Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 1 SC033268 Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 12 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in October 2025. A new manager was subsequently appointed but left their role before registering with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a school on the same site as the home. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this site.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged as ‘inadequate’ at a full inspection on 9 and 10 June 2026. Compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12 (the protection of children standard) and Regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard). Inspectors did not consider the remaining requirements from the full inspection as part of this visit because their due dates had not yet passed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have taken action to address and meet all the steps set out in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers now have effective oversight of staff practice and the day-to- day care provided to the children. New and comprehensive systems are in place that support managers in reviewing the quality of care provided. They review incident records and now identify shortfalls in staff practice, taking timely action to address these with staff. This has improved practice and the care provided to children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers now receive effective supervision from individuals who have a strong understanding of the service. This improved supervision process helps Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 2 managers to develop their understanding of the quality of care provided and offers appropriate professional challenge in relation to decisions that affect children’s safety and wellbeing. This has improved accountability, strengthened oversight and supported more effective decision-making.

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This monitoring visit

Relationships with partner agencies have improved. Professionals visit the home, spend time with leaders and staff, and provide feedback about the service. Leaders and managers respond positively to feedback, using it to improve practice and strengthen partnership working.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have ensured that staff have the knowledge to respond appropriately when children raise concerns that they have been harmed. Staff explore children’s views, take appropriate action and follow safeguarding procedures. This has increased children’s confidence in staff and helped to keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders have implemented clearer and more comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour management plans for children. These plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain relevant and up to date. Following incidents, the plans are discussed during team meetings. This improves staff’s understanding of each child’s needs and promotes a more consistent approach to supporting children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have a clearer understanding of each child’s individual needs and have received additional training in behaviour management. This has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to support children safely and effectively in ways that meet their individual needs. As a result, children are less likely to become distressed. Furthermore, leaders and managers regularly review and monitor the use of restraint. They evaluate the frequency of its use, identify those involved and analyse the duration of interventions. Leaders and managers use this information to inform practice and make improvements where necessary.

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This monitoring visit

Senior leaders have reviewed the service and its safeguarding processes. They have used learning from recent events to reflect on practice and identify areas for improvement. Risk management arrangements relating to staff have been reviewed and are now implemented consistently. In addition, senior leaders are working with external consultants to evaluate the quality of care provided to children. This has resulted in the development of clear action plans to drive improvement and ensure that changes are implemented consistently.

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This monitoring visit

Plans are in place to review and improve safer recruitment processes. However, changes have not yet been implemented. Until they are embedded in practice, there remains a risk that weaknesses in recruitment processes could affect children’s safety and wellbeing in the future. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2026 Full Inadequate 13/08/2025 Full Good 16/12/2024 Full Good 27/08/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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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

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)) 30 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that, subject to regulation 22 (contact and access to communications), contact between each child and the child’s 30 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 5 parents, relatives and friends, is promoted in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iii)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(c)(i)) 30 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— 30 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 6 employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meathop Park, Meathop, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6RF

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Inspectors

Laura Roberts, Social Care Inspector (lead) Amey Henry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033268 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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