Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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DE21 7NF

Lead Inspector Sharon Treadwell Announced Inspection 20th July 2006 09:00 East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 2 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

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DE21 7NF

• 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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DE21 7NF

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 East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.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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DE21 7NF

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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DE21 7NF

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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DE21 7NF

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. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 4

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Name of service

Address The Old Exchange 21 Nottingham Road Spondon Derby Derbyshire DE21 7NF Telephone number 01332 544711

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Name of service

Email address tracey.easter@barnardos.org.uk

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Fostering Agencies East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 5

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Conditions of registration:

Date of last inspection 13th February 2005

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Brief Description of the Service:

The East Midlands Family Placement Project is part of Barnardo’s, which is a registered charity. The fostering Project was set up in 2001 and works in partnership with 7 Authorities across the East Midlands region. The team of staff comprises the Registered Manager, 2 full time and one part time social workers and an administrator. An Assistant Director is based at the Project’s office and she has her own administrative support. The Agency provides long-term placements for children and young people up to 16 years of age. The agency additionally also provides short term, medium term and respite placements both for the children and young people looked after by its own carers and to meet the needs of children and young people living in the community or in local authority foster placements.

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Brief Description of the Service:

At the time of the Inspection the Agency was supporting 18 sets of foster carers and 20 children in placements. The Agency provides assessment and approval of foster carers and all related training and support. Supervising social workers support foster carers and work closely with foster children, their placing social workers and carers own children.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The weekly charge for fostering placements ranges from £800 for young people under 4 years of age to £950 for young people over the age of 16 years. The agency offers discounted rates for some of its long-term placements. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.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

This was a planned inspection carried out by two inspectors: Sharon Treadwell and Trisha Gibbs, with a pre-inspection visit being made to the agency on April 20th 2006.

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SUMMARY

East Midlands Family Placement Service underwent a full inspection in February of this year and this inspection has therefore been a proportionate inspection. The inspectors have looked at all areas where requirements were identified in February, or where good practice recommendations were made and in addition have case tracked three young people placed with two foster carers. Case tracking involved inspection of case files retained by the agency, home visits and discussions with young people, foster carers, placing social workers and relevant agency staff, either in person or by telephone.

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SUMMARY

At the time of preparing this report, questionnaire responses had been received from 2 carers, 2 placing Social Workers and 2 young people, and the views contained in these have been reflected in the report. No comments have been received from the parents of the young people tracked.

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SUMMARY

The inspectors attended a meeting of the Fostering Panel on the 21 st of July.

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SUMMARY

Prior to the inspection the Registered Manager provided the Commission for Social Care Inspection with a range of written information, including her Annual Report for 2005/06, about the operation of the Fostering Agency and information supplied in these documents has informed this report.

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SUMMARY

No requirements have been identified during this inspection and no recommendations have been made.

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SUMMARY

The inspectors would wish to recognise and commend the work, which has been undertaken by the Registered Manager and staff team during the last five months, to address the shortfalls identified during the previous inspection, quickly and efficiently.

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What the service does well:

The Registered Manager, appointed in January 2006, has evidenced strong leadership qualities. Robust action plans were quickly developed to address a number of shortfalls identified during the previous inspection and these have been professionally and pro-actively implemented.

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What the service does well:

East Midlands Family Placement Service is a small agency and the staff team was observed to work cohesively and had good knowledge of the strengths of individual carers and of the specific needs of the children and young people currently in placement. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 7 The agency prioritises young people’s welfare and safety by competing robust Health and Safety checks of carers homes, encouraging all carers to develop ‘Safe Care’ policies appropriate to the specific needs of young people in placement Outcomes for the young people tracked during this inspection were very positive. All were happy in placement and achieving well.

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What the service does well:

The agency follows robust procedures when recruiting new staff.

