About
A Birmingham consultancy for the work around the care.
FiveWays Advisory is based in Central Birmingham, giving us fast access to providers across the West Midlands and direct routes to every major region in England. We meet services on‑site, and our consultancy footprint covers the whole country.
Fiveways Advisory supports people who run children’s homes and supported living services. The usual starting point is compliance troubleshooting. The other work follows from that: an Ofsted or CQC application, policies, inspection preparation, improvement, and the property and planning questions that have to be settled before a home can open.
Five Ways Advisory Ltd, company number 16946558, was incorporated on 6 January 2026. Nigel Paul Swainbank is the director. The company is based in Birmingham and works with providers across England.
The company is young. The experience sits with the people. Nigel Swainbank has more than 35 years in children’s social care, residential services, safeguarding, quality assurance and operational management. Emily Almas has more than 15 years in care operations, compliance, team leadership and service development.
The people named on this site
Nigel Swainbank
Founder and consultant
Nigel is a social work and safeguarding consultant. Fiveways describes more than 35 years in children’s social care, residential services, safeguarding, quality assurance and operational management. He is the director of Five Ways Advisory Ltd.
Emily Almas
Executive operations manager
Emily leads operations. Fiveways describes more than 15 years in care operations, compliance, team leadership and service development.
How we work
- FoundationWe start from the service you actually intend to run, and from the regulations that apply to it in England.
- ClarityWe say what is ready, what is not, and which decision belongs to Ofsted, CQC or a planning authority.
- PracticeDocuments, training and plans are useful when staff can follow them. We edit for that.
- ContinuitySome clients need a diagnosis. Some need a longer spell of management support. The scope is agreed before the work.
- LimitsWe will not guarantee registration, a judgement or planning permission. Those decisions are not ours to make.