Over the Wall

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 1 Over the Wall Over The Wall Langstone Technology Park, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1SA Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential holiday scheme is operated by a charity. Residential camps are provided for children with serious health challenges and their brothers and sisters. The camp that was inspected was attended by 78 children in total. The inspector met with several children throughout the visit to gain their views.

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disabled children

There is a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced and qualified.

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Overall experience and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 6 August 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 2

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outstanding

Children consistently express enjoyment and enthusiasm about attending the camp. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as, ‘It’s so much fun,’ ‘The best thing has been making friends and having new experiences,’ and ‘It’s magical’. These sentiments are strongly supported by observations of nurturing and engaging interactions between the staff, volunteers and children. The camp provides a safe and supportive environment where children can relax, let go of worries and anxieties and fully embrace the joys of childhood, having fun, forming friendships and creating lasting memories.

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outstanding

The camp provides an exceptional and transformative experience for children with health challenges and their brothers and sisters, fostering confidence, friendship and joy in a safe and inclusive environment. Many children are so inspired by their time at camp that they return as adults to volunteer.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a rich and diverse range of activities at camp, including water sports, cooking, zip lining and creative crafting. These experiences not only provide fun and excitement but also foster independence, confidence and meaningful friendships. Daily rest periods promote emotional and physical well-being, and senior leaders maintain strong oversight of clinical decisions, ensuring timely and appropriate action when medical attention is required.

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outstanding

Senior leaders proactively gather detailed information about each child’s medical, health and well-being needs ahead of camp, enabling thorough and personalised care planning. Staff respond to these needs with sensitivity and respect, supported by a qualified and experienced clinical team that ensures safe and responsive medical care. However, local authority care plans for some children do not feed into children’s overall plans. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that sufficient information is available to support care planning.

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outstanding

Comprehensive and detailed risk assessments are conducted in advance of each camp to ensure the safety and well-being of children, staff and volunteers. The induction process includes scenario-based training and emergency response planning, equipping all team members with the knowledge and confidence to manage unexpected situations effectively. This proactive approach reflects a strong commitment to safeguarding and well-being.

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outstanding

The accommodation and premises used to host the camp are suitably assessed and maintained to ensure the health, safety and well-being of everyone on the site. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 3 Children clearly know how they can seek support, including during the night. There is always someone on call during the night for any emergencies or support needed.

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outstanding

Information about children’s health is shared sensitively and on a need-to-know basis, ensuring privacy is respected while maintaining safeguarding as a priority. The clinical team holds full access to each child’s medical history and diagnoses, enabling it to provide informed and responsive care. Camp staff and volunteers are given only the essential information required to maintain children’s safety and well-being, supporting a respectful and secure environment for all children, where their fun and experiences are the priorities.

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outstanding

There are robust and comprehensive recruitment procedures in place for both staff and volunteers, ensuring that only individuals deemed suitable are permitted to work with children. These checks reflect a strong commitment to safeguarding. However, the current process does not include the verification of original Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates, which creates a gap in the overall scrutiny of vetting documentation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Senior leaders demonstrate inspirational leadership, driven by a clear vision that every child should have an enriching experience at camp. Their meticulous attention to detail and thorough planning underpin the smooth running of camp, contributing directly to the high-quality experiences that children enjoy. A culture of continuous reflection, learning and review is embedded in practice. Leaders are also highly attuned to individual circumstances, approaching decisions around attendance or early departures from camp with sensitivity and in close collaboration with parents and carers. These decisions are always made with the well-being of all children in mind, reflecting a compassionate and child-centred ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Following a thorough review of previous training approaches and feedback gathered from volunteers, a significantly improved and comprehensive onboarding and e- learning package has been developed. This is designed to ensure that all staff and volunteers are well prepared before attending camp. The e-learning is followed by a structured camp induction day, which provides staff and volunteers with practical guidance, essential information and confidence to support the arrival and integration of campers effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Families consistently praise the professionalism, enthusiasm and support offered by staff and volunteers, describing the camps as ‘a lifeline’ during the summer holidays. One parent said, ‘After living on high alert for years during cancer treatment, and never being able to travel far from hospital, it was so lovely to feel that my son was well looked after and safe.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The feedback from staff and volunteers is exceptionally strong, reflecting a deep sense of fulfilment and connection to the camp’s mission. They feel confident and supported in communicating with senior leaders and their teammates, and they value the enriching experience that the camp provides. Comments such as, ‘A truly Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 4 life-changing experience for campers and volunteers alike,’ and ‘Volunteering is genuinely the best thing that I do,’ highlight the profound impact of their involvement. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 5

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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 Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain, in respect of each child who is accommodated by the scheme, a record in writing which—

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Requirement Due date

includes the documents, information and records specified in Schedule 3 in relation to that child. (Regulation 24 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider should ensure they have a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the placing authority. 31 October 2025

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Recommendation

◼ The registered person should demonstrate, including from written and electronic records, that they consistently follow good recruitment practice, and all applicable current statutory requirements and guidance, in staff recruitment and carers’ selection. This includes guidance relating to DBS checks. (Residential holiday schemes for disabled children: national minimum standard 9.2)

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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 Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 6

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: Langstone Technology Park, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1SA Responsible individual: Kevin Mathieson Registered manager: Sally McCluskie

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: kevin.mathieson@otw.org.uk

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Over the Wall 7 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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