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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted as a multi-building children’s home in December 2023 and provides care for up to six children in four separate houses.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 31 December 2023. The new manager has been in post since 1 May 2024 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be 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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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 2

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improvement to be good

Children move into the home in a planned way and can visit and meet staff before they move in. When children leave, they are encouraged to contribute to their transition plans, and staff work with professionals and parents to support them in their new homes.

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improvement to be good

All four houses are welcoming and reflect children’s presence throughout. There are photos displayed in multiple areas, and some rooms have been adapted in line with children’s preferences. For example, one room is used as a dressing room, and another is used as a gaming room.

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improvement to be good

Children are offered two hours tutoring every week in addition to informal learning and outdoor activities. However, there can be delays in this being delivered, and children do not always engage in informal learning opportunities.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to access routine health services, such as GP and dental appointments. Staff do not always follow up recommendations from health professionals for additional services, such as child and adolescent mental health services. Staff have not taken action to address the risks associated with smoking cigarettes, including e- cigarettes. This could have an adverse impact on children’s health.

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improvement to be good

Feedback is not routinely sought; some children’s wishes and feelings are not evident in their plans and risk assessments. The manager has already identified this as an area for development.

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improvement to be good

Children have good routines, and they are up and ready for each day. One child was often awake all night when they first moved into the home. However, with staff support, their sleep pattern has improved.

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improvement to be good

Children are supported to spend time with their family members, several of whom have visited the home and taken part in outdoor activities with children. Staff understand the impact that family time can have on children. They advocate for reviews of family time when needed. Staff observations of family relationships support decision-making for children’s permanency.

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improvement to be good

Children can take part in new outdoor experiences, including kayaking and rock climbing. One social worker said, ‘These opportunities have raised [name of child]’s self-esteem and confidence in participating in positive activities.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 3

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not implement consistent boundaries to ensure that children are safeguarded. As a result, one child’s access to the internet via mobile phone is not fully monitored. Furthermore, games and programmes certified for adults have been accessed by the child which leaves them vulnerable.

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improvement to be good

Children do not often go missing from home. When they do, staff act in line with children’s individualised missing-from-home procedures. Staff actively look for children and ensure that all relevant agencies are kept up to date with emerging information. The manager has oversight of missing-from-home incidents. However, the manager has not updated the locality assessment to include risks at a neighbouring farm, where a missing child was found.

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improvement to be good

Children have behaviour support plans which give staff clear guidance about children’s behaviours. Plans include strategies to follow to de-escalate behaviours. On the rare occasions that children need to be held, the reasons are clear, records are detailed and include debriefs with children and staff. Management oversight and any learning is also included. The plans are undermined by inconsistences in staff’s responses. At times, this has led to incidents. This does not ensure consistency in each home and across the service.

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improvement to be good

Children have developed trusting relationships with staff and say they can identify staff members they can talk to about any worries they may have.

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improvement to be good

Children have direct-work sessions with staff that are focused on increasing their understanding of risks. This includes discussions around safe relationships, knife crime and exploitation.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are individualised and are updated following any new information or incidents. This includes information about any increase and reduction in risks.

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improvement to be good

Allegations of abuse against staff are responded to quickly, and measures to safeguard children are introduced while multi-agency investigations take place. The manager consults with the local authority designated officer when allegations are made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. An assistant manager has recently joined the service and is providing support across all four homes. Staff feel supported and are optimistic about the development of the home since the appointment of the manager and the assistant manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The service has experienced staff changes, which has resulted in some inconsistencies in the staff teams which have impacted on children and staff. At times, staff teams have Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 4 consisted of two probationary members of staff who are reliant on each other for guidance and support. This compromises children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Supervision is not taking place regularly and is not always reflective. Staff do not consistently receive feedback about issues they raise during supervision, which leaves them frustrated with some aspects of their work. There is some improvement in supervision through the assistant manager auditing and delivering supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has insight into the progress staff are making towards achieving the relevant qualification. She is aware of which staff are out of the time frame and reviews their progress towards completion. When there are delays in progress, performance plans are implemented. However, the manager does not have a good understanding of the training staff complete to ensure that she knows the skill set of each team member.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has strengthened the quality of the monthly service meetings, which are an opportunity for staff to receive provider updates and training. One member of staff said, ‘Service meetings have a positive impact on staff morale.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the care and transition plans for most of the children and works closely with placing local authorities and other agencies to achieve children’s objectives. The manager is aspirational about children moving on to the right longer- term placements. During the inspection, two children were meeting new placement providers, and one child was in the final week of their transition home to parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has effective oversight of the home and takes action to ensure that case records accurately reflect staff practice. There have been lessons-learned exercises with action plans which demonstrate critical reflection and a drive for improvement by leaders and managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 5

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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 are protected 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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(vii)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s risk assessments detail all known risks and are applied consistently across the service.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s boundaries and any consequences are consistently applied across all homes. Specifically, this relates to the removal of mobile phones. 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that children do not have access to adult games and programmes.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s access to the internet is monitored and that the appropriate restrictions to reduce risks are in place.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the locality assessment is reviewed in line with any incidents.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2) (b)(c)(d)(e)(g)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff teams are consistent and are appropriately skilled and qualified to meet children’s needs.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff receive regular reflective supervision. This includes more frequent supervision for new staff members in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that feedback and participation are routinely sought from children and are used to inform the home’s development and children’s care planning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that an application for registration with Ofsted is submitted by the manager. 30 August 2024

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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; 30 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 8 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)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they address the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, with children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that recommendations from children’s health assessments are followed up.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training, and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children access appropriate and meaningful education and are helped to make progress in education. When children are not in full-time education, they must be supported to learn informally. 30 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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 9 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: 2775971 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

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Inspectors

Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2775971 11 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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