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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 1 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

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted on 13 October 2025. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and the inspector met with them.

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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 good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 2

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Summary of findings

Staff care for one child on a long-term basis. Staff started to develop positive relationships with the child prior to them moving into the home, during a well-planned move from a linked home. Staff ensure that the child has access to regular learning and make plans for the child’s future. Staff include children in decision-making about their health needs. However, strategies to support the child to learn from their behaviours are not always well managed by staff or guidance provided from managers. Despite this shortfall, there is a strong leadership presence in the home, and the registered manager knows the child and staff well. Overall, the home provides good care and experiences for children and has effective leadership and management arrangements in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child received a well-planned and supported move into the home. Staff start to develop a positive relationship with the child from an early stage, with the child visiting the home prior to moving in. Although the child has experienced some changes in staffing since moving into the home, there are core staff who prove continuity of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress in their learning. Staff transport the child to school each day, and this helps the child maintain good attendance. Staff work well with education professionals to ensure that the child receives any additional support needed in preparation to complete their qualifications. Managers are proactive in exploring further education and skills provisions to ensure that the child is well prepared for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The support for the child’s emotional wellbeing is good. Both staff and the child receive support and advice from a health and wellbeing practitioner. In addition, managers and staff receive training to understand how adverse life experiences may affect children. This helps staff understand how best to support the child with their feelings or how to express their emotions safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child has access to health services. The child is registered with a GP and dentist, and their health needs are reviewed on an annual basis. Staff plan for the child’s health appointments and arrange for a review of their medication. Staff ensure that the child’s views about any changes to their medication or health needs are understood by health professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to connect with their family and loved ones. When plans are in place for the child to spend time with their family, staff are active in making these arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 3

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

Staff understand the child’s known risks and vulnerabilities. Staff know the child well and understand how best to support them in the home and community. When safeguarding incidents take place, staff respond swiftly to ensure that the child receives a safe and consistent response.

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

The child has detailed individualised plans. These plans have specific strategies to keep the child safe and to support their emotional wellbeing. Staff understand the child’s plans and follow these closely.

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

There are safe procedures in place for the administration of medication. Staff receive training and support from managers to assess their competency to ensure that the child receives their medication in line with their health plans. When there are errors in the recording of medication, the registered manager spends time with staff to ensure that learning is developed, to prevent further occurrences.

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

Consequences used in the home do not help children learn. This is because staff do not link a behaviour to a consequence. In addition, consequences are not always recorded to ensure that the manager can review their effectiveness. This means the child experiences a repeat of the same restriction to their social time, without a review to understand how best to support the child learn and reflect on what has happened.

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

There are few allegations or complaints made against managers or staff. When an allegation is made, this is managed well, investigated and the child is informed of the outcome. Similarly, complaints are well managed and responded to. However, on one occasion, a senior manager did not write to the child to confirm the outcome of their complaint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has an experienced registered manager, who is supported by an assistant manager and an operations manager, who regularly visits the home. Management presence in the home ensures that staff receive the support and guidance they need to develop. Staff said they feel well supported by leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective systems in place to ensure that they have oversight of the home. Due to the systems in place and their time spent in the home, the registered manager knows the child and staff well. This helps the registered manager understand the strengths of the service and areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a positive role model for staff. This is because she spends time with staff to help them understand and develop their skills in a way that reflects the ethos of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly; they are informative and there is a clear agenda. The registered manager also uses this time effectively in order to undertake team Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 4 learning activities. This allows the opportunity to assess the skills and knowledge of the staff and their ability to help and protect the child. The registered manager discusses areas of development for the team to ensure that they provide continuity of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions are held regularly. They are supportive in nature and provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the child’s needs. Newly recruited staff members receive more frequent supervision; this supports their understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager ensures that any specific learning for staff is followed through with one-to-one discussions to aid staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 5

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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.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 26 June 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. The registered person should ensure that the child sees the results of their complaints have been listened to and acted on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

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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: 2863658 7

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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 Inn, Bowscar, Penrith CA11 8RP

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Inspector

Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2863658 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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