The Foster Care Co-operative Ltd

This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to look at the progress that the management team made in meeting recommendations made at the last full Ofsted inspection on 9 November 2015. These recommendations resulted in the safeguarding outcome judgement being requires improvement to be good. Seven recommendations were made at the full inspection. Six recommendations have now been met. As a result of the action taken by the management team, systems that promote the safety and well-being of children and young people have been strengthened. When children and young people have complex risks, such as self-harm, child sexual exploitation, unsafe use of the internet or going missing from care, paperwork is now informative and clearly evidences decision-making processes. Matching procedures, risk management plans, family safe caring plans and supervision records identify all risks and the actions that foster carers need to take

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This monitoring visit

to reduce risks. Cases records are now being monitored to ensure that they are updated after events or meetings to reflect new risks and alternative strategies. Records also now identify any lessons learnt. Local authority return interviews after missing- from-care events are being recorded and, when they do not take place, there is a record that evidences that they are being chased. Good progress has been made towards meeting the final recommendation. The registered manager’s quality assurance review of safeguarding arrangements has been reviewed and developed. The first report is due on 4 August 2016. This report will be shared with Ofsted. This recommendation has been repeated in this report.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster Care Co-operative is a non-profitable organisation that operates across England and Wales. The office is based in Malvern, Worcestershire. It provides short- term, long-term, staying put, sibling groups, short breaks and parent and child fostering placements.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  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. Immediate action should be taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. This specifically relates to developing the monitoring of safeguarding matters. (National minimum standard 25.2)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the independent fostering agency since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about "Ofsted" which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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