Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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Lead Inspector Stephen Graham Announced Inspection 5th June 2006 09:30 Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 2 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

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• Put the people who use social care first • Improve services and stamp out bad practice • Be an expert voice on social care • Practise what we preach in our own organisation

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Reader Information Document Purpose Inspection Report Author CSCI Audience General Public Further copies from 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI Internet address www.csci.org.uk Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 3 This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Fostering Services. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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Every Child Matters, outlined the government’s vision for children’s services and formed the basis of the Children Act 2004. It provides a framework for inspection so that children’s services should be judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to wellbeing in childhood and later life. Those outcomes are: • Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and achieving • Making a contribution; and • Achieving economic wellbeing.

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In response, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has re-ordered the national minimum standards for children’s services under the five outcomes, for reporting purposes. A further section has been created under ‘Management’ to cover those issues that will potentially impact on all the outcomes above.

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Copies of Every Child Matters and The Children Act 2004 are available from The Stationery Office as above This report is a public document. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the prior permission of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 4

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Name of service

Address Thomas Wright House High Street Byers Green Durham DL16 7PF

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Name of service

Email address Susan.atkinson-millmoor@cares.co.uk

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Fostering Agencies Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 5

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Conditions of registration:

1. The Manager of the service must, by January 2005, attain a qualification at level 4 NVQ in Management or another qualification which matches competencies required by NVQ level 4

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Brief Description of the Service:

Foster Cares Ltd is an independent fostering agency, which provides foster care services within North East Durham, Darlington and surrounding regions. At the time of inspection the agency employed five social workers, the director of the service who is also the current acting manager and administrative support staff. The agency provides foster care services for children with a broad range of needs and placements are available on a long term, short term, task centred, remand, emergency and respite basis. Weekly fees for the care of any individual child vary from a minimum of £800.00 to a maximum of £1,250.00 with variations negotiated dependent on the individual package of care to be provided by the service. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 6

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SUMMARY

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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SUMMARY

The Inspector would like to thank the children, carers and staff at Foster Cares for their welcome and the important part they played in the inspection. Information and evidence in this report was gathered by two inspectors over a 4 day period through:

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SUMMARY

• Talking individually with children, carers and staff • Visiting foster carers’ homes • Group discussions with staff and carers • Talking with the managers of the service • Reading children’s, carers and staff files • Reading polices, procedures and records • Children’s questionnaires • Carers questionnaires • Children’s social workers questionnaires • Observing the fostering panel • Talking with the Chair of the fostering panel

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SUMMARY

Since the previous inspection the manager of the service has moved on and at the time of this inspection the agency had a temporary management arrangement, put in place with the agreement of the Commission until a full- time appointment is confirmed. Despite this temporary arrangement the inspectors noted the commitment both from managers and staff to maintain good standards, whilst working to further improve the range and quality of service provided.

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SUMMARY

The overall standard of the service is good. Inspectors found that the agency have responded positively to the previous requirements set and recommendations made. The views of children, their carers and placing social workers received during the inspection further endorsed this.

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What the service does well:

During this inspection, a number of very positive comments were received from placing social workers, carers and children.

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What the service does well:

In their questionnaire response, one older young person stated: “Although deemed an awful experience, being in foster care has broadened my horizons, made me a better person and helped me to become the young adult I am now”. Another young person, whilst confirming that they felt well cared for stated: “my foster carers are doing a good job”. One young person wrote to tell us: “I’m very happy were I live my social workers are great they help me so I don’t do bad things I’m starting to be good they are very nice to me so’s Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 7 my foster mum and dad and brother”. Another wrote that they felt well cared for: “because we have (a) lovly bed and they take us to holidays all the time and I’m happy were I am thank you.”

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What the service does well:

Through their individual questionnaire responses placing social workers highlighted “good placements”; “excellent communication”; “careful matching” and “support to carers” as strengths of the service in achieving good outcomes for children. A number of the placing social workers felt that the service had further improved since the last inspection; one highlighted the ongoing “recruitment of good quality staff” by the agency as an indication of this. They also confirmed that they felt that the children they had placed were well cared for by their carers with almost all rating the quality of care as excellent or good.

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What the service does well:

Carers also confirmed that they receive good supervision and attend regular support and training sessions. One carer stated: “We are delighted with the Fostering Agency and the service provided”, they added that: “we very much value the support of our link worker and utilise this time to share information, the guidance that is provided is always realistic and achievable”.

