, the registered manager demonstrates excellent leadership qualities, inspiring his staff team with his passion and dedication to his role. Staff acknowledge feeling highly motivated and encouraged to ‘think outside the box’. They speak of their registered manager’s caring attitude, his considerable support and guidance and the pride he takes in his staff team. A staff member commented, ‘I feel like I can make a real difference in this job. Staff all get on well and our skills complement each other. Everyone is so supportive. It’s a nice place to be.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is well supported in his role by the organisation’s wider management team. This includes the home’s responsible individual, other registered managers employed by the organisation, teachers, a designated safeguarding officer and outdoor activity coordinator. This provides him with excellent opportunities to share best practice and draw on the knowledge, experience and support of such a diverse group. Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 8 Staff have a highly detailed understanding of the young people they care for. They show tremendous creativity and enthusiasm in working with young people to make sure that they achieve their own personal goals and targets. The consistent approach taken to promote young people’s participation in planning and the day-to-day life of the home works favourably to make sure that they stay interested and well engaged. Consequently, young people make tremendous progress from their starting points. This

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

progress is reflected in recently implemented progression plans that highlight young people’s individual successes and achievements since coming to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are positive role models and strong advocates for young people. Those staff most recently appointed comment on the positive mentoring they have received and the registered manager’s availability and willingness to respond when they need to seek advice and guidance. This has provided those staff with the confidence to professionally challenge others to ensure that young people’s needs and rights are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Arrangements for professional supervision and regular staff meetings are well coordinated and planned to ensure that staff receive a high level of support. Staff meetings are used primarily to reflect on professional practice, assess young people’s progress and consider alternative plans and strategies. The organisation provides a comprehensive induction and training programme to make sure that staff knowledge and skills are matched to the young people they support. Staff competency and their ongoing developmental needs are clearly assessed and identified through the organisation’s annual appraisal process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal and external monitoring arrangements are rigorous and extremely effective in evaluating the overall quality of care that young people receive. The registered manager responds promptly and positively to any recommendations made by the home’s independent visitor. This demonstrates his eagerness and commitment to maintaining high standards and achieving continuous improvement.

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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

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: SC441978 9

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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

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC441978 10 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

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