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What the service does well:

Carer support is to a very high standard with all carers receiving monthly visits, at a minimum. In their questionnaire responses and in discussions during this inspection carers spoke extremely positively of the level and standard of support offered to them.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The inspectors observed that the staff team had gelled together well and developed into a positive, professional team.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has reviewed the operation of its fostering panel, developing clear operational guidelines and clarifying the recruitment process for members.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The Foster Care Agreement has been reviewed and updated to contain all the required details.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has introduced a clear expectation of carers in respect of attendance at training. There has been an improved take-up of training opportunities and carers and staff spoke highly of the content of recent courses.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has introduced regular audits of carers’ and young people’s files, which are conducted by the Registered Manager. The files are much improved from the previous inspection. In carers’ files the purpose of Supervising Social worker visits is now clear; a pro-forma has been developed for use on supervision visits, which has a clear agenda and requires both the worker and the carer to sign; unannounced visits are being undertaken to carers homes and are recorded. Young people’s files now contain Looked After Children paperwork and Personal Education Plans. All files are better organised and more easily accessed.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The Children’s Guide has been reviewed and updated and the new format is commended.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has improved its safe care policy format and all the policies examined during this inspection were specifically related to the individual needs of the young people in placement. Both safe care policies and Health and Safety risk assessments of carers’ homes show evidence of regular review. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 8 The agency has developed a new matching pro-forma and is also in the process of developing its own Placement Agreement. Together these will provide good evidence of the matching considerations prior to placing a child.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency is currently developing systems to monitor the educational attainment, progress and school attendance of young people placed with carers.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has begun to experiment with systems for consulting more successfully with children and young people.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The agency has developed a new carer recording system, which will provide a more accessible record of each young person’s placement and will enable information relating to young people’s health and educational needs to be easily obtained.

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What they could do better:

Young people’s records do not currently contain background and current health information sufficient to evidence that health needs are appropriately met.

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What they could do better:

The inspectors have suggested some changes to the wording of the panel recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker in the minutes and have reminded the agency that the Panel advisor should not be listed as a member of the panel. The agency has also been reminded that panel minutes should be fully reflective of panel discussions around the strengths and weaknesses of any foster carer application.

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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. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 9

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 10

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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 adequate. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

Young people’s health needs are appropriately met by carers but current recording systems for young people make it difficult to isolate information to demonstrate this.

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EVIDENCE:

Agency staff have contacted the placing authorities of all young people in placement to obtain signed consent forms for medical treatment. The staff have also made efforts to obtain medical histories of the young people in placement but have not yet had a good success rate. The files of the three young people tracked during this inspection contained little health information.

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EVIDENCE:

Current carer recording systems make it impossible to isolate information pertaining to young people’s health needs, for example dental or optical appointments, and diary records are retained by carers with none of the day- to-day health information being transferred to the child’s file. The recent reviews of all three of the young people tracked recorded overdue medical appointments and it was not possible for the inspectors to confirm, from the records available, that these had since taken place. The agency is in the process of implementing new carer recording systems (in place by January 2007) and the inspectors examined the proposed system during this inspection. The new system is commended and requires separate recording of health information and medical appointments. The agency is reminded to ensure that carers record the administration of all medication to young people in foster care, on the standard pro-forma

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EVIDENCE:

provided. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 11 Foster carers were noted to be very aware of young people’s health needs and in fact one carer spoken to during the inspection confirmed her ongoing monitoring of a young person’s asthma condition, including regular attendance at medical appointments.

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EVIDENCE:

One young person said in their questionnaire: ‘I don’t eat much chocolate. I spend my money on something else’, whilst another said: ‘I have healthy food with lots of vegetables and fruit, not just junk food’.

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EVIDENCE:

The Manager has begun to develop working relationships with the CAMHS services of the local authorities with which the East Midlands Family Placement Scheme works. This will make it easier for the agency to obtain appropriate support for young people in foster placements.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers are provided with appropriate training opportunities relating to health issues and have just received training on HIV and Hepatitis. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 12

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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):

3, 6, 8, 9, 15, 30. Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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

Children and young people are provided with safe and caring homes by carers who are trained and well supported in their task.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency follows robust procedures when recruiting new staff. Personnel files relating to three members of staff were examined during the previous inspection and were found to contain all the required information. There have been no staff changes since February and therefore personnel files were not examined during this inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

