Last updated: 10 February 2026
"Strong training with career pathways and robust safety stand out, but frequent manager changes have unsettled staff and dented morale."
Staff participated in annual training in safeguarding... robust records of all safeguarding alerts... Medicines were safely managed, and an electronic medicines administration record had recently been introduced... Robust auditing ensured the service was safe.
The management team were aware of, and were working to improve, the morale of staff at Forest Oaks... One staff member told us, 'I would describe it [staff morale] as low to medium, we are fed up with changes all the time'.
We received mixed feedback about the number of staff deployed to support people. There had been a few occasions when staffing had reduced to five health care assistants during the afternoons which had caused some pressures on the team.
Staff participated in an in-depth induction... There was an in-house training manager who led much of the training on a face to face basis... The interim manager and CEO were encouraging to the staff team; they enabled them to complete qualifications in health and social care and were developing a career pathway.
There had been several changes to the manager over recent years that staff found unsettling. A new manager commenced in post on the first day of our inspection.
Per 2018 comprehensive inspection: There was a full schedule of activities throughout each day... bingo, Tai-Chi, seated exercises and trips to garden centres... visits from the local nursery school.
Several manager changes have unsettled staff and made things feel unstable.
There had been several changes to the manager over recent years that staff found unsettling. Staff members had found the numerous changes to the management team disruptive and unsettling.
Staffing levels get mixed reviews, sometimes leaving the team stretched on afternoons with occasional agency cover.
We received mixed feedback about the number of staff deployed to support people... staffing had reduced to five health care assistants during the afternoons which had caused some pressures on the team, however this was rare and usually regular agency staff would be booked to cover.
Staff morale is low to medium because of constant management changes.
I would describe it [staff morale] as low to medium, we are fed up with changes all the time... Staff members had found the numerous changes to the management team disruptive and unsettling.
AI Generated
Last inspected: June 2022
Management Quality
Well-led: Good
Direct feedback from current and former employees

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