Children's Home run by A Wilderness Way Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children's home: 2876800 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 operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to one child who may have social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in January 2026. This is the home’s first inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since the home registered, one child has moved on from the home. At the time of the inspection, another child was living in the home. The inspector spoke with the child.

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 applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2876800 2

p.1

Summary of findings

Children who live in the home make good progress from their starting points. The staff know the children well and use this knowledge to understand behaviours. As a result, children’s risks have reduced, and children who have lived in the home say that they are safe and happy in the home. The staff team is stable and highly motivated, and staff have great pride in their work. Overall, children receive good care in the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home says that they are happy living there. Similarly, professionals who work with the child are positive about the care that is given to the child and the progress that they are making.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to build positive and trusting relationships with children. Staff have a good awareness of children’s individual needs and how best to meet them. Staff celebrate children's achievements, and show a great pride in the work that they do in helping children to achieve them. Children said that they feel listened to, and that if they ask for something that staff will make sure this happens.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained, welcoming and feels like a family home. The child is positive about what the staff have done to make them feel welcomed into the home, ensuring that they had all the things that they need. Staff get to know children well, in a short period of time, and this is reflected in how quickly children settle.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are consistent with encouraging education. The provider also has a specialist education service available to children, with staff who assess and manage education. This has led to children who have been out of education achieving qualifications while living in the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home offers a variety of different activities to children, including opportunities that they have not had before. This gives children the chance to build on their skills and confidence levels. Children are helped to prepare to move on from the home and supported to make their next steps.

p.2

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

Staff know children’s risks well and have a good understanding of how to safeguard and promote the welfare of each child. The child in the home says that they feel safe, and they can turn to staff if they need help and know that they will be listened to. Inspection report for children's home: 2876800 3 Children can share their views in several ways and know how to make a complaint. When complaints are raised, children receive feedback about the outcome, clear actions are set and staff support children wherever possible to overcome any issues identified.

p.2

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

Staff knowing the children so well means that they can manage situations as they arise. Staff help children to identify their own behaviours and how to manage their feelings. As a result, incidents in the home are exceptionally rare and there have been no incidences of children going missing from the home.

p.3

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

Children are encouraged to take age-appropriate risks and to build on their own independence and skills for their futures. Staff encourage children in their interests and to try new activities. This gives children opportunities to experience new things and make new connections.

p.3

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

There have been some occasions when staff's responses have been inconsistent. This includes in a complaint made by a child. The registered manager is implementing a development plan to ensure that there is greater consistency.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and is an inspiring leader in the home for both the child and staff. He has a calm and reflective approach and staff say that they feel well supported by managers.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff development is a priority for the registered manager, and he ensures that staff have access to training and development to upskill them in areas specific to children’s needs. The registered manager is supported by a strong deputy manager and there is a high level of peer support from other managers in the organisation.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable team of staff who are enthusiastic and motivated to provide the children with good standards of care. Staff morale is high and other professionals say that they feel it is a warm and welcoming environment.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good awareness of the strengths of the home, and areas for development. He encourages staff to reflect on their everyday practice and has a plan in place to further develop staff’s consistency and skills in the future.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has built strong and effective working relationships with professionals involved in caring for the child, as well as their families. This is achieved through good communication, which is a particular strength of the home. Professionals speak highly of the registered manager and staff. One professional described the communication with the home as ‘excellent’. Inspection report for children's home: 2876800 4

p.3

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

p.4

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: 2876800 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Dawn McCluskey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2876800 6 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.5

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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6