Children's home run by The Forge Nuneaton Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 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. The home is one of four homes on the same site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted. She was present during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. Three children were present throughout the inspection; two of these were spoken to by the inspectors.

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Information about this children’s home

The organisation prefer to use the term ‘adult’ instead of ‘staff’. Therefore, the term adult has been used throughout this report.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 18 December 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 2 Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/12/2023 Full Good 05/09/2023 Full Inadequate 17/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built strong relationships with the adults who care for them. Relationships between adults and children are warm, affectionate and loving. Adults are continually curious about, and reflect on, how they can help children grow in all areas of their development. Children are extremely positive about the care that they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults place a strong emphasis on education, as they understand the positive impact it has on children’s lives. As a result, children make good progress with their education and attendance. Adults work in partnership with schools and teachers to ensure that children have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop independence skills at a pace that suits their needs and abilities. Children develop skills such as budgeting, travelling independently, doing laundry and preparing meals. These opportunities enable children to take on appropriate levels of responsibility to develop life skills for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Adults ensure that children have positive experiences and try new things. They identify and nurture children’s interests well. For example, one child aspires to join the police force; they attend police cadets every week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and adults make every effort and dedicate considerable time to seeking the opinions of the children. Children have multiple opportunities to have their say, for example, through ‘let’s get together’ meetings, focal sessions and in the youth action committee. These events allow children to share and talk about their achievements, reflect on events and learn how to manage conflict and how they can support in developing the community. These opportunities provide valuable life experiences for children to learn how to communicate and listen effectively. Children’s views are promoted and they say they are listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment. Adults work hard to create an atmosphere that is full of warmth and love. The children’s bedrooms and the living areas of the home reflect children’s individuality, achievements and special interests. The decor, maintenance and organisation of the home clearly suggest that those who live there are important, valued and respected . However, one child’s bedroom carpet was heavily stained. The manager took prompt action to rectify this during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are not allowed into the kitchen after 9pm. The kitchen door is also occasionally locked during this time. The manager said that fruit and drinks are provided for children on the landing after this time. This restricts children’s access around the home and limits their freedom of choice. Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 5 Shortfalls in care planning mean that one child moved into, and then on from the home relatively quickly. Notice was served on this child’s placement after they had lived in the home for nine weeks. This was due to safeguarding concerns and behaviours that were known at the referral stage. The impact risk assessment did not consider all the child’s known risks alongside those of the other children living in the home. There was a lack of consideration given to the home’s location, the skills of the adults and how the home planned to safeguard all children living in the home and when they were in the

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

Adults are clear about their responsibilities to protect children. They understand the child protection policy and know how to report a safeguarding concern. The manager has an effective system for recording, reporting and monitoring safeguarding concerns. Liaison with external professionals, such as the local authority designated officer and social workers, is effective. Information is shared swiftly with them to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. The manager takes guidance from these professionals and they work together to ensure that children are safe. Safeguarding records are comprehensive. They detail the outcome of any concern as well as further actions adults need to be aware of.

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

When children go missing from home, adults follow the joint protocol effectively. Searches conducted by adults and persistent attempts to make contact show children they are cared about. Proactive collaboration with parents, local authorities and police supports children to return home safely.

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

The manager and adults demonstrate a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and potential risks posed to them. Children’s risk assessments are detailed and clear. Risks are appropriately rated. Adults are directed in how to manage and mitigate the risks identified for each child. Records of incidents show that adults are highly skilled in diversion, distraction and de-escalation, which demonstrates that the strategies identified are being used and are effective.

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

Incidents of children harming themselves have been managed well. The adults’ team approach to supporting children who harm themselves is highly nurturing and caring. Adults are comfortable talking to the children and gently challenge them to consider the effect of their risk-taking behaviour. Adults talk openly with children and listen to their views on why they want to harm themselves. Adults help them to work through their emotions and to talk more openly about their worries. Adults and managers work in partnership to support children with their emotional health. Children who harm themselves are provided with alternative strategies to keep themselves safe. Safety plans and risk assessments are kept up to date; in-house therapists, children’s mental health services and the children themselves have been involved in writing these.

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

Children know how to make a complaint and can identify a trusted adult. Managers and adults listen to children’s views and any complaints have been taken seriously. As a result, children feel listened to and valued. However, on one occasion, there was a Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 6 delayed response and the child was not given the outcome of their complaint in line with the home’s policy and procedure.

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

Ofsted has been notified of all serious events. However, on occasions, there has been a delay in sharing this information. This limits the regulator’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The new manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She has been in post six weeks and is a positive addition to the home. She is dedicated 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: requires improvement to be good

Adults now enjoy working at the home and feel supported. They say that the new manager has made a positive impact in a short period of time. As a result, the home is stabilising. The adults are enthusiastic about the children they care for and have high aspirations for what they, and the home, can achieve. Adults have previously felt unsupported, and in addition, there has been a high turnover of adults working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been some gaps in the monitoring and oversight of the home. The responsible individual has been able to quickly recognise the shortfalls in practice and implement learning to drive improvement in the home. She has been a protective factor in the home and is aware of the home’s strengths and development needs. Auditing tools are now implemented in practice, to produce action plans to develop the adults’ practice further and promote consistency in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager and adults have 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: requires improvement to be good

Adults are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets the children’s individual and diverse needs. Team meetings, staff council meetings and supervision sessions 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: requires improvement to be good

The internal review of the quality of care has now been submitted to Ofsted. However, this does not include consultation with relevant people. This limits the opportunity for leaders and managers to learn and take action to improve the quality of the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 7

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)) 30 July 2024

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv)) 30 July 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 8 This specifically relates to ensuring that children always have access to all areas of the home.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when children make complaints, they are responded to in line with the home’s policy and procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should ensure the home environment is homely, welcoming and well maintained. In particular, the manager needs to ensure that repairs are carried out to children’s bedrooms in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should seek to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. They are also required by regulation 40 to notify placing authorities, Ofsted and other relevant persons about serious events. Notifications must be sent without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph

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Recommendations

9.4)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. This must include consultation with relevant people. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 16.2)

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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: 2674760 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

Marianne Grandfield, Social Care Inspector Joanne Vyas, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for children's home: 2674760 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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