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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2873327 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Ltd 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 provider. It is a newly approved home, offering short-term care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have a learning disability. It was previously registered as part of a multi-building children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken with during the inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2873327 2

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Summary of findings

The child is well cared for and has developed positive relationships with staff. The child has been supported to re-engage with education and maintain good health. Structure and routine help the child to benefit from and become involved with activities, widening their experiences. Staff ensure that the child’s wishes, views and feelings are understood and shared with the wider professional network involved.

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Summary of findings

Staff work with other agencies to help keep the child safe. However, at times staff have not used all the strategies available to them to help keep the child safe. Leaders and managers recognise the need to strengthen this area of practice, and an improvement plan is being implemented.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Committed staff provide the child with stability and emotional security. Their consistent approach has helped the child to settle and form a positive connection with some staff, despite only being at the home a short time. The child’s wishes and feelings are well understood by staff. Staff listen and advocate for the child, and this helps the child to feel heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s education and learning are supported effectively. The child is actively involved with plans for their learning and has been able to take part in most planned sessions. This is positive progress as the child has been out of education for a long period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff arrange meaningful activities that encourage the child to develop new skills and interests. The child has particularly benefited from an activity involving birds of prey, describing this as their best experience so far. Their engagement demonstrates increased confidence and willingness to try new opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health and emotional wellbeing are promoted by staff. Weekly sessions with a health worker provide the child with a safe space to express their feelings. This is helping to improve the child’s emotional resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain positive relationships with the child’s parent. Despite the distance from the child’s home area, communication is regular and effective. The parent feels well informed and feels the child is well cared for. They have some concerns about staff’s approach to keeping the child safe when the child leaves the home, and managers are in the process of addressing this issue. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873327 3

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improvement to be good

When the child leaves the home without permission, staff take steps to follow the child and try to encourage them to return home. However, staff do not use all of the permissible actions available to them promptly to prevent situations from escalating. Although the child did not come to serious harm, a lack of effective action on some occasions did increase the risks to the child, and this could have been avoided.

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improvement to be good

A therapeutic and inclusive model of care underpins staff practice, and this approach is evident in their day ‑ to ‑ day support of the child. Restraint has not been used, and staff demonstrate a commitment to de ‑ escalation of unsafe behaviours. However, in some situations, physically intervening would be proportionate and necessary, in line with the child’s legal order and to reduce the risk of the child coming to harm. Not all staff feel confident in using restraint, despite it being an agreed safeguarding strategy.

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improvement to be good

Feedback from some professionals is mixed. This is in relation to information sharing and having an agreed response to when the child goes missing from home. However, managers have met with the police to develop a coordinated response to keeping the child safe should they leave the home and be at risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Allegations are managed appropriately. When the child raised concerns about a staff member, the manager acted promptly, informed other safeguarding professionals and ensured that the matter was investigated and resolved appropriately.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide frequent praise and positive encouragement, which supports the child’s emotional development. This helps the child build confidence, recognise their strengths and develop a better sense of self ‑ worth.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to the smooth running of the home. She understands the strengths of the home and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with opportunities to reflect and learn through training, supervision and practice discussions as a team. This helps staff to develop their skills and knowledge over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child’s move into the home was carefully planned. A thorough assessment was undertaken to consider the child’s background, current needs and the staff team’s ability to meet these needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are some vacancies in the team, which has the potential to cause some instability for the child. However, the manager has taken effective action by amending staff rotas to ensure that the child receives consistent care from staff who know them well. Inspection report for children’s home: 2873327 4

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)) 27 July 2026

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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: 2873327 5

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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

Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2873327 6 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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