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 06/06/2014 Inspector Bridget Goddard / Heather Chaplin 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 Email Registered person Parent and Child Fostering Service Registered manager Bola Areoye Responsible individual Abimbola Ladipo-Aridegbe Date of last inspection 25/10/2013 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 fostering, and placements for unaccompanied minors.

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Brief description of the service

It was registered in May 2012 and currently has 10 approved foster carers. At the time of this inspection there were, in total, six mother and baby placements being used.

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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

Judgement outcome: requires improvement .

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Overall effectiveness

This service had its first inspection in October 2013, and serious regulatory shortfalls were found which resulted in the service being judged inadequate. 15 requirements were made and five compliance notices were issued. Two monitoring visits were carried out between that inspection and the present full inspection to evaluate progress on the compliance notices and requirements.

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Overall effectiveness

Overall, the service has made steady progress and in some areas is now demonstrating good practice. The major strengths of this agency are the exceptional support offered to foster carers, and the good progress made by babies and most parents. Foster carers are a strong and committed group who are usually effective in helping parents develop appropriate parenting skills, and general life skills. However, there are still significant issues to be addressed.

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Overall effectiveness

Two of the five requirements made as a result of this inspection relate to two policy areas which were of concern at the previous inspection and subsequent monitoring visits. Both the safeguarding policy and the complaints policy still do not entirely meet regulatory requirements. However, most of the previous areas of concern in these policies have been addressed and the remaining ones do not have an adverse effect on the welfare of babies and young people. The agency has a clear plan to promptly remedy the remaining shortfalls.

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Overall effectiveness

Two of the remaining three requirements relate to improving the relationship of the panel with the agency, and ensuring the panel minutes clearly record reasons for recommendations. The final requirement relates to ensuring foster carers have copies of risk assessments so they have clear written strategies in to follow in any predictable high risk situation. Two recommendations have also been made, relating to policies and monitoring practice.

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Overall effectiveness

The small size of this agency, and the shorter than usual time between inspections, mean that national data comparisons are not informative. However, it is clear that the agency is effective in its timely approach to the process of foster care approval from enquiry to panel, and the level of placement disruptions is very low.

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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) ensure that the fostering panel's written record of its proceedings gives reasons for its recommendations (Regulation 24 (2)) 18/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the fostering service provider obtains such information as the fostering panel considers necessary and sends that information to the panel, and provides other assistance as the fostering panel may request so far as is reasonably practicable (Regulation 25 (3) ) 18/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. This specifically relates to foster carers having updated risk assessments (Regulation 11 (a) ) 18/08/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the fostering service provider prepares and implements a written policy which is intended to safeguard children placed with foster carers from abuse or neglect, and 18/08/2014 sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect (Regulation 12 (1) (a) (b))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2011) ensure that the registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency establishes a written procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children placed by the agency, and by foster parents approved by the agency. (Regulation 18 (1)) 18/08/2014

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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

 ensure that a clear distinction is made between investigation into allegations of harm and discussions over standards of care. Investigations which find no evidence of harm should not become procedures looking into poor standards of care; these should be treated separately (NMS 22.10)  ensure that the manager regularly monitors all records kept by the service to ensure compliance with the service's policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends, and take immediate action to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (NMS 25.2)

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

Parents are provided with useful summary information about their proposed placement before moving in. Where possible, they are encouraged to visit with their baby and this helps them make an informed choice about the placement. Once settled in placement, many demonstrate a significant level of attachment to their carer saying for example, 'I feel like I am part of the family; I really love being here and it has been good.’ Some parents visit once the placement has ended, or keep in regular touch. Babies demonstrate their affection for their foster carers by their enthusiastic greetings and body language. Carers then warmly respond to this, and this helps both parents and babies develop appropriate attachment behaviours

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

Parents are generally confident about how to complain, and are able to influence their day-to-day care, for example, how much free time they are allowed to have. Some young parents make very good progress with their own educational achievement, becoming successful at college and now aspiring to a career. Others are newly and regularly attending education. Many young people learn valuable life skills like shopping, budgeting and cooking and some take driving lessons.