The current staff team had only just come together at the time of the previous inspection, with the Registered Manager taking up post in January. The inspectors observed good working relationships. All staff are appropriately qualified and experienced.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency is commended on the development of an excellent ‘safe care plan’ pro-forma. The files of both the carers tracked contained a plan, which was specific to the young people in placement, and evidence that the plan was regularly reviewed and updated. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 13 A comprehensive Health and Safety risk assessment had been carried out in respect of the homes of the carers tracked and this too was regularly reviewed and updated Evidence was noted of Supervising Social Workers checking carers’ driving licences, MOT certificates and insurance documents at the time of approval, and subsequently at the time of each annual review. The agency has instituted a system to prompt the renewal of statutory checks on carers.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers and staff are provided with good access to training in relation to child protection and safeguarding. Both staff and carers have recently attended external training ‘Who Cares’, which they spoke very highly of. Carers are also provided with training on behaviour management. One carer detailed her involvement with a young person placed, in CAMHS sessions, where she had been provided with good information and advice about attachment issues.

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EVIDENCE:

One young person’s questionnaire made reference to being bullied at school and the help and support received from the carer. The inspectors checked this young person’s file and found evidence of good support provided by the Supervising Social Worker and the carer in working with the school to appropriately address a situation where a young person was both bullying and being bullied.

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EVIDENCE:

Agency statistics evidence an annual increase from 2002 to 2006 in the number of young people placed long term with its foster carers, which is a good indicator of a growth in stability of placements. One placing Social Worker commented in a questionnaire: ‘This agency offers a long term, well supported placement to children who would otherwise have had very disrupted care histories’.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency retains appropriate records in relation to allegations against carers and complaints received and the Registered Manager confirmed that she monitored these carefully. No complaints or allegations have been received since the previous inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has developed a new matching pro-forma to evidence the considerations prior to placing a child. The new form is being used by the agency and a completed version was shown to inspectors in respect of a recent placement. The agency is also in the process of developing its own Placement Agreement, which was also shown to the inspectors. The inspectors consider that, taken together, the information contained in these two forms will provide good evidence of matching considerations. The inspectors would suggest that a section detailing any recognised matching shortfalls and how these will be addressed be inserted into the matching pro- forma and also a section specifically detailing any cultural needs.

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EVIDENCE:

A requirement was made during the previous inspection for the agency to review the operation of its Fostering Panel. A number of areas of concern were East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 14 highlighted in relation to recruitment, constitution and training, as well as around the panel’s decision-making process.

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EVIDENCE:

New written guidelines have been developed for all panel members, which clarify their role and responsibility. The issuing of new contracts to all members with clear terms and conditions has reinforced these guidelines. The Registered Manager has clarified the process for recruitment of panel members and is currently attempting to recruit additional members to fulfil regulatory requirements. The panel was observed during this inspection and was noted to function appropriately.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspectors have suggested some changes to the wording of the panel recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker in the minutes and have reminded the agency that the Panel advisor should not be listed as a member of the panel. The agency has additionally been advised to ensure that the panel minutes fully reflect panel discussions around the strengths and weaknesses of an application. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 15

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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):

7, 13. Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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

The agency supports its carers to appropriately meet young people’s educational and leisure requirements as well as their cultural, religious and disability needs.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency provides a good range of foster carers, having six single female carers, eleven heterosexual couples and one same sex couple and having two African Caribbean households and one dual heritage household. Carers are provided with training opportunities, which support the treatment of young people as individuals. A recent training course was delivered by an agency staff member and focussed on ‘Children who emerge as bisexual, gay, lesbian or transsexual’ and one of the foster carers told inspectors it was ‘the best training I’ve had in twenty tears as a foster carer’.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency’s safe care policy format routinely addresses how cultural needs will be managed.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspectors particularly commend the recent development of a copy of the Children’s Guide for a young person with specific learning and cultural needs. The guide was very personal and very impressive. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 16 All young people currently in placement are in some form of education. The files of the young people tracked evidenced good educational progress and good support provided by carers. One of the young people tracked had a Statement of Special Educational Needs and was receiving classroom support and play support and the carers were additionally funding some home tuition. There was good evidence that the carers had completely altered this young person’s attitude to school and particularly to homework, which is commendable. Personal Education Plans, Individual Education Plans and school reports were available in respect of the young people tracked. Agency staff have worked

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EVIDENCE:

hard since February to obtain documentation relating to education in respect of young people in placement.

