Children's home run by A Wilderness Way Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides short-term care across two separate homes for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the homes and both children were spoken with. One young person has lived in and moved out of the home since it was registered.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. Children understand that this is their home for a limited period, until their permanent plan is arranged. The positive atmosphere in the home is welcoming and provides a homely feel.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children quickly develop trusting relationships with the small core staff team. The staff understand the ethos of the home and the children benefit from the nurturing care provided by the staff. The positive relationships help children to feel valued and confident to talk openly about their feelings and worries. One young person who has moved out of the home said, ‘I would not be where I am today if it was not for the care of the staff team.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to engage with educational opportunities. Education packages are individualised to children, which increases engagement. This includes creative opportunities and learning through outdoor activities, as well as more formal qualifications such as literacy and numeracy. Staff help children to think about and prepare for their future careers. One child has gained qualifications that are helping them move into their chosen career path. This approach raises aspirations and increases future life choices.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional health and well-being are promoted. The health and well-being team attached to the homes includes therapists, senior therapists, and well-being practitioners. The interventions bolster the emotional resilience and well-being of children through direct conversations with children and by raising staff awareness of children’s therapeutic needs. The health and well-being team holds regular meetings with staff and education professionals to review children’s progress and explore strategies that are helpful to children. Additionally, when children need more targeted therapy, for example play therapy, this is swiftly available. As a result, children gain a better understanding of how to manage their emotions.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children move into the home with little notice due to their circumstances and need. However, children are offered video tours and invited to meet the staff team virtually. Children receive written information about the home to help them gain a sense of understanding about where they will live. This helps children to feel prepared and settle. The manager communicates with professionals and family during this time of the transition. One professional said, ‘The child’s move was well coordinated, the manager had plans and structure in place quickly for the child.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff promote children’s interests and hobbies. Staff encourage children to try new activities that help them face their fears and increase confidence. Staff take photos of children enjoying their experiences and contribute these to their life story. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 3

p.2

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

Before children move into the home, the manager considers the child’s needs and individual risks. The manager uses this information to ensure that the staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the child’s needs.

p.3

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

Children say that they feel safe living at the home. The staff have a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities. Staff regularly review children’s plans to ensure that strategies that are used to help children are effective.

p.3

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

Risks to children have reduced. Staff help children to engage with specialist services to increase their knowledge around risks associated with exploitation or substance misuse. One professional stated that a child’s engagement with services has increased since living at this home. This has helped the child to have more meaningful engagement about risks and how they can be safer in the community.

p.3

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

Positive behaviour is promoted in the home. Children work towards rewards or incentives that interest them. When incidents do happen, staff use de-escalation techniques and children have not needed to be held because unsafe situations have been averted. Following incidents, staff adopt a nurturing response and help children to understand their feelings.

p.3

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

Staff help children to develop independence skills that prepare them for their move out of the home. Children learn new skills to help them in their future, for example about managing their own tenancy. One child was given little notice about their move to a new home. The manager advocated on behalf of the young person for a later date so that staff could prepare the child emotionally and practically for the move.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager shares his time across both homes and is supported by an experienced deputy. Together, they lead by example and provide a supportive environment to staff.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the staff team is newly formed, staff demonstrate stability and work well together. Staff say that they feel supported by each other and the management team. Staff described a positive morale in the home and consistently say it feels like a family environment. This helps to create a relaxed atmosphere that benefits the children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the ongoing developments of the home that are identified in the workforce development plan. The staff bring a variety of relevant experience to their role. However, a key priority is to ensure that staff gain the relevant qualification to equip them with the skills and knowledge to care for the children. The manager monitors the staff’s progress and helps staff to stay on track. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 4 Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. The manager uses this opportunity to consult with staff about decisions and the improvement journey of the team. Staff have identified champion roles and embrace the responsibility this brings.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has audit tools to monitor the home. Senior managers and a quality assurance team enhance the monitoring and oversight, and the manager welcomes actions for improvement. The manager has identified that children’s placing authorities have not provided all necessary statutory documents. The manager does repeatedly request these documents; however, he does not escalate his requests. Additionally, the absence of an effective escalation policy does not help the manager to challenge placing authorities. This means that the manager cannot be reassured that staff are following the child’s most up-to-date plan.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not identified that the delegated authority for one child was not signed by a person who has parental responsibility. Additionally, when children’s legal status changes, the manager has not considered a review of the delegated authority. In one example, a child was given prescribed medication without staff having the delegated authority to do so. Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

p.5

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)) 28 November 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 28 November 2025

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that each child’s placement plan includes permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the registered person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 30, paragraph 6.2) Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 6

p.5

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: 2828980 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stoneybeck Inn, Bowscar, Penrith CA11 8RP

p.7

Inspector

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2828980 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8