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

Young people's emotional and physical health improves in placement as carers ensure they get the treatment they need. This means they are better equipped to offer stable care to their babies. Some young people, but not all, are no longer as engaged in risk-taking behaviour. This means that they are able to have a more positive focus on their baby. For other young people, the support of their carer helps them restore fractured relationships with their families. This gives them important relationships to help sustain them through difficult times.

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

The majority of parents and all of the babies make good progress. For a small minority of parents their progress is insufficient, and placements have to be refocused around the child's needs with the parent living elsewhere. However, all parents make some progress in developing parenting skills. Some learn how to interpret their child's needs and comfort their baby. Others learn about the importance of hygiene and how to safely feed, bath and dress their baby. Some parents learn the value of routine for their child and develop appropriate sleep time rituals. All this helps promote children's welfare and their positive and happy development. Some parents make sufficient, positive progress in their development of parenting and life skills to move into living independently together with their baby. This represents a significant achievement which both parents and foster carers are rightly proud of.

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Quality of service

Judgement outcome: requires improvement .

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Quality of service

Recruitment of foster carers in this agency is primarily achieved by word of mouth. Prospective foster carers are quickly followed up and now complete a full application form. Appropriate checks are then started on all family members, including references from children's schools. Thorough discussions take place with all family members individually, to ensure they have a reasonable understanding of the fostering task. The full assessment process is appropriately detailed and lengthy. Foster carers then receive individualised training at their preferred pace. They like this saying, 'you can ask all the questions you want and she explains until you understand'. This robust process helps foster carers develop a sound understanding of their role and that of the fostering agency and local authority.

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Quality of service

The fostering panel is well constituted and is a very good reflection of the diverse communities served. There is now a good mix of skills and experience on the panel, and an appropriately knowledgeable and experienced chair and deputy chair. The panel has rightly challenged the quality of some assessments, and this provides an essential balance to the role of the agency. The agency decision maker is clear about her role, and makes helpful file summaries of the reasons for her decision.

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Quality of service

There have been some significant weaknesses in the panel's functioning. The quality of panel minutes is unsatisfactory. They contain some detail which is not required, whilst being insufficiently detailed about the reasons for the panel's recommendations. On occasion they also contain significant inaccuracies. The sign off process for the minutes is unclear. This does not assist the agency decision maker in making informed decisions. In addition, the relationship between the agency and the panel is on occasion, problematic and unhelpful. Not all agency staff presenting to the panel appreciate the legitimate challenge the panel may make over, for example, the quality of some Form F assessments or relevant risk assessments. This resistance can be both time-consuming and uncomfortable. This creates a risk that the panel will not challenge sufficiently thereby lessening the impact of its legitimate scrutiny of the agency.

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Quality of service

A major strength of this agency is the supervisory support offered to foster carers. This covers both the routine supervision visits that carers receive, and the availability of advice when required. Carers are unanimous in their appreciation of this support saying, 'she is so passionate and helpful, and has made my experience of fostering a good one because of the support'. Others carers say there is, 'out of this world support; I wouldn't still be doing it without'. Carers have complete confidence in the effectiveness of the agency's 24 hour support and advice line, and also value inputs from other carers both at training and at team meetings. Training is particularly popular with carers who find it useful and informative. There is an appropriate selection of training on offer and this is regularly updated. Overall, this strong level of carer support and development helps both maintain placements, and increases

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Quality of service

Placing authorities and health workers are generally positive about their experience of working with this agency and directly with their foster carers. They are particularly favourably impressed by the weekly updates they receive, and see foster carers as integral members of the core group around the child. Foster carers certainly see themselves as members of a whole team, and are confident, for example, in contributing to updating placement plans. Carers are knowledgeable about delegated authority arrangements, and are involved in the process of drawing these up. They are confident that when approached about a placement, they are given sufficient information about the needs of the parent and baby to make an informed decision. However, once the placement is made, although they are broadly aware of how to act in response to individual crises, they do not have copies of the risk assessments which detail these.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Judgement outcome: requires improvement .