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What the service does well:

The inspectors found that the agency have good arrangements in place to ensure that the health needs of children placed with their carers are effectively promoted and monitored. One young person stated: “my foster carer helps us to be very healthy we keep active more and more”. To encourage and support young people to participate in their statutory annual health reviews, the service is developing good links with the Looked After Children’s (LAC) Nurse for the local area and through this establishing contact with other LAC nurses for surrounding areas.

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What the service does well:

The ongoing training needs of carers are well monitored through their annual review meetings. The training programme is well organised, the agency continues to look at how and when training is delivered to encourage more carers to attend.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Work has continued to ensure that previous recommendations made are fully implemented by the agency.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

As the previously registered manager is no longer with the service, the condition regarding their necessary management training no longer applies.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has worked to ensure that carer’s receive a signed and dated Foster Placement Agreement, including all of the matters listed in Schedule 6 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2002. Approved foster carers also receive a Foster Care Agreement, which meets with the requirements of Schedule 5 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2002. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 8 Financial procedures have been introduced which take into account the steps to be taken in situations of financial crisis as outlined within 27.2 of NMS.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The circumstances in which a foster carer would be deregistered are now outlined within procedural guidance. Improvements have been made in the procedures to monitor and review the ongoing suitability and qualities of carers in meeting the needs of children placed with them. The agencies own ‘matching proforma’ is used successfully to ensure that all necessary information is recorded to ensure that children placed through the agency are well matched with their carers.

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What they could do better:

Positively, all of the carers interviewed and responding by questionnaire felt that the support provided to them by the agency was at least adequate. A number were able to highlight areas of support, which they saw to be good, or in one case excellent. Comments received included: “Regular checks and support”; “not valued but improving under new manager”; “training and link worker good”.

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What they could do better:

No common areas in need of improvement were highlighted by carers and positively, inspectors found that individual comments received regarding possible changes had already either been considered or addressed by the agency.

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What they could do better:

However, the inspectors identified a number of areas where they felt further improvements could be made. These are in summary that;

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What they could do better:

The agency must continue to work with social workers placing children with their carers to ensure that they provide all necessary documents outlining both the care plans for children and the essential information needed to fulfil them.

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What they could do better:

The agency must continue to work with placing social workers to ensure that all children benefit from receiving a statutory annual medical examination.

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What they could do better:

Recording in staff files should be improved to provide evidence that written references obtained as part of their employment checks are followed up through telephone contact with the referees themselves. Although the inspectors were satisfied with the quality of recently completed assessments of carers, it was recommended that original notes from referee interview visits as well as the original notes underpinning their Form F assessments should be maintained within the approved carers files.

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What they could do better:

Agency representation on the Fostering Panel should be reviewed to ensure independence from the direct work undertaken with carers and children. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 9 The processes by which any panel member can provide a ‘declaration of interest’ when considering reports should be reviewed.

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What they could do better:

Although the agency has worked to ensure that carers receive a signed and dated Foster Care Agreement, which includes all of the matters listed in Schedule 5 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2002, these would benefit further when next reviewed, from more detailed information regarding the responsibilities of foster carers in protecting children, managing their behaviour and dealing with any unauthorised absences from the foster home.

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What they could do better:

The acting manager should routinely sign the central record of school exclusions to provide confirmation that this is being monitored.

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What they could do better:

Please contact the provider for advice of actions taken in response to this inspection. The report of this inspection is available from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting your local CSCI office. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 10

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 11

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The intended outcome for this Standard is:

• The fostering service promotes the health and development of children.(NMS 12)

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The Commission considers Standard 12 the key standard to be

inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. Foster Cares works to ensure that the health needs of children placed with their carers are effectively promoted and monitored.

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EVIDENCE:

One young person, whilst confirming that they always receive support and advice about being healthy stated: “yes because they say how to stay healthy”. Other young people also confirmed that they receive support in meeting their health needs. One described this as important “because everyone needs to keep healthy”. Another stated: “my foster carer helps us to be very healthy we keep active more and more”.

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EVIDENCE:

The overall response received from young people and their placing social workers was positive regarding the support received from the service in meeting their health needs. The overall response from carers was that the support provided was good or at least adequate, with one carer describing support received as excellent.

