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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 1 Registered provider: Fair Ways Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large charity and is registered to provide care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, there were six children living in the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the setting since the last inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. 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 alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2025 Full Good 20/03/2024 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Outstanding 19/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm, welcoming and well-maintained environment that reflects the staff team’s strong commitment to creating a sense of belonging for children. Children’s bedrooms are thoughtfully personalised in line with each child’s preferences, showcasing their individuality and helping them to feel safe and valued. Notably, children expressed pride in their spaces and were happy for inspectors to view their rooms, a clear indicator of their comfort and ownership of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of each child’s background and current needs. Through consistent engagement and observation, they have developed effective strategies to support children during moments of distress. Secure and trusting relationships are evident, with children beginning to open up, express their feelings and explore their emotional development.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key-work sessions are used thoughtfully to facilitate meaningful conversations about important issues. These sessions not only provide children with emotional support but also serve to deepen the bonds between staff and children, reinforcing a culture of safety, empathy and relational care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The therapeutic input provided by ‘The Hub’ plays a vital role in equipping staff to understand and accept each child as an individual. This support fosters a culture of high nurture and patience, enabling staff to respond to children’s needs with empathy and consistency.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly encouraged to express their views, wishes and feelings, which are actively considered by staff in care planning, activities and daily routines. This was evident during a breakfast meeting where children discussed the rainy weather, leading staff to adapt the day’s plans to include indoor activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s healthcare is well managed through clear documentation and close collaboration with professionals, including child and adolescent mental health services, ensuring safe medication and up-to-date care. Staff are committed to helping one child improve his sleep hygiene, seeking external support to guide this ongoing process.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers consistently advocate for children and prioritise their best interests. However, there remains a missed opportunity to offer children access to an independent adult who could further support their voice and autonomy.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is a key strength of the home, with children’s voices actively shaping decisions. This approach supported one young person’s smooth transition into foster care and ensured that another child’s introduction to the home was handled sensitively. Staff teams were fully consulted, and detailed matching and impact assessments were carried out to promote the best outcomes for all. Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 4 All the children are thriving in their own unique ways. Despite occasional challenges, it is clear that they view the home as their safe and supportive space.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive education tailored to their individual needs, with a clear focus on gradually increasing to full-time learning. This ensures that children are offered educational support at their own pace.

p.4

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

Children’s safety is central to staff practice. When children experience distress, incidents are managed with empathy and a deep understanding of their needs. Physical restraints are proportionate and brief, used only to ensure safety. Records are clear and reflective, highlighting staff learning and guiding future responses. Post-incident support is delivered with care, helping children process their emotions. The home fosters a culture of continuous improvement for both children and staff.

p.4

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

Consultations with, and analysis by, the organisation’s restraint trainers offer an additional layer of scrutiny and quality assurance, helping to ensure that any physical restraint is necessary and proportionate, and that children are not being held unnecessarily.

p.4

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

Children understand how to raise complaints and are supported by staff throughout the process to ensure that their concerns are addressed and resolved.

p.4

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

Accidents and injuries are recorded promptly and accurately, ensuring that timely action is taken to protect the health and safety of both children and staff in the home.

p.4

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

Staff are diligent in administering medication, resulting in errors being extremely rare. Since the last inspection, only one minor error has occurred, with no negative impact on the child involved.

p.4

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

Staff are well informed about the procedures for reporting and escalating allegations against colleagues. Therapeutic input is central to supporting staff, enabling the team to care for children using a trauma-informed approach.

p.4

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

Safeguarding procedures are followed and appropriate professionals are consulted with, including children’s placing authorities and the local authority designated officer. However, senior leaders failed to take effective action in a timely manner following a serious incident, which resulted in a delay in formal processes being instigated and a further, avoidable incident involving the child.

p.4

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

Managers are aware that none of the children’s allergies require emergency medical intervention, but they are unable to explain the extent of how these allergies affect individual children. With a reliance on bank and multi-site staff, the lack of clear guidance poses a risk of children being offered food or drink that could cause discomfort due to allergic reactions. Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 5 Health and safety in the home, including fire risk management, is well maintained. Maintenance issues are promptly addressed, and managers uphold high standards throughout the home. Staff and children understand emergency procedures, ensuring a safe environment for all.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment procedures are robustly followed. The recruitment team ensures that all references address safeguarding, with telephone verification as a backup. A comprehensive checklist supports a thorough process, helping to secure the most suitable candidates to work with the children.

p.5

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

Staff treat children with respect and understanding, tailored to their individual needs and experiences. Consistent boundaries and transparent practice help children to feel safe and to understand natural consequences. All achievements, no matter how small, are celebrated, and this boosts children’s self-worth and confidence.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home currently lacks the key characteristics of strong leadership and management. However, leaders and managers have recognised areas of weakness and have developed clear action plans to address them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A recent serious incident in the home had a notable emotional impact on the staff members involved. Senior leaders responded effectively, offering additional support through structured debriefs and sessions via The Hub. This proactive approach enabled staff to safely process their feelings without it affecting the care and emotional well- being of the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff consistently report feeling well supported by the management team and express genuine enjoyment in working at the home. Regular and effective supervision, complemented by team meetings and reflective sessions through The Hub, reinforces this sense of support and promotes ongoing professional development. As a result, staff feel appreciated, valued and confident in their roles.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders promote an open, transparent and learning-focused culture, both internally and across services. This empowers staff to challenge one another and raise practice concerns in a professional and constructive manner. As a result, children are kept safe, and any necessary actions or learning are promptly identified and implemented.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive both mandatory and targeted training, tailored to emerging behaviours and risks presented by the children. Managers routinely review the training matrix and work closely with the training team to ensure that refreshers are scheduled promptly and that no training gaps occur. Individual learning needs are also considered, ensuring that children are cared for by a well-qualified and responsive staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers and staff prioritise high-quality team meetings that foster reflective practice, curiosity and collaborative problem-solving. Safeguarding is a central focus, alongside Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 6 in-depth discussions about each child’s traumatic experiences and individual needs. These topics are revisited regularly, with staff actively encouraged to share feedback and contribute to ongoing learning.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Children benefit from care provided by a consistent and well-staffed team. Managers prioritise flexibility in staff availability and support to ensure that children are cared for by familiar, skilled individuals. The organisation’s use of casual and multi-site staff further strengthens continuity, with children supported by people they know and trust.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff create positive experiences for children by providing consistent routines, clear boundaries and meaningful engagement. They take the time to talk with children, show genuine interest in their hobbies and nurture curiosity. Children participate in a wide range of activities tailored to their interests and needs, such as cricket, dance classes, farm visits, bug exploration, swimming and woodland walks. These opportunities help children discover new passions, maintain physical fitness and build strong connections within their community. Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 7

p.6

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 within the given timescales.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.7

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, senior leaders should take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. 9 November 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, staff need to understand how to safely manage children’s allergies. 9 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 8

p.7

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: 2551007 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fair Ways, Building 1000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3EN

p.9

Inspectors

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector (lead) Maria Calway-Kennedy, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2551007 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10