Children's home run by The Forge Nuneaton Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to 6 children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 6 children were living at the home. The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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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: good

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Good 18/12/2023 Full Good 05/09/2023 Full Inadequate 17/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are strong advocates for children’s equality, diversity and inclusion. For example, one child is being supported to explore their preferred gender, and all the children are being supported to learn about their peers’ health needs. This creates a nurturing and inclusive living environment where children feel valued. As a result, children have positive relationships with each other and with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are creative in helping children to share their views, wishes and feelings. For example, one child wrote a song about their lived experiences, and another child is being supported by an independent advocate. Staff help children to choose their individual and home activities and to attend meetings with external professionals. This supports children’s independence and encourages their future aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s independence is thoughtfully planned and supported by leaders and staff. One child is having driving lessons, and another child is being supported to gain work experience. When children experience barriers to independence, they are provided with bespoke support. For example, 2 children are being supported by a specialist service, and another child is receiving multi-agency support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how to support children’s relationships with their families. One parent told the inspector that staff are ‘incredible’ in their communication, and another parent said that staff are ‘amazing’ in supporting their child. Also, staff recognise changes in children’s relationships with their families and friends. As a result, children are safer and feel comfortable sharing their views about their relationships with family and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is valued by leaders and staff. Three children are in full-time school, and 2 children are participating in a bespoke education programme. One child is being supported, as part of their independence, to move to a new college. Education professionals and social workers speak positively about the support that children receive when they experience barriers to education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, 4 children have moved into the home, and 3 children have moved out. Leaders and staff sensitively plan children’s moves into the home. For example, one child participated in activities with the manager and staff to help them feel comfortable before moving in. When children leave, they continue to be supported by leaders and staff. One child said that they enjoy this ongoing support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are skilled in supporting children’s emotional and mental health. They understand children’s needs and are proactive in arranging specialist support. Staff consult with the clinical team to identify bespoke therapeutic support for children. For example, one child is being supported to explore their relationship with Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 4 family members. Another child has been supported to choose the appropriate therapeutic support for them. As a result, children are provided with personalised care and support to reflect their evolving needs.

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

Children’s complaints and allegations are investigated effectively by the manager. This helps children to feel safer and confident in the adults caring for them. The manager and responsible individual are proactive in challenging external professionals. For example, concerns were raised about the delays in identifying supported accommodation for one child. Consequently, suitable accommodation was identified, which provided reassurance to the child.

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

Staff are persistent in helping children to understand risks in the community. A social worker and independent reviewing officer shared how well staff help children to understand risk. Staff work together with external professionals to review any risks and to develop support plans. This ensures that all professionals understand the children’s needs.

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

Children are helped by staff to understand online safety. Staff actively support children to speak about their online activity and to take part in education workshops to learn about the risks. This nurturing approach encourages children to share any concerns and promotes their safety when using the internet.

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

Staff understand how to use physical interventions safely. Staff help children to understand the reasons why this type of intervention is required to keep them safe. All physical interventions are reviewed by leaders and the clinical team. However, staff are not always spoken to following incidents or provided with opportunities to reflect and learn. Leaders recognise this area for development and are taking action to address the shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and leads the home effectively. She is supported by the home’s responsible individual, who provides effective leadership that ensures clear management oversight of the home and staff practice. External professionals speak positively about the quality of care and support that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand safe recruitment and prioritise staff training and development. There is a comprehensive induction programme that is supported by good-quality training and supervision. All staff have either achieved or are working towards their regulatory qualification within the required timescales. This ensures that children are being cared for by staff who understand their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 5 Effective monitoring systems are in place to review the experiences and progress of the children. The manager has devised a tracker to ensure that all documents from local authorities are received. This ensures that children’s support plans are up to date and regularly reviewed. The responsible individual has been proactive in reviewing the role of the independent visitor. As a result, there is clear oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, leaders have developed and completed safeguarding reviews that include the clinical team. These examine all safeguarding incidents to improve children’s experiences and to identify further training and support for staff. The manager and responsible individual recognise that an area for development is how children’s plans will be streamlined to include guidance from the clinical team and the physical intervention trainer. Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny. This includes ensuring that adults involved in restraints are spoken to about the measure within 48 hours of its use. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. This specifically relates to streamlining documents and including guidance from the clinical team and the physical intervention trainer in the children’s support and risk plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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 7

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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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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2674760 8 inspects 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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