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EVIDENCE:

The children’s and young people’s files examined contained evidence that necessary consents for medical treatment have been obtained or are in the process of being obtained from their placing social workers. Files also contained good evidence that carers and agency staff monitor the overall emotional and developmental health needs of each child and record any issues in the monthly written summaries of overall care provided, improved to include this information.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with young people and their carers confirmed that each child was registered with a local doctor and dentist. No concerns were raised with Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 12 regard to accessing medical services for children and questionnaire responses received were very positive regarding the work undertaken by carers with children to promote a healthy lifestyle. Although the files examined contained some evidence from review meetings that the looked after children had received their statutory annual medical examinations, direct confirmation of this was not always available. The acting manager confirmed that where this was the case the agency do raise this with the relevant placing social workers and also prompt the arrangement of outstanding examinations.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager highlighted that only a quarter of looked after children placed through the service had received an annual health check in the last 12 months; this is due mainly to the high proportion of young people refusing to attend their appointments. To improve this situation the service has established contact with the Looked After Children’s (LAC) Nurse for the local area and through this has established contact with other LAC nurses for surrounding areas. Through this joint working children and young people are receiving direct encouragement to undertake their medicals. One example of a LAC nurse visiting a young person at home to encourage and successfully complete their medical was noted. In another example a school nurse had supported a reluctant young person by helping them to arrange their appointment.

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EVIDENCE:

Health information leaflets and updated advice to carers and children are regularly sent out by the agency. The acting manager has identified direct contact for carers with LAC medical staff and notifications to health authorities when children are placed as areas that the agency will work to improve. Ongoing work to introduce improved documents for the recording and monitoring of medication was also noted. A record of any accidents occurring is maintained by the service and is monitored by the manager. Although there was evidence of good overall monitoring, the quality of recording in the notification of two significant events involving the health needs of young people were reviewed and clarified with the acting manager.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency provides training for carers to support them in ensuring that the dietary and health needs of children and young people are met. The current training programme was examined and included a number of events focusing on health, including child development and sexual health. Previous examples included attachment training, self-harm and eating disorders. The acting manager highlighted the strong links with the local Primary Care Trust, regular providers of training to carers on behalf of the agency.

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EVIDENCE:

Examination of carer files provided good examples of the ongoing training needs of carers being monitored through their annual review meetings and reports. Examples of the necessary renewal of first aid certificates being highlighted were noted. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 13

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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)

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The Commission considers Standards 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key

standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following Standard(s):

Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. The acting manager of the service is both suitable and competent to provide it. Young people are placed with carers who provide safe homes, with good recording of health and safety checks completed. Arrangements to match young people with carers are effective. The overall arrangements put in place by the Agency keep children safe, are documented fully and consistently with any concerns responded to promptly. Staff recruitment procedures are effective. The agency’s panel is well comprised and is making good decisions and recommendations to the decision maker. Improvements have been made in the procedures to monitor and review the ongoing suitability and qualities of carers in meeting the needs of children placed with them.

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EVIDENCE:

The previous inspection confirmed that the recruitment processes in place at the agency were robust. Since the previous inspection the manager of the service has moved on and at the time of this inspection, the agency had a temporary management arrangement, put in place with the agreement of the Commission until a full-time appointment is confirmed. This inspection re- confirmed that the agency continues to maintain good systems to recruit managers, staff and carers who have the qualities and experience necessary to Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 14 work directly and safely with children. One placing social worker, who felt that the service had further improved since the last inspection, highlighted the ongoing “recruitment of good quality staff” by the agency as an indication of this. The staff members interviewed during this inspection were very positive regarding their role in supporting children and carers and demonstrated

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EVIDENCE:

professionalism in their approach to this work.

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EVIDENCE:

An examination of management, staff and carers files showed that the service takes up all of the necessary safeguarding checks including enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) disclosures. However, files did not contain evidence that written references received are followed up through telephone contact with the referees themselves. This was raised with the acting manager for their review.

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EVIDENCE:

Each carer’s home visited as part of the inspection presented a pleasant homely environment, made safe from identifiable hazards and both suitable and spacious enough for foster children to live in comfortably. Carers confirmed that during their support visits agency staff regularly check the ongoing safety of their homes. Carers also confirmed that they had received Health and Safety training. This is supplemented through the additional Health and Safety guidance provided to them by the agency. Carers’ files contained copies of motor insurance and vehicle MOT certificates and completed Health and Safety checklists, regularly updated through the monthly supervision visits.

