Parent and Child Fostering Service

Parent and Child Fostering Service Inspection report for independent fostering agency

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Unique reference number SC442125 Inspection date 25/10/2013 Inspector Maire Atherton Type of inspection Full Provision subtype

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Setting address Alfa House, Molesey Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey, KT12 3PD

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Telephone number 01932226032 Email pacfs@yahoo.uk Registered person Parent and Child Fostering Service Registered manager Bola Areoye Responsible individual Abimbola Ladipo-Aridegbe Date of last inspection 11/05/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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

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Brief description of the service

Parent and Child Fostering Service Ltd is an independent fostering provider. The main focus of the agency is parent and child placements but they also offer short and long term, remand, short break, and bridging placements.

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Brief description of the service

It was registered in May 2012 and currently has 13 approved foster carers. At the time of this inspection there were six children and young people using the service in three placements.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : An agency demonstrating and exceeding the characteristics of a good judgement where children and young people are making significantly better progress and achieving more than was expected in all areas of their lives. Good : An agency where children and young people, including those with the most complex needs, have their individual needs met and their welfare safeguarded and promoted. They make good progress and receive effective services so they achieve as well as they can in all areas of their lives. Requires improvement : An agency that may be compliant with regulations and observing the national minimum standards but is not yet demonstrating the characteristics of a good judgement. It therefore requires improvement to be good. There may be failures to meet all regulations or national minimum standards but these are not widespread or serious; all children’s and young people’s welfare is

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

safeguarded and promoted. Inadequate : An agency where there are widespread or serious failures which result in children and young people not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Overall effectiveness

There are serious and significant regulatory weaknesses in this agency which fail to safeguard children and young people. The manager talks passionately about safeguarding being core to the business of the agency but has failed to ensure that regulations and national minimum standards, also central to safeguarding, are met .

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Overall effectiveness

There are some skilled foster carers working for the agency who have secured positive outcomes for children and young people. Foster carers have provided some stable placements that have enabled young mothers to learn how to care for their children. However this is not the experience of all young people placed. Foster carers speak warmly about the always available support they receive from the manager of the agency.

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Overall effectiveness

Many of the processes of the agency are undertaken without regard to the regulatory framework resulting in 15 requirements. The lack of formal written risk assessments fails to ensure that vulnerable children and young people are given the support they need to reduce risk as far as possible. The assessment and approval of foster carers is not robust with a lack of rigour in panel and decision making. Gaps in recruitment records do not evidence that only suitable people are employed. A number of records, policies and procedures are inaccurate, inconsistent and do not contain the information required by regulation.

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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 (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) include in the mothers’ and children's guides full information on how to make a complaint; ensure that the procedure is relevant to the service and contains the required information (Regulation 18 (2)(e); (3); (5)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) evidence how the welfare of children placed is safeguarded and promoted; in particular, through robust written risk assessments (Regulation 11 (a)) * 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that foster carers receive the full range of training necessary to meet the needs of children placed with them (Regulation 17 (1)) 31/01/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure and evidence that the fostering panel members have between them the experience and expertise necessary to discharge the functions of the panel effectively (Regulation 23 (7)) * 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that all elements of the regulation are included in the assessment of foster carers; in particular, the skills, competence and potential relevant to their capacity to care effectively for a child placed with them (Regulation 26(2) Schedule 3 (10)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that foster carers are provided with such information so as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child; in particular, provide risk assessments (Regulation 17 (3)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the safeguarding policy contains all the requirements of regulation (Regulation 12) * 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure and evidence that for all staff working for the purposes of the fostering agency, full and satisfactory information is obtained, as required by regulation (Regulation 20 (3)(c)) * 06/12/2013 (2011) ensure that a copy of the Statement of Purpose is available on the agency website and accurately describes the staffing of the agency (Regulation 3 (1)(2)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that all the elements of Schedule 6 are monitored at appropriate intervals and provide for consultation with stakeholders (Regulation 35 (1 )(a) and (3)) * 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that staff receive appropriate training (Regulation 24 (4)) 31/03/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that foster carers’ reviews of approval are undertaken as required (Regulation 28 (2)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) maintain an accurate register of foster parents which contains all the particulars laid down in regulation; in particular, ensure that the information is consistent with that held elsewhere (Regulation 31) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the foster care agreement contains all the matters and obligations required. (Regulation 27(5)(b) Schedule 5 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that if any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of column 2 of the table, in particular Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. (Regulation 36 (1)) 06/12/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 make available to children and young people easily accessible information about the foster carer before their arrival, in formats appropriate to age and understanding (NMS11.3)  ensure that children and their parents understand the nature of records maintained and how to access them (NMS26.3)  ensure that all foster carers have at least one unannounced visit a year and that records of supervisory meetings are maintained (NMS 21.8)  evidence that foster carers have completed the Training Support and Development Standards within 12 months of approval (NMS 20.3)  review the agency decision not to assess and approve both partners as foster carers (The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4 para 5.31)  provide foster carers with the opportunity to attend the panel at which their approval is being discussed (NMS 14.5)  update the agency policy on Children Missing from Placement to ensure it is

