Children's Home run by Fair Ways Community Benefit Society in Hampshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 1 Registered provider: Fair Ways Community Benefit Society

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a large charity and provides care for up to 6 children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in May 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered provider has recently appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking whether this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Inspection date: 1 July 2026

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 1 July 2026

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from trusting relationships with staff who create emotional safety for them. Children’s willingness to disclose sensitive or difficult issues demonstrates that they feel confident in the staff’s response and support.

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Summary of findings

Children experience a range of activities and are supported to spend meaningful time with their families and loved ones. Staff provide children’s professional networks with regular updates on their progress, challenges and achievements. This helps to strengthen the multi-agency approach, ensuring that children receive well- coordinated care.

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Summary of findings

Children’s experiences of education are varied. Education placements are in place for all children, although not all are currently accessing them. Staff provide structured learning opportunities in the home and offer educationally enriching community-based activities. However, some children are not yet attending an education setting that meets their individual needs.

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Summary of findings

Staff have a good understanding of the risks affecting children and provide personalised support to help reduce their vulnerabilities. Incident reports are detailed, accurate and clearly correlate all relevant information. The manager maintains effective oversight and reviews the level of support children require. This helps to minimise the potential for incidents to occur and ensures that the care provided by staff is both responsive and proactive.

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Summary of findings

Staff understand and diligently follow the correct procedures when children go missing from home. They have developed specific agreements for children who may require time away from the group, reducing the likelihood of them feeling the need to run away or evade supervision.

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Summary of findings

Children are increasingly able to discuss their feelings openly. Staff support children to become more reflective about their involvement in incidents and, positively, some children’s behaviours have changed as a result of this learning and the nurture they receive. This reflects the commitment shown by staff to building secure relationships and creating a safe, nurturing environment.

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Summary of findings

There has been clear and sustained improvement since the last full inspection. The registered manager demonstrates renewed confidence and provides purposeful leadership. This has contributed to a noticeably more positive and stable environment. The requirements and recommendations raised at the last full inspection are being systematically addressed, with work underway to ensure that Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 3 all actions are fully met. While progress has been made, these requirements were not fully reviewed during this inspection and will be considered at the next full inspection.

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Summary of findings

Staff feel well supported by managers. They are equipped with the appropriate training and guidance to manage complex situations and provide high-quality care to children. Learning is shared effectively across the team, and expectations are reinforced through appropriate performance management processes when required.

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Summary of findings

The home is now fully staffed, with additional team members onboarding to reduce reliance on multi-site and bank staff. This strengthens continuity of care and ensures that children are cared for by familiar, trusted adults.

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Summary of findings

Managers respond promptly to concerns, providing all relevant information to support informed decision-making and maintain transparency across agencies.

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Summary of findings

No additional requirements were raised at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/04/2026 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/11/2025 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(v)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 31 August 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 6 ensure that each child—

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Requirement Due date

is given appropriate advocacy support. (Regulation 7 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(b)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv)(vi)(vii)(b)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; 31 August 2026 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 7 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(v))

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(b)(c)(f)(h)) 30 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets, as well as their next steps in learning. Where a child’s progress is not in line with their agreed targets or next steps, staff should seek appropriate advice from education professionals, such as the headteacher of the virtual school, special educational needs coordinator, learning mentor or teacher. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.11) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 8  The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and other relevant parties if any of the situations specified in Regulation 40 (4)(a) to (d) occur, or if there is a serious incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including

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Recommendations

the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fair Ways Community Benefit Society

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Vicki Horton, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2827029 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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