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EVIDENCE:

The service has continued to work positively to address limitations to placement choice through ongoing recruitment aimed at increasing the number of available carers. None of the carers who were visited or responded by questionnaire raised any concerns regarding the matching processes in place. During the home visits the carers commented positively on the arrangements in place to ‘match’ children successfully with them. Through their questionnaire responses children placed confirmed that they felt well cared for. Placing social workers highlighted both choice of placement for children and young people and placement stability as positive aspects of the service. Social work staff employed by the service itself also highlighted good matching as a positive strength of the service. Carers visited described how introductory visits had taken place with some children and how this had helped both them and the children to get to know each other better. Carers also confirmed that

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EVIDENCE:

good initial written information about the children had also been provided to them by the agency. In situations where there was any delay in receiving necessary LAC documentation, carers were happy to confirm that they were supported by staff at the agency in requesting and receiving this from the social workers placing the child. Placement contracts were in place within the files examined. Although some files examined contained limited documented evidence of the matching processes, particularly through LAC placement agreements, the agencies own ‘matching proforma’ is used successfully to ensure that necessary information is recorded. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 15 Carers are provided with training and receive written guidance regarding child protection procedures and the safe care of children. The acting manager highlighted the training provided as an area in which the agency performed

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EVIDENCE:

well, particularly in risk assessment and child protection. They also outlined the ongoing work of the agency to look at how and when training is delivered to encourage more carers to attend. A training session in child protection took place during the course of the visit during which inspectors were able to talk directly with this group of carers. The agency has previously provided training for carers in working with children who have been abused or who have abused. During their home visit one carer confirmed that they had attended and benefited from training in “Risk Assessment” also previously provided by the agency.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has a clear anti-bullying policy and strategies to support carers and children, if such issues arise in their care. Positively, none of the young people interviewed or responding by questionnaire reported that they were being bullied.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency provides carers with information about safe care and control through their foster carers handbook. Through their procedures, care agreements and training, the agency makes clear that no form of corporal punishment is acceptable.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency is working to make sure that the arrangements to ensure “Safe Caring” of children by foster carers are effective. Carers visited were able to confirm that they participated in developing a safe caring policy for their homes and that these were recorded and maintained on file for reference. Files examined contained good examples of the safe caring policies completed and also demonstrated that these assessments had been updated as placements changed. Discussion during one home visit highlighted the good joint working of the carer, social work and education staff in planning safe caring strategies following an incident of concern with one young person. The acting manager highlighted one ongoing aim of the agency to ensure that placing social workers themselves contribute more to the risk assessment process in partnership with carers and agency staff. Through interviews and questionnaire responses a number of carers highlighted the difficulties in

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EVIDENCE:

protecting children when initially limited information about their backgrounds was received. As previously highlighted, carers were positive regarding the support provided by agency staff in obtaining required information at the earliest opportunity from the placing social worker responsible for the child.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has arrangements in place to ensure that any allegations of abuse are monitored, responded to and notified as required by Schedule 7 to the regulations. One example involving the restraint of a young person, was clearly recorded, but did not indicate whether the young person’s placing social worker had been informed. This was highlighted to the acting manager for their review. Clear information regarding procedures to follow in the event of Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 16 any young person going missing is provided to carers through their handbook. The training provided to them has also covered this. Although carers were very positive regarding the level and quality of support provided to them by their supervising social workers, some of those carers interviewed raised some concerns regarding the ‘out of hours’ support provided by the agency. Some examples were not recent and carers were happy to report good current

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EVIDENCE:

responses when support was requested. However one example of lack of initial support raised by a carer was fed back to the acting manager. They acknowledged the event as described and confirmed the steps taken by the service to ensure that this would not re-occur.

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EVIDENCE:

With one exception, all the placing social workers responding by questionnaire confirmed that they felt that the children they had placed were well cared for by their carers with almost all rating the quality of care as excellent or good.

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EVIDENCE:

With the one exception raised by a placing social worker, and previously notified by the service to the Commission, discussion with the acting manager confirmed that the allegations referred to remain under current investigation, with the outcome to be notified to the Commission as previously agreed. Consequent improvements in the overall monitoring of carer suitability and responses to reported changes in their circumstances have already been introduced by the agency and were noted during this inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

As with the overall majority of placing social workers, the responses of children and young people were equally positive regarding the quality of care provided to them by their carers.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with the Panel Chair confirmed that since the last inspection panel members had received additional training in their role and had also benefited from panel ‘development days’ organised by the acting manager. The Chair also confirmed that to make carers more familiar with the overall roles and responsibilities of the fostering panel they themselves had attended consultation events organised for carers to meet and talk with them directly. The Chair was able to demonstrate the level of independence of the panel from the agency, examples of the panel challenging reports and requesting clarification of issues prior to decisions being agreed were noted throughout the panel attended. The Chair highlighted the positive improvements in the quality and consistency of panel monitoring due to the introduction of standard checklists completed by staff and used by panel when reviewing the reports presented to them. The panel benefits from good representation in the areas

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EVIDENCE:

of child health, education, social work and those with direct experience of providing and receiving foster care. The Chair confirmed that panel members have access both to written guidance and legal advice in support of their role.