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EVIDENCE:

Currently educational achievements recorded by carers tend to be lost amongst other information but new carer recording systems will separate this information more appropriately. Carers do notify their Supervising Social Worker about specific achievements (educational or non-educational) of young people and the agency recognises these with a commendation letter, vouchers and a mention in the monthly newsletter.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency is currently developing systems to monitor the educational attainment, progress and school attendance of young people placed with carers.

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EVIDENCE:

Young people commented: ‘At school I get special help in reading and spelling’; ‘I want to stay living here to get even more help cos I want to be a fireman’.

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EVIDENCE:

The young people spoken to enjoyed a wide range of leisure activities from swimming and cycling to playing a musical instrument. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 17

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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 this service.

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

Agency staff consult regularly with foster carers and with young people to confirm that the foster placement meets each young person’s identified needs.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has a clearly stated commitment that foster carers will support and facilitate contact arrangements for young people in placement. One carer spoken to supported contact for the young person placed, with siblings, in the foster home. Another carer, who was visited during the inspection, supported two young people with infrequent contact with a parent.

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EVIDENCE:

Contact issues for young people are detailed within the new matching pro- forma and within the new Placement Agreement form as well as within young people’s Looked After Children paperwork and Care Plans.

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EVIDENCE:

Young people’s files evidenced that their views were sought prior to both their own statutory reviews and their carer’s annual review.

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EVIDENCE:

Barnardos employs a Participation Officer who is able to offer advice and support to individual services in relation to participation strategies for involving young people. East midlands Family Placement Service has allocated a member of staff lead responsibility for this area and the agency has begun to develop its consultation processes. The agency held a Summer Event for carers and young people at Clumber Park on July 15 th . There were lots of group activities East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 18 for carers, staff and children and all groups spoke positively about how much they had enjoyed the day. The inspectors viewed some photographs of the day, which confirmed everyone’s enjoyment of the event. During the fun day young people wrote down their thoughts about: ‘What you would like to say to people thinking of becoming a foster carer?’; ‘Why is time

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EVIDENCE:

spent with your foster carer good?’ and ‘What children want new foster carers to be like.’ The agency will use these responses in their current foster carer recruitment campaign.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspectors noted evidence during this inspection of the agency pro-actively supporting a carer to obtain appropriate advocacy for two young people whose views are not seemingly being listened to and acted upon by their placing authority. The inspectors would however remind the agency that young people should be encouraged and assisted to contact their placing authority’s Children’s Rights Service as a priority in such circumstances.

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EVIDENCE:

The Children’s Guide has been reviewed and updated and the new format is commended for its use of plain English, its attractive presentation and its proposed inclusion of contact details for the young person’s local authority Children’s Rights Officer.

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EVIDENCE:

Consultation with carers is good. Support Groups are held regularly, having recently been increased from eight to six weekly, at the request of carers. Carers spoken to felt their contributions were valued and felt ‘part of a team’. One carer commented: ‘They listen attentively to our opinions, with respect and work in partnership providing advice, support and training as necessary.’ East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 19

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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):

14, 29 Quality in this outcome area is good. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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

Carers have a good awareness of the need to prepare young people for independence. Carer allowances are clearly stated and promptly paid.

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EVIDENCE:

Although none of the young people tracked during this inspection were old enough to be receiving leaving care services through their placing authorities there was evidence that they were acquiring self care skills from their carers.

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EVIDENCE:

In her Annual Report the Registered Manager has detailed work undertaken with specific young people to minimise offending behaviour and in the AQAA (Annual Quality assurance Assessment) supplied to the Commission prior to the inspection the manager reports the guidance and support offered, by a foster carer, to a young mother during the late stages of her pregnancy, the birth and the first three months of motherhood.

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EVIDENCE:

Payments to carers are broken down clearly in the Foster Carers’ handbook into the Boarding Out Allowance and the fee and these payments are made two weeks in advance. The Registered Manager confirms that payments are in line with Fostering Network guidance and recommended rates. The agency operates a system of skill level payments, which allows for recognition of developing experience and for rewarding qualifications obtained. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 20

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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):

1, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25. Quality in this outcome area is excellent. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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

The agency is managed and its performance monitored in a professional and competent manner reflecting a dedication to supervising and supporting carers to appropriately meet the needs of children and young people in placement.

