Children's Home run by Fairways Care (UK) Limited in Hampshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 1 Registered provider: Fairways Care (uk) Limited 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 owned by a large charity. It is registered to accommodate up to six children from seven years to 15 years of age.

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Information about this children’s home

According to the statement of purpose, children may exhibit emotional or behavioural difficulties. Placements will usually be for no more than 24 months and are designed to offer children a period of stabilisation and intensive work with the aim of them moving on to foster care, back to the family or an alternative provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since January 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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: new registration

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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 children’s home: 2551007 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The approach to considering new children moving into the home is thorough and includes the children living here, as well as those moving in. Any potential issues are highlighted, and staff are given guidance regarding the strategies they may need to help them to support the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The impact of COVID-19 has been minimised by the creative use of the home’s space. Innovative ideas, such as games to play while children wait to go to school and initiatives such as a restorative roulette, make living here fun. The children flourish in a nurturing, therapeutic environment. Staff are warm and caring towards the children, who enjoy spending time with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regular house meetings are held, which allow children plenty of opportunities to express their feelings and have some input into the running of the home. These are effective forums for group discussions. Children benefit from being part of a close- knit, supportive community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place high value on the children’s education. All the children are enjoying regular school attendance. They are encouraged and supported by staff to develop good habits, such as routinely completing their homework and to develop a thirst for learning. The manager is a governor of the local school, which two of the children attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff receive targeted training which helps them to understand and support the children’s specific cultural needs. This expands the staff’s knowledge and understanding of the children’s backgrounds and heritage. Diversity is celebrated and the staff have developed their skills in looking after children from a range of backgrounds, including minority ethnic groups.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The enrichment and independence programmes are effective in preparing children to become more independent. This is achieved through initial assessments identifying areas of strength and areas to improve. The children work on agreed targets, and are motivated by an award system. The staff work alongside professionals, such as speech and language therapists and the therapy team, to help the children to achieve their goals.

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

Skilled and knowledgeable staff plan direct work with the children and complete online training with them. This learning-together approach encourages the children to discuss any issues openly.

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

The manager monitors the use of physical interventions. He talks to the staff and children after incidents and evaluates and analyses their responses. Any changes in Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 4 interventions or strategies are added to children’s risk assessments and records. The priority is for staff and children to rebuild relationships, which is effectively managed by the provider’s method of attunement and reparation.

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

The staff confidently allow children to take age-appropriate risks. One child’s self- administration of her medication plan was thorough and completed in consultation with her. This enables the child to manage her own risk and increase her independence and self-esteem.

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

Children are kept safe by well-trained staff who protect them from harm. However, records do not reflect that safeguarding is discussed regularly in team meetings and supervisions. This is a missed opportunity to embed safeguarding within the culture of the home. In addition, some environmental hazards, and the practice of staff sleeping in the children’s lounge occasionally, has not been fully assessed regarding the potential risks.

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

The location risk assessment covers all required areas including consultation with external professionals. However, it has not been updated to reflect the current changes in the home. The physical environment of the home is well maintained. Routine servicing of equipment ensures that the premises are safe. Fire precautions are well understood by the staff and the children. However, some environmental risks were not identified, such as an area missed in the fire risk assessment and an action not responded to following fire checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good leader and role model. His high aspirations are shared by the staff. The child-focused approach and therapeutic ethos is clearly embedded. The staff provide children with opportunities to grow and develop, through their sensitive care of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment is of a good standard, and all the necessary checks are undertaken to ensure that the adults working with the children have the necessary skills and experience to care for them. The staff are well trained to respond to the children’s individual needs. Managers provide a comprehensive induction that is well thought out and at the right pace. Staff state they are well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular supervision and annual appraisals ensure that staff are clear about their goals. Staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice and the impact this has on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers do not regularly complete internal monitoring. This has meant that shortfalls have not always been identified. In one example, staff have not followed the policy and procedures when managing medication. This led to controlled drugs appearing to be missing. The manager investigated this on the day of the inspection. This omission did not impact on the safety of the children and was rectified immediately. Managers have taken steps to ensure they learn from the incident and put in place measures to minimise a reoccurrence. Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 31 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1)(2)(c)) 31 July 2021

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Recommendations

 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. In particular, improving safe practice within the home’s environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 6  The registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year, and whenever there are any significant changes in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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 children’s home: 2551007 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fairways Care (uk) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fair Ways, Ground Floor, Building 1000, Western Road, Portsmouth Hampshire PO6 3EZ

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Inspectors

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2551007 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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