Children's home run by Forever 13 Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 1 Registered provider: Forever 13 Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a small private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home opened in April 2025. Since then, two children have moved into the home. They both took part in the inspection.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff plan effectively for children moving in. They organise visits with children before they move in. This helps to build positive relationships. The children get along well together and, despite their different personalities, they spend time together with staff both in and outside of the home. This helps children to build their social skills.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff effectively support the children to develop their independence skills. Staff also take part in a lot of activities with children, such as trips to cafés, day trips and meals out in restaurants.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers support children with their education. One child is doing an apprenticeship and attending college. The other child enjoyed their enrolment day at their chosen college recently. Staff are sensitive to children’s needs when returning to education. Staff show empathy and understanding and communicate with education providers. This helps children to engage positively.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are well supported by staff, who help children to attend their regular appointments. Staff also help children to have consistent access to specialist services. Staff involve children in their own care planning, and they are supported to attend their meetings and contribute their views. Children also have access to personal advisers and advocates, who meet with children to listen to their wishes and views. This helps children to feel valued and heard.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean and well maintained, with most areas providing a warm and welcoming feel. However, one communal room is not sufficiently personalised and lacks a homely feel. The absence of a blind or other suitable window covering in a child’s bedroom means that the child closes their curtains throughout the day, depriving them of natural light.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff generally demonstrate a therapeutic understanding when supporting children's emotional needs. However, on two occasions, staff interactions did not align with this approach, which led to children feeling that they were not being listened to. The management team took appropriate action to address this, and the staff involved have since reflected and taken learning from the experience. Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 3

p.2

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

Children are safer because of effective assessment and planning completed by staff and managers. There have been very few incidents at the home. When they do occur, staff are responsive and take quick and decisive action to keep children safe.

p.3

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

The home has a positive and safe environment, with no recorded incidents of restrictive physical intervention or children going missing. The supportive relationships that staff have with children ensure that previous concerning behaviours are not repeated. This contributes to children feeling safe and cared for, as reflected by one child, who stated, 'I like it here because I am cared for, included in decisions and I feel heard.'

p.3

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

On one occasion, a child left the home during the night in a state of distress. Staff responded swiftly and effectively to locate the child and ensure their safe return. The child said that they felt cared for in that moment and chose to return home because of the nurturing approach from staff.

p.3

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

When children struggle with their emotional health, staff show empathy and provide children with coping strategies that are effective. When children are in a state of crisis, staff make sure that actions are taken to keep children safe, including increased levels of supervision and urgent safety planning when needed.

p.3

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

Staff and managers communicate well with external agencies. They keep professionals up to date with safety planning and share information. They attend wider meetings to discuss children’s emotional well-being.

p.3

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

One social worker said that they feel the child is effectively safeguarded, and they have been impressed with how staff have supported them. This has resulted in a significant reduction in incidents, and the child is now thriving.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with the deputy manager. They have worked together previously and make a good team. This enables them to use each other’s strengths to lead the home effectively. The manager has effective oversight in the home.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels supported by the responsible individual. They have regular supervision and shared ambitions for the home’s development. This helps them to provide good-quality care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from a stable staff team, with no staff departures and two new staff members joining. Staff receive regular online and face-to-face training, which they report helps them to work more effectively as a team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have varying levels of experience and are working towards the relevant level 3 diploma. The manager confirms that staff morale is high, and this is monitored through monthly team meetings and supervisions. The established processes for supervision and Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 4 meetings allow for the consistent monitoring of staff morale and overall team effectiveness. Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 5

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home provide a nurturing, homely environment that meets the needs of the children and, as far as possible, maintain a domestic, rather than 'institutional', impression. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide unconditional positive regard for children on the part of the carer, and acknowledge the importance of understanding and responding to the children's lived experience of care. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 21, paragraph 4.3)

p.5

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: 2828398 6

p.5

Children's home details

Registered provider: Forever 13 Care Ltd

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 71 Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

p.6

Inspector

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2828398 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7