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EVIDENCE:

A meeting of the fostering panel was attended as part of the inspection. Panel members appeared comfortable in their roles and the presentation of written reports for their information was generally good. Discussion was thorough, Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 17 with members able to raise and challenge any issues regarding the ongoing suitability of foster carers subject to their annual reviews. The standard checklists recently introduced by the service to ensure consistency and quality by the panel when reviewing information, were seen to work effectively throughout the meeting. The reports presented to the meeting contained good detail of the strengths demonstrated by carers in looking after children as well as areas where they require more support and training. The acting manager attends panel to provide professional advice and support to panel members, they also represent the agency as a director. It was agreed that this

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EVIDENCE:

arrangement be reviewed to ensure that the agency is represented by someone more independent from the direct work undertaken with carers and children. The processes by which any panel member can provide a ‘declaration of interest’ when considering reports were also reviewed, with steps to improve this agreed with the acting manager. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 18

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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)

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The Commission considers Standards 7, 13, and 31 the key standards

to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. Foster Cares through its foster carers works to provide placements, which value diversity and promote equality. Children placed with the agency’s carers are provided with good support, which actively promotes their educational achievement.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has worked to ensure that the information provided to carers regarding equality and diversity is appropriate and is explained to them. Their understanding of and ability to work with these issues is also assessed during their initial approval and ongoing reviews. Carers and staff are provided with training opportunities in equality and diversity. During one home visit, where the young person placed was from a mixed ethnic background, the foster carer was able to describe the additional guidance and support received to help the foster child placed with them develop social relationships within their local community and participate in a range of recreational and social activities. This was contrasted with file evidence for a separate carer where additional training in diversity had been highlighted as being of likely benefit to the carer, but had not been provided during the subsequent two-year period. This issue was fed

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EVIDENCE:

back to the acting manager for their review. Subsequent to the inspection they were able to confirm that an opportunity for this training had been provided to the carer, they also confirmed that although the carer had commenced this they had not subsequently completed it. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 19 The carers’ views on the support received from the agency in helping them to develop the social lives of children placed with them was mixed, with half describing this as excellent or good and the other half describing this as adequate. Some of those describing support as adequate felt that it was down to them to establish children in the community and support their social acceptance. The overall response of placing social workers, when giving their view on the support provided to young people in this area, was that the support was good or excellent.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with the acting manager, carers, children and an examination of files confirmed that the fostering service works closely with carers to promote the educational achievement of young people cared for. The acting manager highlighted the arrangements put in place by the agency to monitor the overall success of educational placements as an area of work that they do well. Vouchers are used to positively reward the individual achievements and progress of children in their education. Their progress is routinely discussed with carers in their regular supervision visits with overall information shared by social work staff in their weekly team meetings.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager highlighted the need for better monitoring of personal education plans for young people, improvements in recording by staff and better consultation with young people regarding their educational needs as areas that the service hopes to improve on further. Discussion with young people on this had been included in previous consultation events. The acting manager confirmed that the agency are also hoping to expand the use of the reward scheme and develop better support for carers when young people are not in school.

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EVIDENCE:

Although the acting manager was able to confirm that the majority of young people placed through the agency had a personal education plan, it was acknowledged that copies of these had not been obtained for all children. Where this was the case, the acting manager was able to confirm the positive steps being taken to obtain these.

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EVIDENCE:

Whilst confirming that they ‘usually’ or ‘always’ receive the right help so that they could be successful in their education, a number of young people added their own comments. One young person stated: “yes because the school say I’m doing well”; another said “education is needed for everything you do, it is important to me”.

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EVIDENCE:

With one exception where problems in communication with the school were highlighted, all young people were able to confirm their satisfaction with the support they received from their carers in meeting their educational needs. Children and young people were also positive that their carers discussed with them and helped them plan for the future. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 20 Statistics provided by the acting manager confirmed that positively, 3 of the 5 children placed with the agency who had left school within the last 12 months had achieved at least one GCSE. The majority of young people are in mainstream education, a small number attend special schools or are involved in alternative arrangements provided by the Local Education Authority. None of the young people placed are permanently excluded from school although some have fixed-term exclusions. A record of school exclusions is maintained

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EVIDENCE:

by the agency. In discussion the acting manager acknowledged the limited support provided to one young person frequently absent from school, positively they were able to highlight the aim of the agency to act to further improve the level of support provided to children and carers in meeting their educational needs where problems exist.