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Recommendations

compatible with the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocols and procedures (NMS 5.7)  demonstrate how foster carers actively safeguard and promote the welfare of children, by implementing the relevant agency policy and procedures as outlined in the safeguarding section of the report (NMS 4.2)  ensure that the agency practice and procedures in respect of initial enquiries and assessment are compatible and provide for effective monitoring. (NMS 13.2)

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

While there is evidence of very good practice resulting in positive outcomes for some of the children and young people placed, this is not true for all, which has led to the judgement of inadequate.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Some young people have the opportunity to visit foster carers before moving in. However, the agency does not have any easily accessible information about their foster carers available for social workers to share with those who do not have an opportunity to visit. Thus some young people feel that they are moving into the unknown.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Some young people integrate well into the foster carers’ families and feel part of family life. Others do not wish to engage with the family and invest their time in relationships outside the placement. The majority of placements made by the agency are mother and child. Some young people report excellent relationships with their foster carers and make significant bonds that support them to achieve the best outcomes for themselves and their children. Others do not feel so comfortable in their placements and are avoiding the development of attachments with their foster carers. For example, some young people stay out for long periods of time and their whereabouts are not confirmed.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Young people and their children move in accordance with their plans. Some stay for a number of months, others are bridging placements of a month or so. Some move on from the foster carers with their children to semi-independent accommodation. Others are supported to say goodbye to their children and it is a testament to the quality of those relationships that the mother has remained in touch with the foster carer after moving out. One placing social worker said, 'this placement has exceeded my expectations; she is special.’ Placements of teenagers have proved less successful, with two unplanned endings, for different reasons.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Young mothers are encouraged and supported to maintain contact with family and friends where this is part of their placement plan. There is no system for young people to have access to the fostering agency records; young people are not aware that they can ask to see their records. Some young people feel that it is difficult for them to fully express their views or complain, because they are being assessed and are worried that it may affect the outcome of their assessment. The mothers’ and children's guides do not outline how to make a formal complaint. Some young mothers are beginning to take responsibility for their behaviour. They are developing an understanding of the impact of their behaviour on their babies and making changes. This is not true in all cases and the behaviour of a minority is having a negative impact on their children.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Some young people are recorded by the placing authority as being at risk of exploitation. Although the manager can outline the identified risks for individual placements, there are no formal written risk assessments in place. One social worker described a young person as 'unable to assess risk'. It is unclear what action the agency has taken to reduce these risks, apart from informing the placing authority of the times the mother and child are away from the foster carer’s house.

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Experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people

Generally, babies’ health is promoted through supporting mothers in obtaining regular monitoring by healthcare professionals. There are some instances where foster carers have given advice that is not consistent with that given by healthcare professionals, causing some confusion for young mothers. Foster carers are good at ensuring that mothers look after their own health too; for example, by seeking contraceptive advice. Some young people are successfully re-engaging in education after a period away; for example, through home tuition and part-time college attendance.

