Children's home run by The Forge Nuneaton Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 1 Registered provider: The Forge Nuneaton Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider and is registered to provide care for up to six children who have experienced trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of four homes on the same site. The home is part of a community that embraces the sanctuary model of therapeutic care.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2022.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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good

At the full inspection on 4 and 5 January 2023, a serious concern was identified and a judgement of inadequate was made. A monitoring visit took place on 2 March 2023. The monitoring visit found progress had been made and the judgement was changed to requires improvement to be good. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were five children living at the home. Since the monitoring visit on 2 March 2023, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. Children thrive on the positive relationships and therapeutic care that they receive. As a result, they are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well furnished and maintained and is a warm and welcoming environment. Children’s belongings fill the home, books and games are easily accessible and soft furnishings help to create a nurturing environment. Children personalise their bedrooms, which allows them to have a sense of pride in their home and promotes their well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built strong relationships with the staff who care for them. This helps children to build trust and to feel safer and relaxed in their surroundings. The manager and staff know the children well. They demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs. They respond to children sensitively and with compassion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s emotional health needs are addressed well. There are strong links with mental health professionals. Staff seek specialist help when this is necessary for children and have undertaken research to help meet specific needs of the children they care for. The multi-team approach means that children’s needs are responded to effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers are keen to hear every child’s voice. Children’s views are promoted and children say they are listened to. There is open communication between staff and children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy living in this home. One child said, ‘The best thing about living here is the friends I have made. I never had any before.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff want the best for the children who live here. Their positive relationships are clear to see. Children like spending time with staff and enjoy living here. Children take part in activities with staff that they enjoy. This provides children with the opportunity to gain new experiences and have fun. For example, children attend horse riding lessons and have been on trips to Warwick Castle and Blackpool.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that staff are skilled and equipped to meet all children’s needs. This enables the staff to prepare and support each child well, so that their move into and out of the home is smooth and successful. However, on one occasion, the manager did not ensure that all the child’s local authority plans were in date and relevant. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 4

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

When children have made allegations relating to staff in the home, the manager has taken such concerns seriously and conducted investigations to ensure that, as far as possible, children are cared for by appropriate individuals. Training has been delivered by the local authority designated officer to further enhance staff skills and knowledge in this area. This demonstrates effective safeguarding practice.

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

Staff and children have positive and caring relationships with each other. Managers and staff listen to children’s views. Children know how to make a complaint and any complaints are taken seriously. As a result, children feel listened to and valued.

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

Staff have used restraint to keep children safe. When restraint is used, it is necessary and proportionate. Clear and supportive debriefs take place with the children. This gives them space to reflect and learn from these incidents.

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

Incidents of self-harm have reduced. For example, one child had five incidents of self-harm in December 2022 and one incident of self-harm in March 2023. Staff and managers work in partnership to support children with their emotional health. Children who self-harm are provided with alternative strategies to keep them safe. Safety plans and risk assessments are kept up to date, with support from the clinical team.

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

The manager and staff have a good understanding of children’s specific risks. Clear guidance is implemented by the manager to support staff in managing these risks, and the guidance is regularly updated.

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

Staff educate children around risk. Children take part in focal sessions and engage in meetings where safeguarding scenarios are discussed to address identified risks and raise their awareness about topics of concern, including online safety, self-harm and lifesaving. This positive work enhances children’s knowledge of risk and allows them to take the lead in their learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified, and has a good understanding of the strengths and development needs of the home. She is passionate and child- focused, and children are at the centre of everything she does. The manager proactively sets clear standards of care. Her committed and determined approach continues to drive improvements in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers’ monitoring systems are embedded in practice, which ensures that they have a good oversight of the home and take action to address issues as they arise. Oversight of the home is effective. Managers therefore have a good understanding of how well this home is supporting children and the extent to which the aims for each child have been achieved. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 5 Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. Team meetings, supervisions and clinical consultations take place monthly and are used as a place for reflection and learning. Important issues are tracked and discussed, and children are at the centre of all practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and clinical team distil learning from theoretical models to staff. This gives staff greater understanding of children’s emotional needs and supports them to deliver consistent and individualised care. Children build trusting relationships with staff and are undertaking life-story work. Staff help children to understand their journey and develop skills enabling them to express their feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established strong connections with partner agencies. External professionals are positive about the communication with the team and about the care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Only three staff of the 12 working at the home are qualified and have previous experience working with children in residential settings. Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The manager must ensure that staff have the required experience and qualifications to meet the children’s needs. 30 July 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should challenge (under regulation 5(c)) any placing authority which asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current relevant plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without the necessary information would go ahead (in circumstances other than an emergency) is inadequate in relation to their role. It is essential that homes understand what will be required of them before they accept responsibility for a child’s placement, to avoid disruption and instability for the child in future and for other children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 7

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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: 2673408 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Forge Nuneaton Limited

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Inspector

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 9 to 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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