Smithy Forge

Who the service is for

This is a specialist service for people with a learning disability and autistic people. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence, and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

Key findings

We carried out this assessment on 9 July 2026. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.

People were supported by staff, who had the skills and knowledge to provide effective support. Many of the staff team had worked at the service for a long time, so people were supported by staff who knew their needs exceptionally well. People told us how highly they thought of staff and how much they valued having a key worker. A relative confirmed staff were caring and how this made them feel their loved one was cared for in a safe and compassionate way.

People received their medicines when they needed them, and by staff who were trained and competent.

Staff understood their responsibility to safeguard people from the risk of abuse; they were knowledgeable about what concerns they would need to report and to whom.

Risks to people were identified and risk assessments had been carried out to manage and mitigate risks.

People had opportunities to spend time at the service prior to moving in, this was part of the assessment process, and helped people transition more seamlessly. An external professional who worked with the service commented how staff positively supported and engaged with both people and their families during the transition process.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives. Wherever possible, people were at the centre of the planning and review of their support; to help ensure they received person centred care in line with their preferences, choices and needs. People told us they were consistently offered choice.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In care homes, this can be done through a procedure called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), which is part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). We checked whether the service was working within the principles of the MCA and how they managed DoLS within the service. Staff and management worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were appropriately applied for and overseen. People were not subject to unlawful or excessive restrictions they had choice control and freedom over their lives. A member of staff confirmed, “People living here have choices every day, we support people in making choices, to do the things they want to do.”

People were supported by caring and compassionate staff who promoted choices in a way people understood. We observed staff spoke to people with warmth and dignity. Staff promoted people’s independence in all areas of their life to ensure people lived the life they wanted. A member of staff told us, “This is what it is all about, we are supporting people to live their best lives and to do what they want to do, and this respects their independence.”

The provider’s vision was shared and adopted by staff. This focused on person centred care, independence and advocating for the best possible care for people. A member of staff commented, “When I am coming to work, I feel like I am coming to see family. We work very well as a team.”