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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited 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 provider. It provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the home registered, one child has lived in the home. The inspector spoke with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in February 2026.

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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: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 2

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Summary of findings

The child living in the home is making good progress and says that they are happy and settled in the home. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and have built positive, trusting relationships with the child and the people who are important to them.

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Summary of findings

The manager has effective oversight of the home, knows the child very well and has built an open culture in the home, with staff saying that they feel very supported. Overall, the child in the home receives good care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress, is attending education and has achieved qualifications since living in the home. The child has built positive relationships with the members of their core staff team and enjoys spending time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home looks and feels like a family home and is reflective of the child’s interests throughout. The child says that they feel comfortable in the home and that staff ensure that they have everything that they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain important relationships with their friends and family in their home area. Family and friends say that they are kept fully up to date with what is going on for the child and that the staff and manager ensure that the child is supported in these important relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to develop their independence skills according to their individual needs, particularly in making positive choices. The child has access to a variety of activities and interests, which has enabled them to build their confidence and make friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and leaders have shown a good understanding of the areas that require development for the child to move on successfully from the home. Professionals say that staff and the manager are good advocates for the child in ensuring that next steps are suitable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some inconsistencies in staffing have influenced the child’s feelings of stability. The manager and leaders have taken steps to increase stability in this area to ensure that there is consistency for the child.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s risks and how to support them effectively. Direct work with the child takes place regularly and is aligned with their needs and Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 3 identified risks. The child says that they feel comfortable speaking to staff about what is going on in their life.

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

Staff work with the child and other agencies to help reduce risk-taking behaviours. The child’s understanding of risks and possible consequences has increased as a result. The staff have strong working relationships with other agencies and, when issues arise, are proactive in seeking resources to reduce risk.

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

The child has access to a clinical team that carries out bespoke therapeutic work with them on a regular basis. This has been beneficial for the child to understand where they have come from and what their future may look like.

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

The child is involved in their own care planning and meetings, giving them a sense of ownership over their life. The child has been building on their skills and independence with the support of staff and managers.

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

The manager acknowledges that there could be greater consistency in the level of detail recorded in some documents, such as room search records. Plans are in place to support staff in improving the consistency of their recording practices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the child very well, is ambitious for their future and is an inspiring leader for staff. Professionals and family members say that communication with the home, and from the manager, is excellent, and they feel that they are fully kept up to date with what is going on for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good awareness of the home’s strengths 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.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported by managers and that they receive regular and reflective supervision sessions. Staff are positive about working in the home and show great pride in their work and of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they have access to good-quality training. However, the provider’s systems for monitoring training schedules and ensuring that all staff complete mandatory training are not consistently effective. The manager and leaders are aware of this issue and have plans in place to improve consistency in this area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective oversight of the systems in place for the daily running of the home. However, when the manager was on leave, there was a short period when management oversight reduced. The manager plans to introduce processes to ensure that there is effective oversight in his absence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment is not always effective, with key documents sometimes being inaccessible. When a staff member had been working overseas, not all relevant checks Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 4 had been carried out. The manager and leaders have provided assurances that all relevant checks will be carried before staff work in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 4 November 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and recognise the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, the registered person should ensure that they maintain oversight of staff training and ensure that training is completed within required timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staffing levels meet children’s needs and that staff can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. Staffing structures should promote continuity of care from the child’s perspective. If children make complaints or give a view on how the staffing structure could be improved to promote the best care for them, appropriate action should be taken. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph

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Recommendations

10.15)  The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children living in the home. Everyone working at the home should understand their roles and responsibilities and the decisions they are authorised to make on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. The home should have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management oversight when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave. Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 6 (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes 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: 2882896 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Dawn McCluskey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2882896 8 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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