The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd

The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd Inspection report for independent fostering agency

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SC036963 Unique reference number 5 June 2007 Inspection date Suzanne Young / Martha Nethaway Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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The Foster Care Co-operative Address Penny Hall The Haysfield MALVERN Worcestershire WR14 1GF 01684 892380 Telephone number enquiries@fostercarecooperative.co.uk Email The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd Registered person Anne Mary Bard Registered manager Lawrence Roland Gregory Responsible individual 31 October 2006 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 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007

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Brief description of the service

The Foster Care Cooperative Ltd. is a registered Cooperative with the National Clearing House and Representative body for Cooperatives in the UK as well as being a limited company registered with Companies House. The Executive Director, is a qualified social worker who has had over thirty years experience in the field of childcare including experience as a senior manager of childcare in a local authority Social Services Department. The Foster Care Cooperative has two main branches, one in Cardiff which for registration and inspection purposes is the remit of the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales, and one in Malvern, Worcestershire. The head office for administration purposes is also established in the Malvern office. The Malvern Branch supports carers spread across the country, and can provide placements in Cheshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Suffolk,

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Brief description of the service

Norfolk, Somerset, Sussex, Bristol, Wirral and Avon. The agency employ social work staff, to supervise and support these foster carers, who are based in the area where the foster carers live. The company has two directors of childcare, both of whom are registered managers. They are based at the Malvern office and have direct line management responsibility for the social work staff providing the service to foster carers in all the counties mentioned above. The stated purpose of the Foster Care Cooperative Ltd. foster care agency is 'to provide a child care service to Local Authorities which is of the highest quality, and with integrity.'

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Summary

This inspection took place between 5 and 12 June 2007. Two inspectors were involved in the inspection which included visiting and speaking with two foster carers and the young people placed with them and speaking with and interviewing the responsible individual and registered managers. A group of foster carers and staff from the agency were also seen. Surveys were sent to young people, foster carers and placing social workers to gain their view of the effectiveness and functioning of the agency. Files and records from the agency were also examined. Young people and foster carers surveys described very positive outcomes for children and young people . Overall the agency is providing satisfactory care for children and young people in its care. The agency is particularly strong in the support and supervision offered to carers and in the provision and promotion of the health and educational attainment of children

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Summary

and young people. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Several improvements have been made in the seven months since the last inspection. Foster placement agreements are now in place prior to or at the time of a placement being made, ensuring all those involved are fully aware of the arrangements necessary to meet a child's individual needs and ensuring good outcomes for children. A comprehensive and robust recruitment and vetting system is in place to ensure the protection of children and young people which meets the demands of the fostering service regulations. No social workers have commenced work since the last inspection without the appropriate checks being made. The agency has developed its statement of purpose to ensure compliance with the National Minimum Standards. Communication and consistency between the managers and staff has improved since the last inspection thereby improving consistency of care to children and young people. 4 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007

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Improvements since the last inspection

The outcomes of foster carers’ reviews are sent to the fostering panel to help inform its quality assurance function.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Foster Care Co-operative promotes the health and development of children and young people. They maintain a monthly health reporting form which provides a running chronology of the individual child's health needs. Foster carers are responsible for maintaining these records which are well documented and provide a clear overview of health care needs. Health needs are risk assessed prior to placement and carers are given coherent written advice and guidance. The agency’s matching form and foster placement agreement addresses the health needs of young people referred. The documentation includes medical consent ensuring the health requirements of children and young people are focussed upon in the referral and matching process. Background health information is actively pursued from placing authorities. Foster Care Co-operative employs a designated health advisor who ensures the health needs of children

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Helping children to be healthy

are actively promoted by carers. She provides information and guidance to carers and follows up identified children and young people each month to ensure children attend all relevant appointments. In addition, they review the monthly health information received from foster carers. This is good practice. There is good empirical evidence that health care and children's needs are being monitored by carers and any health care intervention is swiftly dealt with. Prompt attention is paid if a child becomes ill or unwell. Clear records are made of all appointments to doctors and or other health care professionals. The agency’s social workers work with carers in monthly supervision sessions, looking at current health plans of children and young people and assessing the possible need for intervention. A formal structure is in place to record all accidents and incidents for all children placed within placement. Children's

