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FEVACA Children’s Homes: Triple Threat of “Good” Ofsted Ratings!

February 19 2024

Ofsted has now published all the reports regarding the inspections we had in December/January in all three Children’s Homes, and we’re thrilled to announce that we achieved “Good” ratings across ALL THREE of our children’s homes, with areas of “Outstanding”! This incredible achievement wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our incredible staff, who go above and beyond to create safe, nurturing havens for the children in our care.

But “Good” doesn’t even do it justice: This is the second year in a row with ALL homes rated at least “Good” and there was a reduction in requirements and recommendations across the board (just 1 of each in total!), showing our constant dedication to improvement, ensuring the best possible care for every child.

This journey is a testament to our commitment to excellence. Thank you to our amazing team, the children who trust us, all professionals involved in their care, and our shared pursuit of providing exceptional care!

Let’s keep shining! ✨

#Ofsted #ChildrensHomes #Excellence #Teamwork #CelebratingSuccess #MakingADifference

Supported Accommodation Application Accepted by Ofsted

June 9 2023

We are thrilled to announce that our Supported Accommodation application has been accepted by Ofsted. FEVACA is one of the first providers to reach this stage of the registration process and this wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our passionate team members, who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being and progress of every child under our care. Their hard work, compassion, and expertise have played a vital role.

As a provider, Supported Accommodation is core to FEVACA practice and since our establishment, more than a decade ago, we have campaigned for the regulation of the sector and for the promotion and development of the quality of the sector.

Mental Health Awareness Week – Wear it Green Day

May 18 2023

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, and this year’s theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a human emotion and plays a crucial role in our fight or flight responses. However, in certain circumstances, anxiety can escalate and become a mental health issue. Various factors, such as exams, a new job, life changes, or financial concerns, can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Anxiety is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health problems, affecting 25% of adults to the extent that it interferes with their desired activities. By focusing on anxiety during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we aim to raise awareness and understanding while providing information on preventive measures.

FEVACA proudly supports Mental Health Awareness Week by organizing a “Wear It Green Day” across all our children’s homes and supported accommodations. Our young people and support workers are engaged in baking green treats, hosting green-themed quizzes, and incorporating the Mental Health Foundation’s recommendation of “Thriving in Nature” to support the health and well-being of our youth and support staff. By learning coping mechanisms and skills together, we empower our young people with the tools they may need in the future to solve problems and achieve their goals.

Supported Accommodation Providers Forum

May 5 2023

During the 2023 FEVACA Conference on Supported Accommodation (see website here), it was raised by Local Authorities that several outstanding small providers are considering not registering as a Supported Accommodation provider, due to aspects such as the potential complexity of the registration process, articulation with Ofsted, doubts and concerns around the structure needed.

As a provider, Supported Accommodation is core to FEVACA practice and since our establishment we have campaigned for the regulation of the sector and for the promotion and development of the quality of the sector. Following the above feedback, FEVACA wants to use its experience (including with our Ofsted registered Children’s Homes), to support providers understanding of the regulation and registration processes and consequent requirements, and to continue delivering high-quality supported accommodation.

All information is available at http://www.fevaca.co.uk/providers-forum/ and registrations can be completed at http://www.fevaca.co.uk/providers-forum-registration/

FEVACA Conference on Supported Accommodation

April 20 2023

Thank you all for your presence at the 2023 FEVACA Conference on Supported Accommodation yesterday.

It was a day to share knowledge and ideas around the new Regulations for Supported Accommodation and how we can all work together to develop this sector and caringly support all our young people.

All your presences were fundamental to achieve this.

The FEVACA way

April 4 2023

With the start of April, we reach the end of the 2022/2023 inspection cycle of residential children’s homes, and we couldn’t be more proud of our team. All our homes are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We work together to provide real homes that feel like homes and to develop real relationships. People that truly care about the children and young people, to make sure they found in us another home, not just a house.

Staff that works every day to make sure that these “kids” reach all their potential, that having amazing academic success is possible (as happened with “E”), that returning to their birth family is not a dream, but a reality (as was the case of “I”), that together we can understand the reasons behind decisions that put them in very risky situations (as used to happen with “C”), that when things go wrong in their lives, when no one seems to “accept” them, there are people that care about them and will support them (as lived by “S”), or that they don’t need to be restrained to be safe (as was the case of “R”).