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EVIDENCE:

East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 21 The agency’s Statement of Purpose fully details the services provided and includes the new staffing structure, having been reviewed in January 2006.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspectors observed good evidence of the development of the staff team, with individual strengths well recognised and utilised in the dissemination of responsibility for specific areas of work during the last five months. The team has worked pro-actively and efficiently to address a number of requirements and recommendations identified during the previous inspection. One member of staff commented: ‘We have a really strong team identity and we skill share a lot more.’

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EVIDENCE:

The staff team have had one team building day and another is planned for September focussing on safeguarding, with a further one in February/March to focus on equality/diversity.

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EVIDENCE:

All staff confirmed that they received regular supervision and annual appraisals and that their training needs were recognised and appropriately met.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspectors observed, and staff confirmed, strong leadership skills evidenced by the Registered Manager and the establishment of robust monitoring systems. The manager has a clear, written action plan in place detailing development plans for the immediate and longer-term future and all plans have realistic time scales.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager confirmed during the inspection that, in addition to working to establish cohesion within the East Midlands Family Placement Service team, she has also been working to establish more co-operative relationships with other Barnardo’s projects in the area, to share knowledge and working practices.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers rate agency support highly: ‘Barnardos has been very good, providing information, support and training. I would strongly recommend them to anybody’; ‘They provide ongoing updated training and support groups, immediate response in any event of emergency, consistent advice and guidance and financial support and equipment’. As well as formal support, the agency offers a good informal support system with regular support groups, a ‘buddy’ system and opportunities to meet at social gatherings. One carer commented specifically on the improvements since the beginning of this year and said: ‘you can see how together the staff are now’.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency has developed a new pro-forma for the recording of foster carer supervision sessions, which has a clear and comprehensive agenda, ensuring that carers’ individual support needs and young people’s progress and development are fully covered every month. Foster carers receive a copy of East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 22 the written record of supervision. Staff spoke of the work undertaken by the team to ensure that the format suited all styles but ensured a good level of consistency in information obtained. Unannounced visits are now undertaken to carers’ homes, one was taking place at the time of the inspector’s visit to a carer. These are appropriately recorded.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency is commended on the introduction (by way of a signed agreement) of a requirement for all carers to undertake a minimum level of training each year. Carer support groups have also been slightly altered to allow for the occasional incorporation of short training sessions to be delivered as part of the group meeting. The agency is commended on the active involvement of staff in the provision of training. Information has recently been circulated to carers about the opportunity to undertake some training through the Open University. Carers have been asked to discuss their interest with their supervising social worker and the agency will financially support some carers to access this training The agency sponsors two carers each year to complete NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) training in the care of children and young people and has one foster carer who is a qualified NVQ Assessor.

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EVIDENCE:

The Carers’ Handbook and agency policies and procedures are currently being reviewed and updated by the staff team and the inspectors commend the proposed introduction of a workbook for carers, based on the handbook, to ascertain that they fully understand and are able to implement its contents.

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EVIDENCE:

One recent Form F assessment of new carers was examined as part of panel attendance and this was completed to a good standard, containing good evidence of relevant carer experiences.

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EVIDENCE:

Agency records are much improved from the previous inspection with particularly commendable improvements in respect of carers’ and young people’s files. Agency staff are commended on the efforts made since February to obtain Looked After Children documentation (which was missing in February), from placing authorities, in relation to the young people placed. The inspectors rate the proposed new recording system for foster carers highly. The agency has a clear policy on the storage of records by both staff and carers. The new Children’s Guide contains good information about young people’s rights of access to their records. Day-to day running records are electronically stored and the inspectors would suggest that a note be included in each file to state this. East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 23

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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 2 Standard No Score 14 3 STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 3 1 3 9 4 2 X 15 3 4 X 30 3 5 X 16 4 ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 3 Standard No Score 18 X 7 3 19 X 13 3 20 X 31 x 21 4 22 X MAKING A POSITIVE 23 X CONTRIBUTION 24 3 Standard No Score 25 3 10 3 26 X 11 3 27 X 28 X 32 x East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 24 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? No

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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

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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 East Midlands Family Placement Project DS0000044607.V288422.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 25

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

Leicester Office The Pavilions, 5 Smith Way Grove Park Enderby Leicester LE19 1SX

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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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