Children's Home run by Fairport Care Services Ltd in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 1 SC066129 Registered provider: Fairport Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 16 July 2020.

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Overall experiences 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 children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 February 2023

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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 children’s home: SC066129 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2023 Full Outstanding 26/05/2021 Full Good 12/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 3

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outstanding

Children who live in the home are loved and are provided with excellent care that makes them feel valued and cared for. The relationships between the children and the staff support the children to flourish. One child said, ‘I have people that put me first and love me unconditionally, no matter what.’ Children are making excellent educational progress from their starting points. Most of the children did not attend school for a considerable time before living in the home and now attend full time or are in employment. The children speak confidently and with aspiration regarding their futures. One child has taken two GCSE exams a year early and another has sourced their own employment. Children’s mental health is a priority for the staff. Staff use a therapeutic approach when caring for the children. They work closely with a child psychotherapist who provides advice and guidance to staff as well as support to the children. Children

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outstanding

feel safe and staff are well informed regarding evidence-based research about mental health issues, which informs the work they carry out with the children. Children are provided with a wide range of experiences that increase their self- esteem, build their self-confidence and promote their own identity, such as attending concerts, keeping active through sports and going away on breaks. Children learn independence skills, such as how to cook, budget and shop for food. The views of all the children are actively sought on a regular basis. Children feel confident to express their views in house meetings and they raise concerns and challenge each other, as well as expressing their views on upcoming events or ideas for the home. This leads to positive relationships between the children. Children’s time with their families is encouraged and supported by staff, who ensure that they build positive relationships with the families too. Communication between

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outstanding

staff and families is consistent and prioritised. One parent said, ‘They are supportive and want what’s best for her. They listen to me. They will call me often and tell me how she’s doing. They go above and beyond keeping in touch.’ Planning for children to leave the home is carefully considered, with children’s best interests being at the forefront of all decision-making. Managers are planning to purchase a flat for two of the children who will soon be adults, to allow them to stay close to the home and be provided with ongoing support. Another child has successfully moved into foster care and continues to have good relationships with staff at the home.

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outstanding

Children are cared for by staff who show an excellent understanding of their needs and keep children’s well-being central in all that they do. The risks for children are Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 4 well understood. Staff show exemplary practice in ensuring that the children are kept safe and in aiding the children to keep themselves safe. Safeguarding is embedded across all areas of practice. When children show signs of distress, managers and staff are skilled at appropriately responding to the children. De-escalation techniques are well thought-out to meet the individual needs of the children. Through clinical supervision, staff are encouraged to reflect on incidents and they are provided with tools to aid their understanding of the underlying causes of behaviour. Incidents of restraint are well recorded and overseen by managers to ensure that the use of restraint is proportionate. Children are provided with time to reflect on

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outstanding

each incident. The manager considers themes that relate to incidents of restraint, to inform staff responses to children. Over time, there has been a reduction in these incidents for most of the children. Children rarely go missing from the home. Records of these incidents are thorough and demonstrate excellent responses to the children. Staff consistently show the children how much they care about their well-being. Children feel safe and show a high level of trust towards staff in the knowledge that they will keep them safe. Staff support children who struggle with bedtime routines; staff spend time with them, practising wind-down techniques, which one child described with fondness and said that this made them feel safe and loved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by leaders who are well respected by all who work with them. They display unwavering passion for the children, which influences the staff in the home. This means that the children are provided with excellent care from staff who have a genuine commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The manager leads by example in ensuring high expectations of care for the children. Staff are consistent in their view that they are very well supported by the manager and enjoy working in the home. They are provided with regular supervision on a one-to-one basis and in group supervision supported by a therapist. This results in staff being encouraged to reflect on their practice, both individually and as a group. This has a positive impact on their ability to consider the children’s needs and to be consistent in their responses to the children and to each other. Staff are provided with both online and face-to-face training. They are trained to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

understand and respond to the needs of the children who live in the home. Managers have excellent relationships with other professionals, who praise them on their excellent communication skills and their commitment and aspirational approach to caring for the children. Managers want to hear the children’s views, and gain these via regular children’s meetings and key-work sessions. Throughout the inspection, children were seen to approach the manager to express their views and seek comfort and reassurance. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 5 Management oversight is consistent and of a high standard. The managers complete monthly audits of the children’s files to ensure that all paperwork is up to date. The quality of work is overseen and linked to themes, which are discussed with the staff during team meetings or communicated via daily communication. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 6

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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: SC066129 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fairport Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bank Chambers, 1 Central Avenue, Sittingbourne ME10 4AE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicky Farrant-D-Wilson

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Inspector

Faye McCarthy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066129 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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