Falkland House School

Staffing

All staff at Falkland House School are recruited through rigorous and thorough selection processes.   The school accepts its responsibility as outlined in the Scottish Social Services ‘Code of Practice’ and National Care Standards as regulated by the Care Commission.  The school is registered as a school care accommodation service.

The school is committed to staff development and has an ongoing programme for all staff to attain standards as set by the SSSC within an agreed timescale.   In addition all teaching staff must have General Teaching Council registration.

All staff are encouraged to accept responsibility for individual learning as part of their continuous professional development and this currently ranges from attendance at one day seminars to Masters Degrees in Social Work.

As part of the school’s commitment to staff training recent in-service training has included:

• SCIS Child protection Procedures (in house)
• ADHD Presentation (presented by staff from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children)
• First Aid Course (presented by the British Red Cross)
• Crisis and Aggression Limitation Management (CALM Verification)
• Fire Awareness and Extinguisher Course (presented by Fife Fire and Rescue)
• Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate (presented by Elmwood College)
• Team Building (in house)
• Tourettes and Aspergers Syndrome (presented by Dr L Taylor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist)
• Drug and Alcohol Awareness (presented by the Drugs & Alcohol Project Levenmouth (DAPL)
• MDS training (Boots the Chemist)

Specific training with smaller groups and individuals:

• Supervision Training for Unit Seniors (presented by JP Consultancy)
• SVQ4 Training
• SVQ3 Training
• HNC Care
• Masters Degree in Social Work
• Registered Managers Award
• Attendance at SIRCC short courses

Recreation

Falkland House offers a wide range of extra curricular activities as part of the 24 hour curriculum. Whilst the pupils thoroughly enjoy the wide range of activities, they are underpinned by the knowledge that they enhance the opportunity for social interaction, achievement and mental wellbeing.  The extra curricular programme promotes pupils’ personal and social development, building independence, cooperation with others and raising self esteem as well as improving the physical and emotional health of all pupils.

As well as using  the excellent resources both within the school building and the grounds of Falkland Estate, pupils use a variety of resources around Fife and their home area.

Some activities, such as sailing, cookery and social and vocational skills, offer pupils extended opportunities to gain SQA certification in their spare time.

Quotes

 

Parents

"You are a truly remarkable team of people who do a job that really does make a difference to the quality of people’s lives – not just the children, but their families too. You have given ____ an amazing gift – the opportunity to have a remarkable future. Thank you"

"Next to my family, I can’t imagine anyone I would be more happy with to look after my son in my absence"

"- As for me I don’t know what I would have done without your support"

"Thanks to Falkland House School he will grow into a respectful, confident, and pleasant young man"

"I would like to thank the whole team at FHS, for all the support and encouragement over the past three years. I am grateful for the patience, understanding, commitment, and dedication which you have given."

"Every member of staff is dedicated to the wellbeing of the pupils"

"I would also like to thank you for all the support you have also given to me, as a parent, it has been encouraging to know I was always able to pick up the phone and speak to someone"

"I have felt really supported by the school - preparing my son for the “outside world”. This help has been invaluable especially due to his diagnosis of aspergers"

"The staff maintain regular contact with myself and all of the outside agencies involved with his care. This ensures a multi-disciplinary approach that ensures the highest level of care possible” My son is a confident, happy young man who is fulfilling his potential"

"Contact between myself and the school is excellent"

"My son has never liked school; his experience wasn’t a particularly positive one – UNTIL he went to FHS. We just wish we had the opportunity to enrol here earlier"

 

Inspection Agencies

"Service users health and wellbeing are met – “The service was found to have an excellent performance in relation to this quality statement"
Care Commission 08

"The fabric of the school building, along with resources used by young people, continue to be in outstanding order"
Care Commission 08

"The schools high level commitment to Child protection – exemplified by the exemplary training opportunities staff have in this area"
Care Commission 08