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Safeguarding children and young people

The agency is appropriately concerned about the protection of parents, particularly teenage parents, as well as their core focus on the baby's safeguarding. Parents confirm that their views are sought by the agency on the supervisory visits made to the foster carer, and that they are encouraged to fill in feedback forms. These are usually very positive. For example, 'my child's foster carer is always approachable and helps me with baby if I need it and gives me advice'. Most parents talk to their foster carers about their friends, activities and relationships. As the relationship develops foster carers are able to effectively discourage risky behaviours, and accompany teenage parents to appointments about their sexual health.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Foster carers also intervene through their manager, or directly at reviews to influence safeguarding practice. For example, the foster carer and the agency made successful representation about the safety of a parent and baby on the streets at night. The agency also follows appropriate missing protocols if a young parent does not return as expected. The agency's focus on protecting parents as well as their babies, helps raise awareness of risks and helps keep this vulnerable group safer.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Personnel files for both staff and panel members are robust and well ordered. Appropriate checks and references are in place. Recruitment of foster carers is appropriately focused on safeguarding not only through careful checks and references, but also by thoroughly following up issues in foster carer's past lives. During approval, each foster carer develops their own individually completed safe care assessment which helps them think through safeguarding implications. Once approved, the agency exceeds the minimum expectation for unannounced visits which helps them see practice and daily life in the foster home as it is. Ongoing internal training on safeguarding is of good quality, and the agency does refer safeguarding concerns appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

All foster carers are made very aware of the agency's expectation for round the clock reporting of any safeguarding concerns. Foster carers demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues, and usually demonstrate this in their practice. The agency generally has a strong focus on the safeguarding of babies and teenage parents in placement. However, there are shortfalls, in that although risk assessments are now well done and regularly updated, copies are not held by foster carers. This limits their ability to respond appropriately if care quickly deteriorates. In addition the safeguarding policy, although much improved, is still not entirely compliant with regulations.

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Leadership and management

Judgement outcome: requires improvement .

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Leadership and management

The agency works closely with placing local authorities, both at an individual placement level and at a commissioning level. Commissioning local authorities know the service well and are aware of its strengths and development areas. They are keen to encourage further developments in quality, and the agency is receptive to this, for example, involving the commissioning authority in staff interviews. This joint working improves the quality of services offered to parents and babies in placement.

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Leadership and management

Leaders and managers in this small agency are aware of the needs of each baby and young parent in placement. Frequent contact gives them opportunities to recommend adjustment to plans if appropriate progress is not being made, and there are good examples of this being done. Regular feedback is sought from social workers and parents, and foster carers also have opportunities to give their views. This useful information together with an analysis of records, does not yet contribute to an overview picture of the service such as the current annual report.

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Leadership and management

The agency is actively recruiting suitable foster carers, and it does reflect on how the service can be improved. For example, the service now has a foster carer on the panel, and also uses a foster carer to train other carers. The Statement of Purpose and children's guide have been reviewed, and are now compliant and available on the agency's website. Notifications are now completed appropriately, and promptly sent on as necessary. Staff and foster carers alike receive useful supervision which they value. Appraisals are planned for panel members including the chair.

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Leadership and management

However, the agency's complaints policy although much improved, is still not entirely compliant with regulations in that key aspects of the regulation are not covered. In addition, there is a lack of clarity about the difference between the process for following up allegations of harm, and the process for following up concerns over standards of care. A process was devised during the inspection to effectively address this particular area, which will now be tested in practice.

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Leadership and management

Overall, this agency has worked hard and made steady progress in meeting the majority of the requirements of the previous inspection and subsequent monitoring visits, but still has some important areas to address.

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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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