The Fostering Foundation Limited - Wessex

The Fostering Foundation Limited - Wessex Inspection report for independent fostering agency

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Unique reference number 1185821 Inspection date 12/09/2016 Inspector Paul Clark Type of inspection Full Provision subtype

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Setting address Suite 2, Swallow Court, Devonshire Gate, Tiverton, EX16 7EJ

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Telephone number 01884211806 Email Registered person Registered manager Mrs Angela Ryeland Responsible individual Mr Geoffrey Lewis Date of last inspection N/A Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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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. Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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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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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 safeguarded

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

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

The overall effectiveness of this independent fostering agency in supporting and caring for children and young people is good. However, although breaches of regulation are minor and have no impact on safeguarding or promoting children‟s welfare, a risk assessment needs to be made on the shared toilet and kitchen arrangements, the Registered Manager needs to complete a management qualification, and the minor shortcomings in personnel records need to be addressed. Additionally, it is recommended that leadership and management be improved by ensuring that all carers are trained in safe handling, that placement breakdowns are properly reviewed, that the missing young person policy be amended, and that supervising social workers ensure that placing authorities provide all required information. Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Overall effectiveness

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. The overwhelming majority of placements are stable and long term and children and young people say that they feel safe and happy in these placements.

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Overall effectiveness

The agency successfully provides placements for a range of young people including those with complex and challenging needs, and foster carers are properly prepared, trained and supervised in providing these placements.

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Overall effectiveness

The majority of young people have made exceptional progress socially and behaviourally.

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Overall effectiveness

Foster carers are properly assessed and assessments are in-depth, analytic and probing. These are conducted in a sensitive way and decision making by panel and agency decision maker are timely.

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Overall effectiveness

Foster carers feel well supported, and feel very much part of a professional team. Effective systems are in place to ensure that they, and young people have a real voice in service development.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive excellent educational support and all are in full time education. Young people have access to a range of activities and feel very much part of the Fostering Foundation family.

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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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Requirement Due date

11: Independent fostering agencies—duty to secure welfare ensure that the registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that the welfare of children placed is safeguarded and promoted at all times. Regulation 11 (a) 01/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

20: Fitness of workers ensure that information required in respect of persons seeking to carry on, manage or work for the purposes of the fostering service include, documentary evidence of any relevant qualification, and a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written 01/11/2016 Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Requirement Due date

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. explanation of any gaps in employment. Regulation 20. Schedule 1 (5)(6)

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

3: Promoting positive behaviour Ensure that all foster carers receive training in positive care and control of children, including training in de-escalating problems and disputes. The fostering service has a clear written policy on managing behaviour, which includes supporting positive behaviour, de-escalation of conflicts and discipline. The fostering service's policy is made clear to the responsible authority/placing authority, child and parent/s or carers before the placement begins or, in an emergency placement, at the time of the placement. In particular, clarify in the policy the method of intervention used, the frequency of training and how children and foster carers will be supported following an intervention. Ensure that foster carers receive such training before they have a child, who requires physical intervention, placed with them. (NMS 3.8)

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Recommendations

25: Managing effectively & monitoring The registered person takes action to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them. Specifically, to conduct timely reviews of placement breakdowns. NMS 25.8

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Recommendations

5: Children missing from care Ensure that children who return from being missing should be responded to positively. Specifically, that the agency‟s policy guidance for foster carers is amended to fully describe how the carer should respond. The Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations, Volume 4, Paragraph 3.88

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Recommendations

24: Staff support and supervision Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Recommendations

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. Ensure that all staff, volunteers and the registered person are properly managed and supported and understand to whom they are accountable. Specifically, that supervising social workers ensure that placing authorities give them all required information. NMS 24.2 Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Recommendations

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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and young people

The experiences and progress of, and outcomes for, children and young people cared for by this independent fostering agency are good. This is achieved by: the careful matching of young people with suitable carers; the majority of placements being stable and long term; the resources within the agency being such that larger sibling groups can be cared for together; all young people being in full time education; and the strong emphasis on giving children and young people a voice in the running of the agency.

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and young people

The agency provide placing authorities with clearly written profiles of their foster carers and this enables placing authorities to make good matches which are appropriate to the needs of the children and young people being placed. Additionally, supervising social workers assist carers in making child friendly profiles. These help children and young people to make informed choices about the people they are proposed to be placed with. Placement planning is generally carried out before, or early in placement and reviews are generally timely. One local authority placement officer commented “This agency is brilliant in an emergency situation, foster carer‟s profiles are clear and accurate and the agency is quick to respond to requests from us.” Young people spoken to during the inspection were happy in their placements, many of which are long term. When asked how they felt in their placement one young person said, “Everything is terrific, couldn‟t be better.”

