Team Fostering

Team Fostering Inspection report for independent fostering agency

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SC060698 Unique reference number 9 July 2007 Inspection date Stella Henderson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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Clifton Court Address 19-23 Clifton Street Sheffield S9 2DQ 0114 261 7762 Telephone number rosy@teamfostering.co.uk Email Team Fostering Registered person Rosemarie barber Registered manager Walter Samuel Egerton Young Responsible individual 8 January 2007 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007

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Brief description of the service

Team Fostering is an independent, non profit, fostering agency. It's aim is to provide specialist foster care for children and young people placed by local authorities.

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Summary

The purpose of this visit was to conduct a key inspection and to follow up on requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. These were: Requirements (Reg 42) Compliance with a child's care plan must be monitored Recommendations Foster placement agreements should demonstrate elements of matching All children should have a health plan All records required by regulation must be kept Panel must have the minimum number of members to be able to operate at each meeting All key standards were inspected on this occasion The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Development work has been undertaken on reviewing systems and policies. Certain aspects of the quality assurance and monitoring processes are now carried out by an independent assessor. There has been an increase in foster care placements and staffing levels have also increased. The panel now has the minimum number of members to be able to operate and a new chair and vice chair have been appointed. Development work has been identified for panel across a number of issues. One young person is entering a private educational resource for gifted children. Another young person is looking at developing a children's newsletter. The outstanding requirement from the last inspection has been met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Agency practices specifically address and promote the health of looked after children, and show how these support good outcomes in respect of individual children. Documentation, recordings and discussion with carers demonstrate that health needs are assessed, regularly reviewed, updated and acted upon with good outcomes for children and young people. Children and young people have appropriate knowledge of healthy lifestyles and feel encouraged and supported in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Children get the general support or specialist help they need to promote their good health. They are actively encouraged and supported to get involved in a range of leisure activities which support and promote their confidence, self esteem and general good health. Foster carers health is thoroughly assessed through the recruitment process for the potential impact on outcomes for children who may

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Helping children to be healthy

be placed with them. Foster carers are supported in confidently addressing the health needs of children placed with them. They are offered support in identifying and addressing children's health needs, and are confident about their responsibilities and those of other key professionals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. All children are placed with carers who have been thoroughly assessed as being able to meet the child's safety needs for the duration of the planned placement. The panel receives data 4 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007 and relevant information about the activities of the service and gives feedback about any concerns or gaps in service, thereby broadening the range of options available to children and young people. Panel is efficiently organised and now meets regulatory requirements. The damaging effects of previous significant harm suffered by children are actively addressed through assessment, care planning and review. All possible steps are taken to minimise or alleviate these by enlisting specialist help or treatment appropriate to the needs of the child and in conjunction with the child and key family members wherever possible. There are excellent

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

resources available for children and young people, for example, self esteem programmes and strategies for the promotion of confidence and resilience. Prospective staff and carers are demonstrably safe and suitable to work with children. Safe recruitment practices are comprehensive and thorough and in some respects, such as verifying and interviewing referees. Staff and carers are appropriately supported and supervised. Placements are made with carers whose assessments and continuing approval status are subject to rigorous scrutiny by people with a good understanding of the needs of children and who have access to appropriate training and advice. Children's behaviour is generally managed positively, however incidents of restraints were carried out by individuals who have not been properly trained in these methods. The agency's policy on this aspect of behaviour management is inaccurate and not properly

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The fostering agency meets the educational needs of each child in a manner consistent with the principles and practices of being a good parent. Foster carers attend parents evenings and open days and work closely with teachers and other educational support staff. The agency ensures that children and young people are encouraged and supported to succeed and to reach their potential. They are reinforced and rewarded when they make a positive effort and do well, and there is an emphasis on out of school learning. Children themselves report being happy at school and view education and their school experiences positively. Staff and carers value education and understand their role to enable children to achieve. The agency actively contributes to the assessment of children's educational needs and progress for the planning and review process. The agency is promoting equality and diversity through more targeted

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

recruitment strategies, and is undertaking development work to attract panel members who are more reflective of the community the agency serves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's views are taken into account in decision making processes and carers understand the importance of listening to the views of children in their care. Children confirm that they are listened to in a way that informs their daily life. Children's comments are recorded and incorporated into statutory review meetings. The agency produces a children's guide which is provided to all children at the time of placement. The agency ensures that children are encouraged to maintain and develop family contacts and friendships, where this is appropriate. The ethos of the service emphasises that successful fostering is about team work.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is not judged. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Carers and children confirm that they receive a good and reliable service from staff who are courteous, respectful and communicate well. Staff are skilled and experienced and afforded opportunities for professional development. Staffing levels are sufficient to deliver the service specification and there are back up contingencies for planned and unplanned staff absences. Staff demonstrate their commitment to achieving best outcomes for children in their daily behaviours and interactions with service users. Staff and carers express job satisfaction and confidence in management. Record management, safeguarding and other key systems and processes are in place and where there are gaps there was evidence to demonstrate that information is being chased up. Managers are more proactively monitoring and quality assuring the service. The statement of purpose has recently been amended and republished.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Fostering Services Regulations 2005 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

10 August 2007 provide a contingency plan to demonstrate how children are to be safeguarded until adequate training on restraint is available to carers (regulation 11 (a)) 10 August 2007 prepare and implement a written policy on acceptable measures of restraint and provide action plan for training of carers in acceptable methods of restraint (regulation 13 (1) and (2)(b))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): 6 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service promotes the health and development of children (NMS 12) Ofsted considers 12 the key standard to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• any persons carrying on or managing the service are suitable (NMS 3) • the fostering service provides suitable foster carers (NMS 6) • the service matches children to carers appropriately (NMS 8) • the fostering service protects each child or young person from abuse and neglect (NMS 9) • the people who work in or for the fostering service are suitable to work with children and young people (NMS 15) • fostering panels are organised efficiently and effectively (NMS 30) Ofsted considers 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service values diversity (NMS 7) • the fostering service promotes educational achievement (NMS 13) • when foster care is provided as a short-term break for a child, the arrangements recognise that the parents remain the main carers for the child (NMS 31) Ofsted considers 7, 13 and 31 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service promotes contact arrangements for the child or young person (NMS 10) • the fostering service promotes consultation (NMS 11) Ofsted considers 10 and 11 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service prepares young people for adulthood (NMS 14) • the fostering service pays carers an allowance and agreed expenses as specified (NMS 29) Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• there is a clear statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service and the fostering service ensures that they meet those aims and objectives (NMS 1) • the fostering service is managed by those with the appropriate skills and experience (NMS 2) • the fostering service is monitored and controlled as specified (NMS 4) 7 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007

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Annex A

• the fostering service is managed effectively and efficiently (NMS 5) • staff are organised and managed effectively (NMS 16) • the fostering service has an adequate number of sufficiently experienced and qualified staff (NMS 17) • the fostering service is a fair and competent employer (NMS 18) • there is a good quality training programme (NMS 19) • all staff are properly accountable and supported (NMS 20) • the fostering service has a clear strategy for working with and supporting carers (NMS 21) • foster carers are provided with supervision and support (NMS 22) • foster carers are appropriately trained (NMS 23) • case records for children are comprehensive (NMS 24) • the administrative records are maintained as required (NMS 25) • The premises used as offices by the fostering service are suitable for the purpose (NMS 26) • the fostering service is financially viable (NMS 27) • the fostering service has robust financial processes (NMS 28)

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Annex A

• local authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers (NMS 32) Ofsted considers 1, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25 and 32 the key standards to be inspected. 8 of 8 Inspection Report: Team Fostering, 9 July 2007

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