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Quality of service

This is a small agency with a diverse range of foster carers. The main focus of agency is mother and baby placements, but foster carers are approved for a wide range of placements. Foster carers report satisfaction with the training provided by the manager. The training programme of foster carers does not support the full range of placements offered, for example foster carers have not had training in managing challenging behaviour. The training provided to date is insufficiently timely to support foster carers in caring for placements. For example, foster carers have not yet had training in attachment or child development. It is acknowledged this is planned, but some foster carers have been registered for 18 months. Some foster carers provide excellent informed support. There have been some instances where foster carers have relied on their own experiences of parenting to give advice which is not always in line with current practice, weaning for example. Only two of eight

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Quality of service

eligible foster carers have completed the Training Support and Development Standards within 12 months. The manager explained that this has proved difficult in the absence of placements for some foster carers.

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Quality of service

There is a lack of clarity in assessment records about the differentiation between the preparation and assessment of foster carers. Due to the size of the agency, the manager provides each prospective foster carer with individual preparation, rather than participation in a group. Foster carers themselves were unclear about which visits were preparation, and which were assessment. However, they feel that by the end of the process, they had a sound understanding both of the role of a foster carer and the needs of children likely to be placed. . Foster carers have mixed experiences in enabling young people to feel part of the family. Some achieve this very well, one young person is very clearly settled and feels part of family in a very short space of time. Others struggle to develop relationships with those who do not wish to engage and physically remove themselves. One young person reports feeling isolated when the family use a

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Quality of service

language that she does not understand. Some foster carers have established links with family members, where this is permitted, and use these links to support the children and young people.

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Quality of service

Foster carers are very positive about level of support they receive from the manager and feel very well supported, both through individual supervision and the support group meetings. They describe her as 'available 24/7' and say 'she goes above and beyond'. Foster carers describe prompt responses to phone calls in the early hours of the morning and visits to talk to mothers to support foster carers. The supervision notes on file do not reflect the frequency of supervision visits, as reported by foster carers or the manager. All report receiving phone calls that the manager uses to compile weekly updates to send to social workers. Social workers value the regular updates and in some cases there is strong evidence that their views have influenced positive outcomes for those placed. Social workers generally report good working relationships. There is some very complimentary feedback from social workers about

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Quality of service

the quality of foster carers' provision, support for the mothers and babies and engaging with adopters in the adoption process.

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Quality of service

There are serious deficits in the administration and practice of the panel. There is insufficient rigour in the decision-making processes. The agency decision maker undertakes assessments and presents the case to panel, recommending the applicant as a suitable foster carer. There has been an instance where a panel member with a conflict of interest has been involved in the panel discussion and making the recommendation for approval to the decision maker.

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Quality of service

Panel members are from a range of diverse backgrounds and include members with expertise in health and education. The panel chair does not have the necessary experience, either in working with children, or in fostering, for the role. Foster carers’ assessments are insufficiently robust. The main focus of the assessments of foster carers is that of their own parenting experience with a limited evaluation of other experiences and skills that may be required as foster carers. Panel minutes show that members do question the information supplied in the assessment and ask that it be updated, but there is no evidence that this happens or is followed up at the next panel meeting. In couples, only one partner is assessed and approved as a foster carer. The assessor interviews, takes up a police check on the partner and confirms their support for fostering. The agency view is that the partner is not sharing the care of the child, but this is unrealistic. Not all previous partners are

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Quality of service

interviewed as part of the assessment process and the checks with local authorities where an assessment has not been progressed are not robust. Panel members are not routinely invited to attend panel at which their approval is being discussed. Panel members had training delivered by an external agency in June 2013, which was the last time the panel met. In the main the agency obtains good information from placing authorities, which has led to some stable placements. However some referral information refers to a risk assessment which has not been shared with the agency. Foster carers are not familiar with the phrase delegated authority, but are aware of what they can and cannot give permission for, with some very strict parameters for some.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The manager is confident that safeguarding is at the centre of practice in the agency, but this is not supported by the written information available, either in policies and procedures or records, or the knowledge base of foster carers and a supervising social worker.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Foster carers’ records show that they do talk to young people about the risks to which they are exposing themselves and the baby. However, formal risk assessment is not embedded in agency practice. There are no written risk assessments; neither is there robust reviewing of placement plans with challenges to placing authorities where there are identified concerns. There is a lack of rigorous monitoring of vulnerable young people. There are very few instances of young people going missing, but one such instance was not reported to the police. The policy relating to children missing from care is not detailed and makes no reference to the relevant local protocol and procedures.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Foster carers have some understanding of safeguarding, but there are gaps in their knowledge; for example, there is a lack of clarity about the action to take if they notice a bruise. Some training has been provided by the manager and further training was scheduled for the day following this inspection. There is a lack of detailed information in the foster carers’ handbook and agency policies and procedures about the action to take should a foster carer have safeguarding concerns. There is a template for safer-caring practices, but not all foster carers complete this. Some safer-caring guidelines have a focus on health and safety and general household rules. These are written by the foster carer at the start of a placement, in consultation with the young person. They are not signed by the manager, as outlined in the agency policy. There is not a robust system for ensuring that health and safety recommendations made are implemented by the foster carer;