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EVIDENCE:

The majority of carers were positive that the educational needs of children in their care were being met. Half of those responding by questionnaire described the support provided by the agency as excellent or good. One carer felt that support was poor with the remainder describing it as adequate. A number highlighted their own efforts and work to support children in their education, positive examples of this were evident in the home visits with carers undertaken as part of the inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

The overall response from placing social workers was positive with the vast majority describing the support provided to children and young people as excellent or good.

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EVIDENCE:

Those files examined contained good information regarding the educational background of young people and their ongoing educational progress. School details and contact information were included with one example of positive discussions regarding a young person moving on to college noted. Examples of statements of special educational needs and personal education plans were also seen within the files examined. One file contained a positive example of the work being undertaken to assess and respond to issues of dyslexia for one young person.

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EVIDENCE:

The service does not provide short breaks for children living with their families. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 21

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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)

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The Commission considers Standards 10 and 11 the key standards to

be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. The agency actively promotes and supports contact between children and their families and friends where this is appropriate. Arrangements are in place to seek children’s views about their lives and the care they receive.

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EVIDENCE:

Overall, the files examined contained clear recording and good evidence of the work done by carers to support appropriate contact between children, young people and their families. However, some examples of limited information regarding contact arrangements within placement agreement documents were highlighted to the acting manager for review with placing social workers. During a visit to their home, one foster carer described difficulties in monitoring contact due to use of a mobile phone by the young person. The carer had attempted to monitor this situation and had provided information as requested to the placing social worker. However, they were unsure as to how this information had been acted upon by the placing social worker. This was also highlighted to the acting manager for their review.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with supervising social workers and examination of files also provided good evidence of the support provided to carers by the agency to maintain regular contact between children and their families. In discussion, staff were extremely positive regarding the qualities of carers in supporting contact, they also highlighted how they themselves would provide additional Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 22 support where necessary to assist carers and children in maintaining good contact. The acting manager highlighted the overall work within the agency both in providing transport and supervising contact as a particular strength. In their questionnaire responses, placing social workers were equally positive regarding the support provided to children by their carers in maintaining contact with their families.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers responding by questionnaire confirmed that they support appropriate contact to the benefit of children and young people in their care. One stated: “my foster child has regular contact with his mum”.

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EVIDENCE:

Through discussion with young people, examination of their questionnaire responses and also a selection of their care files, it was confirmed that young people had been provided with written information about the service through the young person’s guide, and with one exception also knew how to complain if necessary. With regard to the one exception, positively, this same young person was able to confirm that they did know who to speak to if they were not happy or had a personal problem.

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EVIDENCE:

One young person stated: “The carers here listen to me a lot more than the place I was before”. The same young person highlighted that they ‘always’ know who to speak to if they are not happy or have a personal problem and said they would speak to their: “social worker, link worker, or foster carer”.

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EVIDENCE:

Another young person highlighted how their views had been encouraged through their attendance of an informal consultation event included within a Halloween Party organised by the service. Young people’s questionnaires also contained individual confirmation that they are always or usually consulted, both by their carers and staff at the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager highlighted the individual work undertaken with young people as an area of work the agency does well. They also highlighted the encouragement given to young people to be involved in their carers annual reviews through the written questionnaire reports provided to and received from them. Examples of these were also seen within the files of their carers. The acting manager also highlighted positively the ‘communications pack’ introduced to further enhance the ability of staff to seek the views of young people with disabilities about the care they receive.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager confirmed that the agency would continue to look at and improve the ways in which young people were consulted and were provided with information. They are also planning to arrange another informal consultation event similar to the previously referred to ‘Halloween Party’.

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EVIDENCE:

Questionnaire responses received from placing social workers described the work undertaken by the service to consult with and involve young people in decisions about their lives as either excellent or good. Although two carers Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 23 responding by questionnaire felt that consultation with children was poor, the overall response from carers was positive. One carer highlighted the use of incentives by the service to encourage young people to provide their views through questionnaires Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 24

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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)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. The agency makes appropriate and prompt payments in accordance with its policies and procedures.

