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

Inspection report for children's home: 2882666 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

The home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in February 2026. The home was previously part of a multi-building registration. 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. The inspector spoke with the child.

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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: none Inspection report for children's home: 2882666 2

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Summary of findings

The child living in the home is making good progress and there has been a significant reduction in risk since coming to live in the home. Professionals who work with the child are positive about the care that is provided and say that staff are fully committed and want the child to achieve. There is an experienced management team who have good oversight of the home and a staff team who say that they are supported well. Overall, the child receives good care in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home is making good progress. They have quickly built strong, positive relationships with the core staff team and have said that they now feel able to trust adults again. Staff are proud of the progress the child is making and celebrate all of their success. Professionals who work with the child say that the staff are committed to the child and that the care given is very good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and looks and feels like a family home. The child's bedroom is decorated to their taste and the home's communal areas reflect the taste and interests of the child. When a child comes to live in the home, they are made to feel welcome and are given opportunities to personalise the home to their liking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen to the thoughts and opinions of the child, who feels comfortable in sharing their views. The child has been given lots of opportunities to explore their interests and engage in new hobbies that they have never tried before. This has helped to build the child's confidence. They said it has shown them 'another side to life'.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child experienced significant barriers to attending education, the staff and education lead within the service worked hard to understand the child's specific educational needs and how best to meet them. Similarly, staff encourage the child to engage with health services

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand the importance of family relationships to children and have made significant efforts to promote and strengthen these important relationships for the child.

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

The child says that they feel safe living in the home and, if they were able to, they would like to pick up the home and move it closer to where they come from, so that they could continue to remain living there. The staff understand the child's risks well and how best Inspection report for children's home: 2882666 3 to support them. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in risk factors for the child since living in the home.

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

The staff manage situations and behaviours well when they arise and they de-escalate situations wherever possible. Staff give clear and consistent boundaries to the child, helping them to feel safe and secure in their care. The staff know the child well and can identify possible triggers and escalation in behaviours quickly.

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

When a child makes a complaint, the managers ensure that the child is given the opportunity to share their views and is given a clear outcome and explanation of any decisions. As such, the child feels listened to and knows if they raise anything, this will be taken seriously.

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

On one occasion, staff practice did not meet the required professional standards that are expected. This was addressed by the registered manager and a thorough internal investigation took place. However, the conclusion of the investigation did not align with the evidence held. The registered manager accepts this and that there is development required for the staff involved in the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced registered manager in post, who is supported by an experienced deputy manager and core staff team. The registered manager knows the child very well, is ambitious for their future and is inspiring for staff. Staff morale is high and staff say that they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by management, who are available to support whenever required. Staff receive regular supervision sessions, which they say are helpful to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear understanding of the home's strengths and areas for development. He has an action plan in place to develop the home and staff's practice further. He encourages staff to reflect on their everyday practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management and staff have built strong and effective working relationships with professionals involved in caring for the child. This is achieved through good communication, which is a particular strength of the home. Professionals speak highly of the registered manager and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some staffing issues, with several members of the small team being unavailable at the same time. This resulted in increased agency use, alongside the core staff team. This inconsistency in staffing has had an impact on the child. The registered manager is taking appropriate steps to ensure that staffing is stabilised. Inspection report for children's home: 2882666 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children's attachments are not overly disrupted, including ensuring that the employment of any temporary staff will not prevent children from receiving the continuity of care that they need. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations, including the quality standards', page 51, paragraph 10.1)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have unconditional positive regard for the child on the part of the carer and where the carer acknowledges the importance of understanding and responding to the child's lived experience of care. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations, including the quality standards', page 21, paragraph 4.3)  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

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Recommendations

working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. In particular, the registered person should ensure that all staff maintain professionalism at all times. ('Guide to the Children's Home Regulations, including the quality standards', page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: 2882666 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

Dawn McCluskey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2882666 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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