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Helping children to be healthy

health is further promoted by ensuring all foster carers are provided with access to first aid qualification. The agency has a policy which states that medication is to be stored in locked cabinets or out of the reach of children in order to ensure protection from misuse. However, where an identified risk is known regarding the possible misuse of medicines. link workers were not always ensuring carers lock all medication securely away. Good links are routinely sought with the children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) and other external professional including counsellors if deemed appropriate to the child's needs thereby ensuring good outcomes for children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children and young people are being well matched because the agency ensures a considered approach to all placements. The agency has a placements co-coordinator who is the first point of contact for all referrals and carries out all matching of children to carers. There is consistency with regard to matching processes and documentation across the organisation. A matching pro-forma for all placements has been developed, which enables appropriate matches of children and young people’s needs to carers’ skills. Information is gathered through a number of sources including the referring authority and the placing social worker. Although children and young people are well matched the matching document does not give enough prominence to capture areas related to diversity. Also, it is not clear from the matching document how the decision for matching is arrived at, for instance this is not cross referenced to the Form F. In many cases

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

only one carer is identified as a suitable match. Foster placement agreements are in place prior 5 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007 to or at the time of a placement being made, ensuring all those involved are fully aware of the arrangements necessary to meet a child's individual needs and ensuring good outcomes for children. The agency has developed its own comprehensive foster placement agreement (FPA) in line with Schedule 6 of the Fostering Service Regulations. Files were seen where exemptions had not been signed by local authorities prior to placements being made. The agency protects children by ensuing that a safe care policy is discussed prior to placement. This policy is a generic format which is developed to be specific to the foster household and is supplemented with a risk assessment undertaken by the child's social worker, organisation's link worker and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

carer which covers the child's own safe caring needs. Holidays and activities are not included in the risk assessment process. The foster homes visited were of a very high standard. Systems have been developed by the agency to ensure children and young people safety. Records indicate that unannounced visits and health and safety checks are conducted on an annual basis. In addition, the agency employs a health and safety consultant who visits and assesses all carers’ homes and offers advice on safety and risk issues. Whilst this is considered good practice the advice given by the consultant is not always documented on the records as being followed up by link workers and acted upon. A system has been developed to record foster carers car insurances and MOT’s to ensure carer’s transport is safe and appropriate to children’s needs. The agency further ensures the protection of children and young people by developing

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

a thorough programme of training events. Training is provided in child protection and managing challenging behaviour through the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) organisation, and training in the recognition and prevention of bullying is provided through foster carer support groups. Policies are in place with regard to child protection and anti- bullying. The child protection policy does not include the signs and recognitions of abuse and procedures for foster carers in the event of an allegation having been made. A comprehensive and robust recruitment and vetting system is in place to ensure the protection of children and young people which meets the demands of the fostering service regulations. No social workers have commenced work since the last inspection without the appropriate checks being made. The agency currently operates a fostering panel with its office in Wales. The agency takes every

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

foster carer’s first review and every subsequent third review to panel and any variations of terms of approval and following allegations etc. All other reviews are conducted outside of panel. The outcome of these reviews are sent to panel to inform the quality assurance function and forwarded to the agency decision maker. The agency has developed the quality assurance function of the fostering panel in order to monitor and review assessments, to identify problems and ensure a consistency in approach across the agency. As part of its quality assurance role the panel also considers new training being developed. Panel members scrutinise assessments and highlight aspects in reports that can be improved. It is a concern that incomplete reports are reaching panel. There had been one occasion when a foster carer had been approved despite historical concerns which had not been adequately documented as being explored in the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

assessment process. On another occasion the panel needed reminding regarding the necessity of completing a Criminal Record Bureau check on an adult member of the fostering household. Another occasion highlighted the lack of appropriate legal advice to panel to aid understanding of a carer’s legal position. These were points of discussion with the managers which focussed on the robust nature of the assessment and approval process and the protective strategies necessary to keep children and young people safe. Generally the assessments and review reports are of a good standard.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. 6 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007 Children and young people's individual needs are promoted. The agency takes an active role in ensuring that each young person’s identity and diversity is supported. Examples were seen of appropriate matching and of a young person's needs being met in finding an appropriate school to meet the young person linguistic needs. It is evident that the issue of diversity is considered during the referral and matching process although this needs to be further evidenced on the matching pro-forma and during placement. The issue of diversity is also evidenced in Form F assessments completed during foster carers’ assessment process. The agency uses an innovative approach to show children and young people information about the profile of the foster carers and family members of the household. This is a good practice example and it is

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

accessible to children and is child friendly. A link worker is currently undergoing a project to look at the recruitment of specific carers for unaccompanied asylum seekers. This good practice and will help promote the very specific needs of unaccompanied children and young people entering the country. The agency provides training to foster carers through BAAF to ensure carers provide care, which respects and promotes young people’s identity and ethnicity. Young people are encouraged to be involved in activities and interests and given equal access to opportunities to develop and pursue talents and hobbies. The educational attainment of children and young people is valued and given considerable prominence within the agency. Children and young peoples learning styles are understood, assessed and resourced for with input from external agencies. Good access to educational support is taking place. The agency source private