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and young people

Young people attend school regularly and make good educational progress. Foster carers and supervising social workers attend personal education planning meetings and contribute to the decisions made about how pupil‟s premium monies are used to support young people‟s education. This further contributes to young people‟s educational progress.

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and young people

Young people are encouraged by their carers to engage in clubs and societies in the community. Two young people spoken to were actively involved in drama societies and another used their pupil‟s premium to further their interest in music. The agency has a support worker who coordinates regular activity groups for young people. These include such events as paint balling, bush craft and climbing. Young people make choices about the activities they wish to participate in. Additionally, the agency promotes the importance of involving young people in decision making around service development. This is most apparent in the creation of a „Children‟s Panel‟ where young people who so chose to take part, meet with potential carers as part of Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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and young people

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. a foster carer‟s assessment, and the young people give their views about the applicant‟s suitability to foster in writing to the foster panel. This gives young people a sense of ownership of the agency, improves their self-esteem, and gives them a real voice in service development.

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and young people

All children and young people are registered with a general practitioner and receive regular optician and dental check-ups. Whenever it is thought necessary, supervising social workers request that placing authorities refer young people to child and adolescent mental health services if they have concerns about a young person‟s mental health or emotional well-being. Additionally, the agency commissions the services of an external therapeutic consultant who will undertake direct work with foster carers where there are concerns about a young person‟s behaviour or emotional well-being. Foster carers spoken to value this therapeutic work highly and say that this resource helps to sustain placements that might have otherwise broken down.

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and young people

The agency works hard to support young people‟s contact arrangements with their birth families, where such arrangements are in place, and work well with birth parents in doing so. One birth parent told the inspector, “The Fostering Foundation has been fantastic. They keep me informed of any changes that occur, and about the children‟s development…the supervising social worker is always available when I phone the office to make enquiries. If she‟s not there other workers will deal effectively with my queries.” This helps young people to maintain positive links with their birth families.

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Quality of service

The quality of service provision in this independent fostering agency is good. This is achieved by recruiting, assessing, training, preparing and supervising foster carers who can give stable and nurturing placements to children and young people, many of whom have complex needs, and present more challenges than those traditionally placed with fostering households.

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Quality of service

The whole fostering team within this small agency meet regularly to determine their marketing and recruitment strategy. Priorities currently include recruiting respite carers who can offer short term care, and carers who can give placements to larger sibling groups. There are a number of fostering households within the agency who already provide such placements. In addition, there are carers who provide short Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Quality of service

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. term and long term care, and placements for children with special needs, and those with complex needs and challenging behaviour. This provides a range of fostering households for children and young people with a variety of needs.

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Quality of service

The assessment of carers is thorough and comprehensive and the fostering panel consider applicants with great rigour before making recommendations of approval to the agency decision maker. These recommendations include the status of the approval. For example, whether the carer can provide short term or long term placements, and the number of young people that can be accommodated. Foster carer‟s approval is subject to annual review and this is seen to give in-depth analysis of the carer‟s ability to give good quality care, as well as identifying how foster carers can be further developed and supported. The panel has members with educational and legal expertise, and can access medical expertise when required. There are also members with experience of fostering and of being fostered.

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Quality of service

The registered manager and supervising social workers deliver the Skills to Foster preparation course for carers as part of the carer‟s assessment process. The course programme introduces applicants to the core areas of their role and includes the negatives as well as the positives of fostering. This helps to identify those applicants who are committed to the fostering task. Foster carer applicants attend ongoing training throughout their assessment and this is continued after approval. Approved carers must complete the Training Standards and Development workbooks within one year of approval and 91% of the households have already achieved this. This represents good progress as the agency was only registered in November 2015. Foster carers being assessed are linked to an experienced foster carer/mentor and may attend the regular foster carer support groups that the agency arranges. This ensures that foster carers are well prepared and supported. Additionally, successful

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Quality of service

applicants are given free membership of the Fostering Network and this provides a further area of information, knowledge and support. The agency also provides group forums for male carers where the complexities of fostering can be discussed and groups for foster carer‟s birth children. Providing such supports indicates that the agency is aware of the impact of fostering on families and is indicative of a good quality service.