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EVIDENCE:

Policies and procedures in respect of fostering allowances and payments to carers are in place. This information is made available to carers and staff through the agency handbook. With one exception, carers raised no concerns regarding their receipt of the necessary fostering allowances and the prompt payment of them by the agency. With the one exception, the carer highlighted how they had questioned the level of allowance paid to them, the acting manager confirmed the steps taken to review this and ensure that the allowance paid was correct.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager highlighted work undertaken by the agency to ensure quality and fairness in relations to payments and also access to respite care. Access to respite had been raised by some of the carers interviewed and responding by questionnaire, overall this was now seen to be much fairer.

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EVIDENCE:

The acting manager also confirmed that the agency would continue to review incidental payments, such as holiday payments for young people to ensure equality for all carers at the agency. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 25

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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) • 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)

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• 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) • Local Authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers.(NMS 32)

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The Commission considers Standards 17, 21, 24 and 32 the key

standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

17,21,22,23,24, (32 n/a) Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to the service. Foster Cares is an effectively managed service. Its team of social work practitioners provide good quality supervision and support to its carers. Management systems and records in use at the service are generally robust, however further recommendations are made regarding children’s and carer’s documentation. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 26

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EVIDENCE:

Some of the more recently approved foster carer files examined contained evidence of lots of visits being completed leading to thorough assessments of their ability to foster and detailed reports of this being provided to the fostering panel. During a home visit, one of the foster carers said that they felt that the assessment undertaken and the process leading to their approval had been thorough. In contrast to this, another carer whose initial assessment and approval had taken place some years earlier and who had previously fostered for a local authority highlighted that although new checks of suitability had been undertaken by Foster Cares, the previous local authority assessment (available both to them and their assessing social worker) had been used as the basis of their initial assessment for Foster Cares. This issue was fed back to the current acting manager for their review.

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EVIDENCE:

Although the inspectors were satisfied with the quality of recently completed assessments, it was recommended that original notes from referee interview visits as well as the original notes underpinning the Form F assessments should be maintained within the approved carers files.

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EVIDENCE:

Although one historic notice of approval was absent from the carers file, the minutes of the panel meeting recommending approval were located by the acting manager and confirmed the terms of approval for that particular carer.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with the acting manager, staff and carers as well as a review of carers files confirmed that the agency have good arrangements in place to manage and ensure that carers are provided with necessary supervision and support, including training opportunities, and that their work with children and young people is regularly and thoroughly reviewed.

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EVIDENCE:

Opportunities for group support and access to ongoing training opportunities are provided to carers. Placing social workers reported that communication overall with the agency and it’s foster carers was good.

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EVIDENCE:

Carer review reports examined were thorough and included good evidence that the views of foster children and the birth children of foster carers are sought and carefully considered.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with some carers highlighted issues previously raised with the service with regard to access to occasional ‘respite’ from ongoing care arrangements. Positively, discussion with carers and staff confirmed that the acting manager had reviewed these arrangements to ensure that all carers and the children cared for, benefit equally from access to this part of the service.

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EVIDENCE:

The files examined contained evidence of regular support and supervision being provided to carers by agency social workers. Supervision agreements Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 27 were in place as were well-organised records of the supervision provided. The structure of the supervision reports had been recently reviewed by the service and those examined contained good detail of the work being undertaken by carers and the positive outcomes being achieved with children. These are completed by the carers and are reviewed with them by their supervising social worker.

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EVIDENCE:

During group discussion, some carers expressed their concern that as a result of the services review and changes introduced to their supervision; this was now focused more on the needs of the children placed rather than the supervision and support needs of the carers themselves. Positively, other carers were satisfied that their own support needs were addressed through the focus on their effectiveness in working with children. Those foster carers visited were happy to confirm that they felt very well supervised, examples were given of regular phone calls being received and support visits being made by their supervising social workers.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster care agreements were in place on the files examined. These were compliant with Schedule 5 to the fostering regulations. However it was recommended that when next reviewed, these would benefit from more specific information for carers regarding their responsibilities in protecting children, managing their behaviour and dealing with any unauthorised absences as stipulated in regulations 12 and 13 to the National Minimum Standards for Fostering.

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EVIDENCE:

A Foster carer handbook is in place and is provided to carers for their reference. The acting manager highlighted work being done to streamline the handbook and make it more ‘user friendly’.

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EVIDENCE:

With one exception, highlighted previously in this report, carers confirmed that “Out of hours support” is provided by the agency and is always available to them. One carer highlighted a strength of the agency as “someone is available with advice 24-7”; another positively described “Link worker support 24 hours by phone”.

