Service
Property sourcing
A search for buildings that can support the care, with the location examined before you commit.
A children’s home is a house and a regulated service at the same time. The building has to work for the children, the staff and the neighbours, and the location has to be one you can explain. Ofsted expects the suitability of a children’s home location to be understood and kept under review.
We help you look for property against a written model of care. We are not an estate agent, we do not hold a public list of “approved” houses, and we do not replace your surveyor or your solicitor.
Who it is for
- Providers who know the model of care and now need a building.
- Owners of a building who need an early view of whether it can be a children’s home.
- Supported living providers looking at housing that has to stay distinct from the care.
What it addresses
- The house is beautiful and has nowhere for staff to sleep or to write.
- The location has not been thought about: schools, health, transport, and local risks.
- A lease is about to be signed before anyone has asked a planning question.
- The search is for “any four-bed” rather than for this statement of purpose.
How the work runs
- Write the brief Children, numbers, staffing pattern, office and sleep-in space, outdoor space, and the areas you will and will not consider.
- Search and screen We help you test candidates against the brief, including an early location conversation.
- Pause for planning Before you are committed, the planning position needs a proper look. That is the planning consultancy, or your own planning adviser.
- Hand to solicitors Lease or purchase terms are for your lawyer. We flag the care questions they should be told about, including stability of occupation.
What you need in place
- A model of care in writing, even if it is one page.
- A budget and a geography you mean.
- Patience to reject a house that fails the brief.
What you leave with
- A property brief tied to the model of care.
- A screening note on the buildings you are seriously considering.
- A recommendation on whether planning advice is needed before you proceed.
Time and fees
There is no standard duration. The regulator, the planning authority and the condition of the service all change the timetable. We will describe what we can see, and we will not promise a date.
The fee is agreed once we understand the work. A short review and a full registration are different assignments, so we do not publish one price for every enquiry.
Questions
Do you have a portfolio of homes?
No. We search against your brief. We do not advertise a stock of pre-approved properties.
Is recruitment included?
No. Recruitment and selection is its own service. Property sourcing stops at the building and the location.
Will Ofsted accept any house?
No. Ofsted looks at whether the premises and the location are suitable for the children. A completed purchase is not that test.
Next step
Send the model of care, the area you are searching, and any houses already in mind. If you have no model yet, start with children’s home setup.
Talk to FivewaysRelated
Fiveways Advisory is an independent consultancy. We are not Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission or a local planning authority, and this website is not legal, planning or regulatory advice. We cannot guarantee registration, an inspection judgement or planning permission.