"The positive ethos in the school with all staff teams working together provided an exceptional example of effective joint working"
Care Commission 08

"Supporting pupils to participate in recruitment extended further the wide ranging opportunities that pupils already have to participate in the schools decision making process"
Care Commission 09

"Staffs knowledge and understanding was enhanced by the services very strong commitment to training"
Care Commission 08

"The school had established an extremely effective peer support system"
Care Commission 08

"An example of best practice was the recently run Internet safety course – for all classes in the school"
Care Commission 08

"Observation of staff practice during the lunch hour, confirmed that pupils had an excellent rapport with staff"
Care Commission 09

"There was a focus on building self esteem, developing values and respecting those around them."
HMIe/Care Commission 2007

"Across the school the quality of attainment was very good"
HMIe/Care Commission 07

"Parents were well informed about their children’s progress through photographs, review meetings, and telephone calls"
HMIe/Care Commission 07

"The school placed a strong emphasis on supporting young people as individuals. Staff showed personal commitment towards their pupils"
HMIe/Care Commission 07

 

User Agencies

"Children are supported with sensitivity and respect and their views are always taken seriously"

OUTREACH – "reliable and enjoyable, a variety of activities are offered, with photographs for the family – makes this inclusive and provides positive memories"

"Re sharing of information/emails – you have no idea what a joy it is to work with a school so committed to working within a “team” – not always my experience, believe me".

"I am delighted that he is making such good use of the opportunities that attending Falkland House School gives him, not least his increasing academic achievement"

"Contact between home and agencies “This is an area of outstanding service"

"The school is outstanding in the sensitivity shown to meet each child’s needs and in the flexibility of the staff"

"I have been most impressed with frequency of contact in relation to pupils I am involved with"

"It is said that the quality of a schools ethos depends on its management. Openness and approachability are the hallmarks of the schools management and of its entire staff"

"I have seen the pupils from my authority develop a sense of trust in adults during their time in this school, which most of them lacked before attending FHS"

"Good to see a school where the ethos is towards the boy’s positive future. Excellent facilities, very helpful staff"

 

Others

"I just wanted to say thank you for letting me see around the school. It was both a fascinating and heart warming experience".
Member European Parliament

"We both left buzzing with enthusiasm about the school and the quality of the experience that your young people enjoy there".
SCIS

"You have all done a good job looking after me over the years. We’ve had some great times. Thank you for all the support and kindness".
Former Pupil

"It would seem that the inspectors could clearly see the effort put in by everyone in the school to make Falkland House School the good school that it is"
Member Scottish Parliament

Accommodation

Falkland House School is located close to the historic village of Falkland in Fife and is within easy travelling distance from most centres of population. We enjoy a very attractive setting within the idyllic Falkland Estate. Pupils are able to enjoy access to a vast outside recreational area.

There are three residential units within the school. Atholl and Fife units cater for the younger pupils and the Flat is a semi-independent unit for older pupils. All the residential facilities are regulated by the Care Commission.

All units function independently with their own dedicated staff team who strive to offer a safe, caring and nurturing environment. The ethos of each unit is homely, comfortable and relaxed. Pupils are positively encouraged to respect each other as individuals. Each unit operates a behaviour scheme where positive social skills are promoted, recognised and rewarded.

All units have their own lounges containing a wide range of reading material and traditional games. There is also a variety of computer consoles and games. Within each unit there is also either a kitchen or breakfast bar facilities.

Pupils’ bedrooms are modern and well equipped. Each has a study desk to enable pupils privacy to complete homework. All rooms also have a television and DVD player. Pupils are actively encouraged to personalise their rooms.

All units also have direct dial telephones for private outgoing and incoming calls.

Within the school there is a gym, a separate fitness suite with a variety of keep fit machines, a library with a variety of audio and reading materials and home cinema system and a computer suite with controlled filtered internet access.

The joint Care Commission and HMIe inspection reported “the quality of accommodation and facilities to be very good.”