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EVIDENCE:

Examination of records and discussion with the acting manager confirmed the procedures in place allowing them to monitor the effectiveness of the supervision and support provided to carers and their effectiveness in meeting the needs of young people cared for. This monitoring was comprehensive. However, it was recommended that the acting manager should routinely sign the central record of school exclusions to provide confirmation that this is also monitored.

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EVIDENCE:

Investigations ongoing at the agency, previously notified to the Commission and reviewed as part of the inspection, confirmed the effectiveness of current monitoring procedures with regard to allegations. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 28 The overall training programme for carers, provided by the agency contains a good range of opportunities for carers to develop their skills and understanding of the care needs of foster children. Those foster carer files examined included detailed recording of the training provided to them. Files also contained good evidence that attendance and successful completion of training is monitored through each carer’s annual review. The acting manager confirmed that this had been raised with panel members as an area of focus, with review reports providing good evidence of the effectiveness of this. They also confirmed that the agency will continue to review overall access to training with alternative

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EVIDENCE:

venues and times to be considered where access to training is problematic for carers due to child care commitments or difficult travel arrangements.

p.28

EVIDENCE:

Those foster carers responding by questionnaire or visited during the inspection were positive regarding the range of training opportunities made available to them. Some spoken to gave examples of the support available through more experienced carers acting as mentors. Examples of support with children’s care arrangements being provided to allow participation in training were also noted. Agency staff members participate in joint-training opportunities with foster carers. The Panel Chair has also attended training and consultation events to meet and talk personally with carers.

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EVIDENCE:

Children’s files examined during the inspection contained good examples of the quality of foster carer recording with regard to the work undertaken with foster children to ensure that their care needs are met. In discussion, one carer highlighted the good support and guidance provided by her supervising social worker to support her recording skills. Although a number of examples of the required LAC documentation within children’s files being either out-of-date or missing from the file, there was good documentary evidence that staff had supported carers in requesting and receiving any outstanding documentation from placing social workers. Although some examples of documents requiring updating and signatures were noted, case files generally contained good recording by carers and staff and clearly explained the history of each young person placed with the agency. Those files seen were maintained in good

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EVIDENCE:

order with arrangements to ensure their safe storage in place. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 29

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

This page summarises the assessment of the extent to which the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services have been met and uses the following scale.

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

4 Standard Exceeded (Commendable) 3 Standard Met (No Shortfalls) 2 Standard Almost Met (Minor Shortfalls) 1 Standard Not Met (Major Shortfalls) “X” in the standard met box denotes standard not assessed on this occasion “N/A” in the standard met box denotes standard not applicable

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

BEING HEALTHY ACHIEVING ECONOMIC Standard No Score WELLBEING 12 3 Standard No Score 14 X STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 3 1 X 9 3 2 X 15 3 4 X 30 3 5 X 16 X ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 3 Standard No Score 18 X 7 3 19 X 13 3 20 X 31 N/A 21 4 22 3 MAKING A POSITIVE 23 4 CONTRIBUTION 24 2 Standard No Score 25 X 10 3 26 X 11 3 27 X 28 X 32 N/A Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 30 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 2. FS8 22 & 30 The agency must maintain looked after children's (LAC) Placement Plan Parts 1 & 2, Essential Information Parts 1 & 2 and Care Plans in respect of each child placed 01/10/06

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RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. FS12 The agency must continue to work with placing social workers to ensure that all children benefit from receiving their statutory annual medical examination. 2. FS15 Recording in staff files should be improved to provide evidence that written references obtained as part of their employment checks are followed up through telephone contact with the referees. 3 FS17 The original notes from referee interview visits as well as the original notes underpinning their Form F assessments should be maintained within the approved carers files. 4 FS30 Agency representation on the Fostering Panel should be reviewed to ensure independence from the direct work Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 31 undertaken with carers and children. 5 FS22 Foster Care Agreements should include more detailed information regarding the responsibilities of foster carers in protecting children, managing their behaviour and

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RECOMMENDATIONS

dealing with any unauthorised absences from the foster home. 6 FS13 The acting manager should routinely sign the central record of school exclusions to provide confirmation that this is being monitored. Foster Cares Ltd DS0000036057.V292025.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 32

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

Darlington Area Office No. 1 Hopetown Studios Brinkburn Road Darlington DL3 6DS

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

National Enquiry Line: 0845 015 0120 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk © This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI

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