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Safeguarding children and young people

such as installing a fire guard, for example. Some, but not all, foster carers have had an unannounced visit in a twelve month period and young people say that they are not seen alone.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment records fail to assure the suitability of people working in the agency. The records do not all contain all the information required by regulation. This applies to panel member and staff files as well as gaps and inconsistencies in the foster carers' employment history. Some recruitment files do not contain written references; others do not have an employment history and some that do have an employment history do not provide evidence that gaps in employment have been explored.

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Leadership and management

The agency has established good relationships with placing authorities and with social workers. The main focus of the agency is on providing parent and child placements. Some of these placements have received very positive feedback about the quality of care. This has led to recommendations for further placements with the same local authority. Placements of teenagers have not been successful, with one authority reporting that due to the 'inflexibility of the both the carer and back-up carers’ work arrangements…this placement came to an end'.

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Leadership and management

There is some evidence of engagement with the local community; for example, some young people go to toddler groups, but this is not the case for all. There is limited evidence from young people that they feel that they can influence their care, because they are undergoing an assessment of their parenting skills. The manager is actively involved in supporting foster carers and placements, acting as the supervising social worker for some and providing on-call support to all. This informs some of the management monitoring of placements, but the information is not routinely acted upon to promote safety, other than reporting concerns to the placing authority.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring by the agency’s management is insufficiently robust. It does not routinely include seeking the views of service users or their parents to determine their experience of the service. There are some foster carers who are overdue a first annual review. Some of the matters to be monitored, as outlined in the regulation, have been identified as significant shortfalls in this inspection; for example, recruitment records.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is not available on the website as a discrete document. The statement describes roles that are taken by the manager and the responsible individual, implying that many more people work for agency than actually do. In addition to the manager and responsible individual there is one part-time supervising social worker employed by the service, with some panel members also undertaking assessments as contracted assessors.

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Leadership and management

This is a small agency with a limited recruitment strategy. The manager and the supervising social worker have been leafleting at a local supermarket, but feel that word of mouth by existing foster carers is the best marketing tool. The foster carers speak very highly of the manager and her role in supporting placements.

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Leadership and management

There is insufficient training for newly qualified staff. This includes not starting the induction standards despite having been employed by the agency for four months. Staff say that supervision is regular and supports them in the role, but that training needs have not been discussed. There has been one notifiable incident and this was not reported to the regulator as required. A visit was made to this agency in response to information that it was not compliant with regulations in approving a foster carer registered with another agency. As a result of that visit, five requirements were made. Two have been met in that a children's register is maintained and no foster carers registered with another agency have been approved.

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Leadership and management

Three requirements have not been met. There remain serious weaknesses in the panel. There is an insufficiently robust exploration of why a couple's assessment with another agency did not proceed and one of the couple applied to this agency. The foster carers’ register has been established, but the detail in the register is not consistent with information held elsewhere; namely the date of approval, which in the register is before the agency was registered.

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Leadership and management

There are weaknesses and inconsistencies in many records and documents. The foster carers’ agreement does not contain all the information required; for example, the terms of approval. The agency procedures for initial enquiries and assessment both refer to forms and electronic databases not used by the agency. There is no formal system in place to monitor all initial enquiries, as not all are logged. The agency does not ask prospective foster carers to complete an application form. Therefore, it is difficult to track the timeliness of progress from initial enquiry through to approval.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards and to support services to improve.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the inspection framework and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of independent fostering agencies.

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