Children's home run by The Forge Nuneaton Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 1 Registered provider: The Forge Nuneaton Limited

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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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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

This assurance inspection was completed due to concerns Ofsted had received in relation to the care of children.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, four children have moved out of the home. At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. Children who have moved into the home said they were able to meet the adults and children and see the home before deciding whether it was a right fit for them.

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The care of children

Three of the children have education placements that they are attending. One child is new to the home, and an education package to suit their needs is being sought. One child told the inspector that the care she has received has enabled her to improve her education grades. She recognises the positive impact the move has had on her life, sharing that the adults ‘understand you’.

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The care of children

Children have positive relationships with the adults working in the home. They confide in them when they are worried, and the adults respond with empathy and support. Children readily seek emotional warmth and cuddles from the adults, who reciprocate. One child spoke about how the adults are kind and respectful to them and that this helps them to feel valued and cared for.

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The care of children

Children enjoy activities with the adults and have recently been on holiday and visited theme parks, helping to make positive childhood memories. Adults take photos of children that are proudly displayed within the home, which helps children to feel a sense of belonging.

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The care of children

Children receive appropriate support regarding their health. When children’s mental health is low or there are concerns regarding substance misuse, appropriate referrals are made to offer children relevant support. Children benefit from the support of a clinical team to help them understand their experiences and trauma. One child shared that she was ‘finally getting the help’ she needed.

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The safety of children

Children living in the home told the inspector they feel safe, are able to talk with adults working in the home, trust them and know they will be well supported. When children have made allegations or disclosures, they have been listened to and taken seriously, and the relevant professionals have been informed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 3 Staff use restraint when children are posing a danger to themselves or to others. However, there has been an occasion where the adults continued to restrain a child as they walked upstairs, posing a great risk to the child and adults involved. Additionally, the child was being taken to their bedroom, which is not conducive to a homely environment where a child’s bedroom is their sanctuary. The manager has spoken with the adults involved in the incident and has been clear that in these circumstances, this restraint should not be used again.

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The safety of children

The arrangements for the safe administration and oversight of children’s medication are poor. There are no protocols in place for prescribed and as-required medicines. Medical administration records are written by adults who have not received adequate training. These records contain inaccurate and conflicting information regarding dosage and timings. For example, one child is prescribed medication for anxiety. There is no guidance on when this can be used, how many times and any side effects. This poor approach to medication arrangements leaves children at risk of harm. The manager is taking immediate steps to review training and medicines arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is experienced and has the relevant qualifications. She is knowledgeable about children’s lived experiences and ambitious for children’s futures. There is a newly appointed responsible individual who is working with the management team to review staff practice and the quality of care that children receive. Shortfalls found at the inspection were already known to the management team. Managers have implemented an action plan to make the required improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has failed to ensure that actions included in a fire risk assessment have been completed within the advised timescale. This has the potential to compromise the safety of children and adults in the event of a fire. Remedial action has been planned.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Adults have received training relevant to children’s experiences, safeguarding and restraint. However, an agency member of staff has been involved in a restraint without receiving relevant training. The manager had implemented a risk assessment in the absence of this training; however, this puts the child and adults at risk of being injured. There is a plan for staff to attend restraint training this month.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has oversight of incidents. However, the learning from these incidents is not always embedded and included in children’s plans to support adults should they face a similar situation. For example, on reviewing a restraint, adults have raised concerns and areas of improvement that have not been implemented. This is a missed opportunity to improve practice and children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

A recommendation regarding the need for the manager to ensure they are aware of children’s needs and receive relevant documentation remains, as this was not reviewed at this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 4 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2023 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 6

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Statutory requirements

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

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that learning from incidents is put into practice and reflected in children’s plans to inform staff on how to respond to similar incidents in the future. 31 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 31 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 7 This specifically relates to avoiding restraints on stairs and only implementing a restraint for as long as is necessary.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that medication is appropriately recorded, including relevant guidance and protocols to be followed. 31 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that any actions that are required as part of risk assessments are completed in the advised timescale. 31 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should challenge any placing authority that asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and current relevant plan and 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 8 other children in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)  The registered person should ensure that in a restraint situation, staff use their professional judgement, supported by their knowledge of each child’s risk assessment, an understanding of the needs of the and an understanding of the risks the child faces. Professional judgements may need to be taken quickly, and staff training and supervision of practice should support this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 48,

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Recommendations

paragraph 9.53) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Forge Nuneaton Limited

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rebecca Grimshaw

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Inspectors

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2673408 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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