We are delighted to share that our children’s houses, Ness and Tay, at our Forest View campus, have been recognised as ‘Grade 6 – Excellent’ by the Care Inspectorate this month.
Glowing feedback from inspectors spoke of the “sector-leading” care and support provided to the children and young people who call Ness and Tay home. This exceptional achievement is not easily attained, and it is a testament to the professionalism, dedication, teamwork and unwavering commitment of our staff teams, who provide the highest standards of care for children and young people.
Strength of Relationships
Inspectors praised the dedication of the adults supporting the children, commenting that they created an environment that felt “gentle” and nurturing. This is evident in the incredible relationships within the houses, where children feel safe, loved and have a strong sense of belonging. You can see this in everything from the structured routines that help children maintain important rhythms and familiar patterns, to the smaller moments, such as shared mealtimes and even getting each child’s toast just the right shade.
The children are championed in all aspects of their lives, and staff go above and beyond to ensure they embrace and enjoy new opportunities every day. Recently, one young person, supported by a member of staff, took on a mighty fundraising challenge to raise awareness of autism while raising vital funds for charity. The challenge saw them complete 10,000 steps a day for a month, raising £171 for Walk for Autism.
These relationships also extend to young people’s families, with the Care Inspectorate recognising the strong relationships staff have built and continue to maintain with them.
Inclusive, Nurturing Houses
Many of the children who live at Ness and Tay are neurodiverse, so the team has gone to great lengths to ensure the houses, structures and routines support and empower each child’s needs. The children love cuddles, running their feet across tactile rugs, playing outside in the forest grounds and reading stories. With some of the children being non-verbal, staff often communicate through drawings, Makaton, Talking Mats and other visual supports. Each week, the houses also promote a Makaton Word of the Week.
This specialist provision was not only celebrated by the recent Care Inspection but was also recognised by the National Autistic Society (NAS) through their Autism Accreditation Programme last month. Ness and Tay were the first houses to receive this incredible accolade, demonstrating our dedication and commitment to championing the rights of young people and providing the highest level of care and support to meet their individual needs.
The excellent grading was recognised by Head of Operations, Chris McDonnell, in a communication to staff, saying: “To everyone connected with Forest View, I hope you take a genuine sense of pride in what you have achieved. This recognition has been earned through your hard work, resilience and commitment, and it is thoroughly deserved. Thank you for your unwavering dedication, professionalism and compassion. The difference you make to the lives of our young people every single day is truly remarkable, and this achievement is a testament to everything you do.”
A huge well done to everyone involved. We know this is only the beginning of what is still to come as we continue to shape and develop services that provide the highest standards of care and support for young people and their families.