Children's Home run by Fairfield Residential Limited in Trafford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 1 SC387148 Registered provider: Fairfield Residential Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company and provides education on site at a registered school. The inspector focused solely on inspecting the social care provision at this setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to 5 children with learning disabilities and autism.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living at the home. The inspector observed 4 children during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2015.

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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: 3 September 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2025 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/10/2024 Full Good 14/11/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 3

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Summary of findings

Children have lived at the home for a significant length of time. They are settled, have positive relationships with staff and are making progress.

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Summary of findings

Children’s plans are clear about the actions staff must take to keep them safe. Staff thoroughly understand their needs and risks. Staff are skilled at de-escalating situations to help children feel settled.

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Summary of findings

Staff feel well supported by their managers. The manager and senior staff ensure that staff have the necessary skills and experience to care for children with complex needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are supported to feel settled and safe. One young person recently turned 18. The manager and staff are liaising with adult services to ensure that the young person experiences a planned move to a home environment where their complex needs can be met throughout their adulthood. The staff are planning to maintain contact with the young person, who has lived at the home for a long time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work effectively with a wide range of professionals to ensure that children’s complex needs are met and that they make progress. One child now spends time every day using their standing frame, as outlined in their plans. This has helped them develop greater strength in their posture.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families are welcomed into the home, and flexible arrangements are made to support this where appropriate. Staff have positive relationships with children and their families. They offer support and guidance as needed to ensure that families are included in their children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to make choices. Using their preferred methods of communication and the staff’s creative approach, children can make choices about their care and day-to- day living experiences. Children are involved in weekly meal and activity planning. Social stories are used to help children understand events and daily routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. When children become unsettled, staff carefully consider a range of factors and speak with professionals to determine whether any changes are required. One child experienced an unsettled period, and staff identified changes to their medication as a possible contributing factor. Staff advocated for the medication to be reviewed, and professionals agreed to discontinue one medication. As a result, the child’s quality of life has improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to learn and develop. Staff support children to experience a range of activities and develop life skills. Children are supported to cook, clean the home Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 4 and sort their laundry. They enjoy outings to the local coffee shop, parks, the beach and libraries. Staff keep photographic records of the children’s daily experiences to share with them.

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

Children are safe in the home. Behaviour support plans and risk assessments are individualised and identify children’s needs and risks. Children’s communication and sensory needs are carefully considered. The actions staff should take to reduce risk are clear.

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

Staff know the children well. They are skilled in de-escalating behaviours and helping children feel calm. When children cause injury through self-injurious behaviour, staff seek medical advice and advocate for additional equipment to help reduce the risk of further injury. Staff work with the parent of one child to have a helmet as a preventive measure. This was initially rejected; however, the manager successfully challenged this decision.

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

Since the last inspection, 2 medication errors have occurred. Staff involved received additional training, and the assessment of their ability to administer medication is robust. Senior staff carry out daily medication audits, enabling them to promptly identify errors. No children have been affected by medication errors.

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

The manager follows safer recruitment processes to ensure the suitability of individuals working with children in the home.

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

Children are rarely held. However, when physical intervention is used, it is only when necessary to keep children and others safe. Staff use the least restrictive measure. The manager oversees all incidents of physical intervention, and children and staff are spoken to following incidents to ensure that their views are sought. This enables the manager to assess the appropriateness of the actions taken and whether any changes are needed.

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

The home is a safe environment for children. There are necessary adaptations to meet children’s physical needs. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and include adaptive equipment, such as safe-space beds, to prevent injuries and help children feel safe. There are sensory resources throughout the home tailored to children’s needs and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by 2 strong senior support workers. They work together effectively to ensure that staff understand and provide children with the care they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported. They can openly approach their managers during supervision, team meetings and daily conversations. Staff are open to challenging each other’s practice. They use this to work together and, if necessary, make effective changes to improve the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 5 There are clear systems in place to monitor staff practice and children’s progress. The manager and senior support workers produce regular progress reports and have full oversight of children’s records, including incidents. Senior leaders carry out regular audits. However, the manager has not informed the regulator of a significant incident in a timely manner, which impacts the regulator’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are supported to continue their learning and development. When staff have not completed the required training to continue in their role, prompt action has been taken. This ensures that only staff with the relevant qualifications and experience are caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team. Agency staff are used only when necessary and are predominantly the same individuals, who are known to the children and familiar with their needs. This helps children to feel safe and settled. Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 6

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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

If a child dies, the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

the Secretary of State (if the Secretary of State is not the placing authority);

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Requirement Due date

the local authority in whose area the children’s home is located (if that local authority is not the placing authority);

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Requirement Due date

the [F1integrated care board (established under Chapter A3 of Part 2] of the National Health Service Act 2006) for the area in which the home is located;

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Requirement Due date

if the child was accommodated in a secure children’s home, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales (“the PPO”); and

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Requirement Due date

If a child accommodated in a secure children’s home dies, the registered person must allow the PPO to investigate the death by—

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Requirement Due date

allowing the PPO to take away from the premises, securely, copies of any documents or records provided under sub- paragraph (a)(ii); and 9 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 7 if they consent, allowing the PPO to interview in private any children, parents or relatives, or persons working at the home.

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Requirement Due date

If there is a referral of a person working in the home pursuant to section 35 (Regulated activity providers: duty to refer) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 M1, the registered person must without delay notify—

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 8 must be made or confirmed in writing.

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Requirement Due date

In this regulation, references to the PPO include a person appointed by, or working on behalf of, the PPO for the purposes of an investigation under paragraph (2). (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(ii)(b) (6))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must notify HMCI without delay when a serious incident occurs.

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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: SC387148 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fairfield Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 108 Whitworth Road, Rochdale OL12 0JJ

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Inspector

Sarah Probert, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC387148 10 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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