Children and young people know that even when they might do things that the adults don’t want them to, that are not the “expectations”, they know that they can come back and we will be there, so together we can improve, make a better decision.

All this “work” is much more than just “work”. It is understanding, support, care, and love. And this is what really matters.

Every Intervention Matters.

And this approach, this methodology, this constant desire of having “our kids” reach all they can reach, even knowing that there will be bumps, steps back, challenges, tears, and feelings of sadness, is also our way of working in our Supported Accommodation.

Because Supported Accommodation can also be in places where young people feel like being at home, that become their homes, with staff always there to support, with staff that care about them.

We are proud of our staff, especially because we are all proud of all our children and young people.

It’s the FEVACA way.

The National SaILS Conference

March 25 2023

On the 16th of March 2023, FEVACA attend the first National SaILS Conference, a conference for the supported accommodation sector. This event was launched with the purpose of bringing together key stakeholders across the country that work to support young people. As the new Ofsted regulations and standards are published and registrations for providers start in April 2023 we thought it was a fantastic opportunity to gain some clarification on what the regulations mean for supported accommodation and what the outcomes and expectations would look like. Like many other sponsors and professionals working in the supported and independent living sector we had reservations, questions and anxieties regarding how the regulations would affect the services available to young people. Ofsted’s Project Director for supported accommodation Matthew Brazier and Ofsted’s Deputy Director for Regulation and social care Policy Lisa Pascoe were there on the day to reassure and guide us all on what the regulations will look like for supported accommodation and provided the opportunity for open questions to be asked.

FEVACA had the wonderful privilege of being Gold sponsor for this event whereby we collaborated with others across the sector who wish to better the future of young people in supported accommodation. A platform for sharing knowledge, ideas, experiences, and hopes. The hopes we have for others like us, who work tirelessly to promote that vision of improved outcomes and opportunities. We loved spending the day with so many like-minded people, promoting what we do and why we do it. We at FEVACA are excited about the future of services for young people and the national SaILs conference provided us with the chance to develop ourselves, our company, our knowledge, and our understanding of what is yet to come.

FEVACA on BBC’s Newsnight

February 28 2023

3 years ago, today, we were on a debate about “unregulated children’s homes”. This debate was promoted by BBC’s Newsnight following an investigation into unregulated children’s homes and the government announcement of  a review of the sector. Katie Razzall was joined in studio by Councillor Richard Watts of the Local Government Association, Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield, care leaver Paige Brookes, child care consultant Chris Wild, and our director Caroline Fonjock.

Today, and while waiting for the new Supported Accommodation regulations, is it a good time to go back and listen to Caroline Fonjock  talking about care, support and caring support.

If you want to see, or review this episode, follow this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0855fzn 

FEVACA at The National SaILS Conference

February 21 2023

While looking forward for the Supported Accommodation regulatory framework, FEVACA will be at the National SaILS Conference, on the 16th of March. It is an important moment for the sector, becoming even more important that all the partners are able to sit together and articulate in order to promote the best outcomes possible for the children we caringly support.

Clipping: DfE care review response: key points

February 8 2023

From regulating agency social work and overhauling early help to investing in kinship care and regionalising the commissioning of care placements, here are the key takeaways from the DfE’s children’s social care strategy

On 2 February 2023, the Department for Education issued its response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s inquiry into the murders of Star Hobson and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and the Competition and Markets Authority’s study of the children’s social care market, in three consultation documents:

[see Community Care article]

An outstanding end of 2022

January 22 2023

The end of 2022 was an exciting moment in FEVACA, We have implemented a new structure (including training) to prepare us for the future regulations for Supported Accommodation provisions (that will be in place in our Supported Housing) and we also had two extremely positive OFSTED inspections in our Residential Children’s Homes.

The first one was in Garnet with an outcome of “Good” in all areas, that was, according to the final feedback a “very strong good” with a “clear movement towards outstanding” since the last inspection in 2021. Two weeks later, we had an inspection at Opal with an even better outcome: Outstanding in all areas. This is even more impressive when we had no recommendations or requirements being raised, leaving Opal on the top of the top of Residential Children’s Homes in the UK.

These results are the recognition of the work that we all have done in the last years, throughout and “after” COVID, and its impact on the lives of the children and young people in our homes.

The full reports were now published and can be read in the OFSTED website

Garnet – https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50203552

Opal – https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50204542