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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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SC066129 Registered provider: Fairport Care Services Ltd

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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 registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this visit, there were three children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection of a serious incident concerning a child that had occurred since the last full inspection. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered (where appropriate) alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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This monitoring visit

On 17 July 2025, a monitoring visit was carried out following the unexpected death of a child who lived at the home. The child’s death did not occur in the home. The purpose of the visit was to assess the actions taken by the staff in response. No concerns were identified during the visit. Actions taken were appropriate, and some aspects of the support provided for the emotional well-being of the children living in the home were particularly strong.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted carried out this latest monitoring visit following information received from the investigation undertaken by external authorities.

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This monitoring visit

One child has moved into the home since the last visit. All the children are cared for by supportive staff who provide a warm and homely environment for them. One child who knew the child who passed away has continued to be well supported by staff to grieve and remember fondly their time together. The staff have good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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This monitoring visit

relationships with the children. They are providing informal learning opportunities to one child who is not currently in education.

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This monitoring visit

Support for staff is variable. Staff speak positively about the support from managers, which includes group and individual sessions, allowing them to process the loss of the child. This support has allowed the staff to focus on the needs of the other children. However, for one staff member supervisions were not held at the frequency outlined in the organisation’s policy. This reduces the support that this staff member received and the manager’s ability to address any practice concerns at the earliest opportunity.

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This monitoring visit

The quality of plans to reduce risks for the children is variable. Although these plans are detailed and comprehensive, it is not always clear when they have been updated. This means that plans risk being out of date and not fully matched to children’s current needs and risks, and so they are less effective than they could be. Some key risks for one child have not been fully explored and staffing levels to reduce specific risks for the child are not clearly outlined for staff to follow. The manager is considering this as part of an ongoing review of the care for the children. Staff know the children well and understand how to reduce risks for them. Consequently, while the shortfall in some plans may have prevented them from always being as effective as they might be, this has not negatively affected the safety of the children.

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This monitoring visit

ks,risks, Managers ensure that the staff are suitable to provide care to the children. Safer

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This monitoring visit

recruitment checks are carried out well. When staff need adjustments to their duties, detailed and well-considered risk assessments are carried out. The organisation’s policies for these adjustments are supportive of staff welfare and ensure that staff are fully supported.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have clear and effective communication with the children’s education providers. The staff regularly share information about children’s risks and other key information to ensure that all parties are informed of emerging risks and incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and responsible individual have instigated a programme of ongoing joint work with external agencies to identify shared learning that is used to drive improvements in practice. Since the last visit, staff have worked with local police to improve information-sharing when the children are missing from home. The staff have also carried out further reviews of places where children may be when away from the home, to identify and reduce risks for them.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement and recommendations made at the last inspection fell outside the scope of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Two additional recommendations, in relation to the frequency of supervision and the need to ensure that risk assessments are always fully up to date, were made as a result of this visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/04/2025 Full Good 28/08/2024 Full Good 17/10/2023 Full Outstanding 14/02/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 independent person must produce a report about a visit which sets out, the independent person's opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b)) 31 July 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or adult care, or to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and mental resilience to cope without the home's support and, where the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 17, paragraph 3.27)  The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This relates to the use of door alarms and whether they are required. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the

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Recommendations

home and actively support each child to achieve their potential. In particular to ensure that staff are clear on the plans for supporting children's on-going development. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice frequently, in line with the organisation’s policies. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Plans for the children must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: SC066129 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 ME10 4AE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicky Farrant-D-Wilson

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Inspector

Becky Fisher, Social Care Compliance Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC066129 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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