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

tutors in a child’s local area as part of alternative packages and provide mentoring support in GCSE core subjects and as support in addition to mainstream schooling. Foster Care Co-operative employs a designated education liaison officer who supports carers when young people are excluded from school and in accessing education where there are difficulties. The education liaison officer becomes involved in the referral and matching process and attends education meetings when necessary. Through the education liaison officer good assessment tools for the development of children’s educational needs and systems of evaluating educational achievement have been developed. Carers place a premium on the child's education and ensure all practical measures are in place to monitor and support achievement. Some good examples are seen of accessing educational internet sites to provide additional resources to reinforce the subjects

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

being taught in the school environment. Likewise there are excellent proactive arrangements in place to access top performing schools out of the attachment area where the carers live. Carers demonstrate initiative and ability to challenge educational departments to secure the best outcomes for a child in placement. An example was seen of a carer supporting a child's attendance at school by working in the school in a voluntary capacity. This is commendable practice. Foster Care Co-operative does not provide any foster placements in the circumstances covered by Standard 31, and this standard is therefore not considered to be applicable.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The importance of maintaining and encouraging positive contact with birth family and friends is emphasised on the skills to foster course and is supported through the carer's monthly supervision. The requirements for contact are considered at the referral and matching stage and are clarified at the start of placement. Contact with birth families and friends form part of the foster placement agreement, foster carers monthly supervision sessions and the children’s and young people’s (LAC) reviews. Carers were seen to be actively promoting contact with children's birth families. Foster Care Co-operative ensures children and young people's views are listened to. The agency's social workers meet foster children at a minimum of every two/three months and gain their views and opinions. Children and young people are consulted on an 7 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007

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Helping children make a positive contribution

annual basis during foster carer’s reviews. Questionnaires from young people indicated that they felt listened to by their foster carers. The agency ensures children and young people are aware of how to complain if required. The children’s guide has a section on how to complain and who to contact if young people feel they are not being looked after properly. All young people spoken with knew how to complain if needed. The agency does not have a format for regular formal consultation with young people to inform quality assurance process and improve practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The organisation of the agency has a positive impact on the care of children and young people. The agency provides a clear statement of purpose' and is compliant with the standard. Likewise, the children's guide is compliant with Regulation and is available for various age ranges. The agency is exploring ways of developing the children's guide to make it more child-friendly. The agency is managed by two registered managers known as directors of childcare. Both are appropriately qualified and highly experienced managers. One manager has an MBA in management and the other has completed the Chartered Management Institute Level 5. The managers have separated their work tasks clearly between them and deputise for each other when required. Communication and consistency between the managers and staff has improved since the last inspection thereby improving consistency of care to children and young people.

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Organisation

The head office for administration purposes is in the Malvern office. This office supports carers who are spread across the country. The agency employ experienced, dedicated social work staff to supervise and support foster carers, who are based in the area where the foster carers live. The agency has a strong and competent social work team with good experience and background in children and families and family placements. This is a necessity as the way the organisation is structured relies heavily on social workers being able to work in an autonomous manner with minimal support from managers. Social workers however do report a good level of support from their managers who often have to travel great distances from the head office. However, not all aspects where difficulties or shortfalls have been identified are currently being addressed. Some foster carers furthest away from head office have expressed a view that a local office

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Organisation

would be of benefit to them. In some areas of the country such as Bristol, Foster Care Co-operative has provided a local office. The lines of accountability within the organisation are clearly understood and staff are provided with appropriate written contracts, job descriptions and information with regards to equal opportunities, health and safety and grievance and disciplinary procedures. Career progression for staff and grading structure is not always transparent. Specific training to staff is provided through BAAF and is of a high quality and easy to access. The foster carer and staff handbooks have been reviewed and are due to be given out. The managers are collating information to comply with Schedule 7 and quarterly monitoring reports are being produced. No overall quality assurance system has been developed which encompasses this monitoring and no evaluation of this information can be seen to

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Organisation

maintain and improve quality of care within the organisation. There is a clearly set out assessment process for foster carers which is followed by supervising social workers. Evidence was seen of the agency using the new BAAF Form F to process assessments and uses a set of competencies to measure the skills and abilities of potential foster carers. All respite carers are assessed and approved according to matters in Schedule 3 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2001. 8 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007 Considerable progress has been made since the last inspection to ensure foster carers annual reviews are being completed. Currently eighty eight percent of all carers’ annual reviews are conducted with twelve months. The agency expects this to be one hundred percent by the end of September. Positive outcomes for children and young people are being achieved by well

