Forster House

41 Forster Street, Smethwick, B67 7LX

07897579892

Care Type

Residential Care

Assessment date

16 May 2024

Provider

Hickam Healthcare Ltd

Beds

5 beds

About Forster House

Located on Forster Street in Smethwick, this small residential care home provides accommodation for five residents. It is operated by Hickam Healthcare Ltd and serves older people, younger adults, and individuals with learning disabilities. The home received a Good rating from the CQC in the CQC assessment published on 27 August 2024.

Its modest size means a more intimate setting compared to larger facilities. The Sandwell area offers reasonable transport links and local amenities. The home's mixed client base suggests experience in supporting residents with varying needs and levels of dependency.

Being a smaller operation may allow for more personalised care routines, though prospective residents and families should clarify specific support arrangements and staffing levels directly with the provider.

Specialist Care

Learning disabilitiesOlder peopleYounger adults

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity: 5 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · B67 7LX

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Learning disabilities.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Good.

Assessment published 27 August 2024. Assessment date recorded: 16 May 2024.

Read CQC's assessment overview

The following is CQC's published account of its assessment, published 27 August 2024. References to “we” mean CQC. It describes findings at that time.

Date of assessment: 4 June 2024 to 20 June 2024. This assessment was in response to CQC receiving information of concern. We found there was a concern around how health was managed, and health and safety was monitored. The service involved people in decisions about their care and where required included relatives and other health professionals. The governance systems in place were not always taking place as agreed in policies and procedures. This did leave concern around the safeguarding of finances and medication.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-led: Good

Read Forster House's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Forster House, consider asking...

1.What happens if my relative's care needs increase significantly -- will they have to move?
2.How do you handle concerns or complaints from families?
3.What does the monthly fee cover and what will cost extra?
4.How do you keep families informed about their relative's day-to-day wellbeing?
5.What happens if my relative is unhappy here?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Forster House, look out for...

1.Do staff greet residents by name and stop to chat?
2.Are residents dressed, up and occupied, or sitting alone in front of a TV?
3.Does the home smell fresh and feel clean without being clinical?
4.Do residents look comfortable and at ease, or anxious and withdrawn?
5.Does the manager answer your questions openly or deflect?

Could the NHS fund Forster House's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees