Children's Home run by A Wilderness Way Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

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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 children’s home provides care for up to six children in four separate buildings. This is a multi-building children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered as a multi-building children’s home in January 2024. This is the home’s first inspection since reregistration. There is no registered manager in post.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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good

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 3

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improvement to be good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living across homes as part of the multi-building registration.

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improvement to be good

Children receive care and support from a consistent staff team. Staff provide children with a nurturing environment that helps them make some progress in areas of their lives.

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improvement to be good

Children say that they know how to make a complaint and that they can speak to staff if they are worried about anything. Leaders, managers and staff respond appropriately when children make a complaint. Children are spoken to about any complaint that they make.

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improvement to be good

Children’s plans do not include up-to-date information from placing authorities. For example, court directed orders are out of date or have expired. This means staff do not have information in relation to children to meet their current needs. The absence of this information means that staff do not know the restrictions that are in place to support children. This could have a negative impact on children’s daily care.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health plans are not up to date and do not include all relevant information about the children. Staff support children to attend some health appointments. However, children do not attend their annual health assessments. Specialist services are not always identified in line with children’s individual needs and plans.

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improvement to be good

Children have individual education plans. Staff encourage children to attend education, where they are making variable progress. One child is engaging with their allocated tutor and completing additional work. Staff support children to participate in educational activities to enhance their learning. This is helping children to develop confidence and self-esteem.

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improvement to be good

Children access and enjoy a variety of activities. Staff encourage children to try new things as well as pursue their own hobbies and interests. Children enjoy horse-riding and ice-skating. Staff also help children to care for animals and volunteer at a local farm.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to maintain relationships with their families. Staff understand the importance of children’s relationships with their families and help children spend time with their families and people who are important to them in line with their care plans. Family members are positive about the support that staff provide to maintain relationships with their children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 4

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff do not consistently understand or identify all known vulnerabilities for children. However, leaders and managers took immediate action during the inspection to put plans in place to improve staff’s skills and knowledge to help them understand children’s specific vulnerabilities.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s risk management plans do not contain clear strategies and actions for staff to follow in practice to reduce the risk of harm to children. However, some staff who were spoken to demonstrate that they know how to respond when children could be at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not sufficiently assess all the risks in relation to the location of the home. The review of premises assessment does not demonstrate that all risk factors in the location have been appropriately assessed. However, staff who were spoken to demonstrate an understanding of the potential risks in the local area.

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improvement to be good

Incidents of restraint practice are rare. When incidents do occur, records are poor and do not include all relevant information. When staff hold children, leaders and managers speak to staff together. However, leaders and managers do not ensure that adults and children are spoken to individually about the incident. This is a missed opportunity to fully understand any triggers to these incidents to improve staff safeguarding practices.

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improvement to be good

Gaps in safeguarding records mean that the regulator is not always provided with a clear overview of safeguarding practice in the home. Leaders and managers do not consistently review incidents. For example, staff appropriately complete room searches to ensure that children are safe, although records do not include an evaluation from leaders and managers as to their effectiveness. This is a missed opportunity for leaders and managers to review staff safeguarding practices.

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improvement to be good

There has been a reduction in incidents where children go missing from home. When children do go missing, staff who were spoken to demonstrate that they understand their roles and responsibilities in supporting children to return home safely.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment processes. This means that only suitable adults are employed to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been no registered manager in post since November 2023. Since then, the leadership and management arrangements have been inconsistent, and this has impacted on children’s overall progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management arrangements are poor and ineffective. The responsible individual has not identified these shortfalls. Monitoring and review Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 5 systems are poor because weaknesses in leadership and management arrangements and staff practice have not been identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

An interim manager was recently appointed. He has identified some shortfalls regarding the systems in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not provide staff with the relevant guidance and support to meet the needs of children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not receive supervision in line with the provider’s own policies and procedures. House meetings are not taking place across all homes. This is impacting on staff morale in some settings. Other staff say that managers are supportive. One staff member said, ‘The new management arrangements have made a difference; they are approachable and consistent,’ and another said, ‘I am given lots of opportunities to develop.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff do not have the most up-to-date information in relation to children. The plans in place for children do not correlate with children’s placing authority plans. Leaders and managers do not escalate this sufficiently to ensure that they obtain this information in a timely manner. The absence of updated relevant information in relation to children’s needs could have a detrimental impact on the care staff provide for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children are cared for by a mainly consistent and resilient staff team. Staff have completed training in relevant areas to support children. However, leaders and managers do not evaluate the effectiveness of training and how this is implemented in daily practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not consistently and robustly evaluate the impact that the quality of care is having on the progress and experiences of children. There is limited evaluation and learning from incidents. This means that leaders and managers do not consistently identify and respond to improve the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not taken sufficient action to meet the requirements raised at the last inspection. This does not demonstrate that there are effective leadership and management arrangements in place. As a result, four requirements are restated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 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 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments and plans include all current risks for a child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 20 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 20 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 7 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must maintain effective oversight of children’s care, children’s records and significant incidents. Furthermore, the registered person must have robust systems in place to monitor and review the children’s plans and their progress in accordance with their relevant plans.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the children’s records are up to date, accurate and contain all relevant information. Furthermore, the registered person should ensure that the staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful and clear recording. 20 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 8 This requirement is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a record is made which includes the time, location and duration of any physical intervention involving a child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 20 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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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

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)) 20 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 9 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that they have up-to-date local authority plans and court directed orders to inform day-to-day care planning arrangements.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is registered as a patient with a general medical practitioner and a registered dental practitioner; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that they seek specialist health services for children in line with their relevant plans. 20 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; 20 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 10 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 20 August 2024

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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 for children’s home: 2688299 11

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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: Stoneybeck, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 8RP

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Inspectors

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 12 regulates and inspects to 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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