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Organisation

trained foster carers. The agency endorses a wide spectrum of training and the carers’ portfolio is commendable. The trainers are also provided with the opportunity to observe and comment about the potential carer’s ability to carry out the function of the fostering task and its role. The agency has five foundation courses that are essential to develop skills and knowledge and three additional advance courses which build up skills and knowledge. Carers’ feedback is positive and the timing and content were described as good. Not all carers however are completing the foundation training. This is of concern that no clear structure is in place to identify those carers not meeting the core training in a timely manner. The managers have discussed various ways of encouraging carers to attend training. Foster carers receive regular supervision and spoke positively about the level of support given to them whenever it is needed

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Organisation

from supervising social workers and from management. The level of support, supervision and responsiveness given to foster carers is a strength of the organisation. Staff are able to provide guidance and an evaluative approach that relates to successful outcomes for children and young people's placements. Carers commented that supervision is helpful and that staff are approachable. Social workers knowledge of carer’s capabilities and strengths is well recognised and the agency has retained this at a micro and macro level. The carer’s supervision pro-forma is detailed and is developed around the outcomes in 'Every Child Matters' ensuring positive outcomes for children and young people. This is in two parts; part one relating to the child placed and part two relating to issues about the carer. The part relating to the child should be stored on the child's file and good practice part one being sent to the child's social worker.

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Organisation

Carers attend support meetings at four to six weekly intervals. Documentary evidence is available of these meetings. Carers place value on these meetings which are well attended and provide a shared opportunity to discuss experiences of the fostering tasks and commitments. The fostering service ensures that an up-to-date, comprehensive case record is maintained for each child and young person in foster care. Case files are well-organised and contain a good range of information in relation to the continuing needs and progress of the young people. The organisation has developed its systems to ensure documents such as foster placement agreements and safe caring policies are signed and dated. A file audit is conducted on a regular basis which identifies shortfalls and demonstrates the action taken to improve the service to children. A procedure on the recording, storage of records by carers and staff, and on the return

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Organisation

of records by carers at the end of placement has been developed. From discussions with foster carers and staff, confusion still exists regarding the procedures for day-to-day recording. This was highlighted at the last inspection seven months ago. Carers are given a daily diary to keep dates of appointments etc, and a child’s diary for day-to-day recording. Practice does not reflect the agency’s policy and foster carers have differing expectations with regard to record keeping. Some carers are recording sensitive day-to-day observations about more that one child in the same diary and encouraging the young person to record themselves in the child's personal diary. Records pertaining to children and young people are not always returned to the placing authority at the end of placement. The practice of children and young people maintaining their own personal diary which is then either returned to the placing authority or given to them

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Organisation

at the age of eighteen is an innovative idea which is to be commended. The organisation provides the diary in a child friendly and accessible format and is considered an excellent example of progressive practice. Foster Care Co-operative does not deal with the approval of 9 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007 the family or friends of children as foster carers; Standard 32 therefore does not apply to this agency.

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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

31 August 2007 ensure foster carers annual reviews take place not more than a year after approval and at intervals of not more than a year. Reg 29(2) 31 July 2007 ensure all records are returned to the placing authority at the end of a placement. Reg 40 31 July 2007 seek exemption certificates where necessary from the local authority where the carer resides before placements are made. Children's Act 31 July 2007 develop the child protection policy to include signs and recognitions of abuse and procedures for foster carers in the event of an allegation having been made. Reg 12 30 September 2007 develop quality assurance systems which encompasses the monitoring and evaluation of the organisation to maintain and improve quality of care given to children and young people. Reg 42 31 July 2007 Ensure the assessment and approval process is always full and robust.

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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): • review the policy regarding storage of medication to ensure all medication is stored in a locked cabinet or cupboard St 12 • develop the matching pro-forma to give more prominence to areas related to diversity and culture. St 8 • further evidence the decision making process during the matching process. St 8 • include holidays and activities in the children and young person's risk assessment process. St 9 • follow up and document all advice given by the health and safety consultant . St 6 • develop a format for regular formal consultation with young people and feed any information gained from the consultation process into the quality assurance process to inform and improve practice. St 11 10 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007 • develop structures to help managers support those social workers who may be experiencing

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Recommendations

difficulties or where shortfalls have been identified. St 16 • ensure the section relating to the child in the carer’s supervision pro-forma is stored on the child's file.St 24 • develop training for both social workers and foster carers with regard to appropriate record keeping.St 25 • establish and operate a system for monitoring the quality of records and take remedial action where appropriate.St 25 • maintain separate records of the matters set out under national minimum standards 25.2 • develop a clear structure to ensure carers complete core training in a timely manner. St 23 11 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 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) 12 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 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. 13 of 13 Inspection Report: The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd, 5 June 2007

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