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

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

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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. The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, the service has had eleven children living in their homes. Seven of the children have moved on in line with their care plans and four children are currently living in the homes. Children are cared for by a stable staff team, which leads to consistency for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans now include up-to-date information from placing authorities, for example court directed orders, education, health and care planning documents. This means staff have up-to-date information in relation to children to meet their current needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children living in the home are now making good progress, notably in education, health and regulating their emotions. When children have disengaged with education, the management team and staff have taken swift action to look for ways to educate the children informally and support them back into a more suitable individualised education package.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to attend routine health appointments and their annual health assessments. The manager has identified specialist services to support meeting the children’s needs, such as epilepsy support.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff actively promote and encourage the children to speak to and see their family members when it is safe to do so. This ensures that the children remain in contact with the people who are important to them and creates a sense of identity.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff now have a better understanding of the children’s risks and vulnerabilities and follow suitable risk assessments and behaviour management plans. These are now regularly reviewed and updated. Appropriate strategies are in place to support staff to reduce and minimise risk. However, when staff dynamically risk assess a situation, such as a child self-administering medication, clear documentation of this and the decision-making process should be recorded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are trained and understand the full range of behaviour management techniques to help support children. Restraint is low and is only ever used as a last resort to safeguard children. Recordings of these now meet regulation, and this is a clear improvement.

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Findings from the inspection

On occasions when children have gone missing from home, staff take swift action to look for the child and work with the police and family members to return the child home safely. Children are offered an independent return to care interview and are spoken to by a staff member. This supports the staff to understand the reason the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 3 child went missing and to adopt any new strategies to reduce and minimise the risk in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations, complaints and whistle-blowing are managed in line with policy and procedures. The members of the management team ensure that they consult with the local authority designated officer and the placing authority to make sure that they are thoroughly investigated and brought to a resolve.

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Findings from the inspection

Serious events have been notified to Ofsted. However, some of the notifications have been delayed. This does not allow the regulator to have sufficient oversight and scrutiny in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive a thorough induction when joining the team and have access to a detailed training programme that includes training that is identified to meet the specific needs of the children in their care. Regular house meetings and whole service meetings are now taking place. Supervisions are conducted by people who are trained to do so. This offers a space for the staff and managers to reflect on their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Internal monitoring of the home has improved. As a result, the members of the management team regularly review the quality of the children’s care and the impact this is having on their progress. Staff are provided with adequate support and guidance. Any shortfalls are identified quickly and action taken to address them is done so in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager values external monitoring and scrutiny of the home and considers any recommendations made. The members of the management team gather feedback from children, staff, professionals, and family members. This is analysed and supports the manager to develop the service.

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Findings from the inspection

Nine requirements raised at the last inspection are met. Two recommendations were raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s home staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental-stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. Specifically, this recommendation is made in relation to the child administering their own medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)  The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place so that all serious events are notified within 24 hours, to the appropriate people and the regulator. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stoneybeck, Penrith CA11 8RP

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Deborah Turner, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2688299 7 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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Inspectors

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