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Quality of service

Foster carers and supervising social workers work closely with placing authority social workers and independent reviewing officers in forming and reviewing children and young people‟s care plans and personal education plans. They attend review meetings and the reports they provide are comprehensive and timely. Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Quality of service

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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Safeguarding children and young people

The way that this independent fostering agency promotes the safeguarding of children and young people is good. This is achieved by: the information given to children and young people informing them where they can get help if needed; the formation of clear policies in respect of safeguarding; the vetting and training of foster carers, panel members and staff; strong and effective relationships with the local authority safeguarding teams, the police, health services and schools; notifying the regulatory body of all matters required by regulation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people told the inspector that they feel safe and are safe. They are provided with a wealth of information where they could get help if they need it. This is included in the Children‟s Guide which is available in age appropriate formats. There are also posters in the agency‟s group rooms where young people attend meetings which inform them about the complaints procedure. Young people spoken to during the inspection clearly know how to access the agency complaints procedure. Young people can also raise any concerns with their placing social workers, or at their care plan review meetings, or at any of the young people‟s group forum meetings. They also told the inspector that they would tell their teacher at school. The agency also conducts two annual unannounced visits to each fostering household. This is undertaken by someone other than the foster carer‟s supervising social worker in order to be neutral and bias free. These measures help to keep children and young

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Safeguarding children and young people

There is a clear safeguarding policy in place. Young people‟s case files contain risk assessments about areas of their lives where they may be at risk. The agency office is located on a business park and the fostering service shares toilet and kitchen facilities with a neighbouring business. While children and young people are supervised whilst on the business premises, this has not been properly risk assessed and this may put young people at risk.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Foster carers receive training on safeguarding and safe caring during their preparation period, and this is updated annually. Supervising social workers and panel members also receive training on safeguarding which is regularly updated.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Vetting and recruitment practice for carers, staff and panel members is appropriate and complies with statutory requirements. This practice helps to prevent unsuitable Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Safeguarding children and young people

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. people from having the opportunity to harm children and young people. The agency have a good working relationship with the local authority safeguarding children team and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), to whom they have immediately referred allegations raised by young people. None of these have been judged as in need of further investigation or action by the LADO. However, the agency has taken action themselves by providing carers with further safe caring training in some instances. The agency have notified the regulatory body of all events and incidents as required by regulation

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of this independent fostering agency requires improvement to be good. The registered manager does not have a management qualification. They are currently undertaking this, and this needs to be achieved by November 2018 to ensure that the service is managed by a properly qualified manager. It was noted also, that although staff and panel member‟s personnel files are generally well kept and ordered a copy of the panel chair‟s professional qualification is not in place. Also, there are some gaps in staff and panel member‟s employment histories and this is indicative of poor management oversight. The inspection also found that some foster carers had not received training in safe handling or restraint methods before having young people with behaviour management needs placed, and supervising social workers need to ensure that foster carers receive this training before such placements are made. The manager needs

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Leadership and management

also to ensure that when placements have broken down, an early review of the breakdown takes place and any learning points are disseminated through the service. It was noted that there has been an occasion when a young person has returned from being missing who did not feel warmly received and the policy guidance for carers needs to be amended to address this. Supervising social workers need to ensure that placing authorities give them all required information about young people placed.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is comprehensive and clearly describes the organisational structure and the aims and objectives of the agency. The Children‟s Guide is made available in age appropriate formats. As this agency was registered in November 2015 they have not yet submitted the annual review of the quality of care. The Registered Manager described the way that the service is being monitored and the steps that are being taken to formulate the annual review and this included consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Leadership and management

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. The relationships with placing authorities are generally sound and local authority placing officers comment favourably on the high quality profiles of carers and the quickness of the agency response to requests for emergency placements. Independent reviewing officers also value the full and up to date review reports conducted by supervising social workers. Supervising social workers supervision records are clearly written and up to date.

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Leadership and management

The agency ensure that children and young people have opportunities to engage in enjoyable and worthwhile activities both in their foster families and in the regular young people‟s group meetings that they arrange, and young people speak favourably about these activities. They also feel that they have a choice of the activities they undertake. These group meetings also provide a forum where young people can make comment on service development. As previously stated, there is a Children‟s Panel where young people can make comments to the Fostering Panel on the suitability of foster carer applicants. This gives them a real voice in the assessment and approval of foster carers.

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Leadership and management

The manager and all supervising social workers have an appropriate social work qualification and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. They receive monthly supervision and there are monthly team meetings. All management and staff complete an annual performance and development profile which identifies their training and development needs. Supervising social workers report that they are able to undertake all necessary training.

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Leadership and management

The agency has notified the regulatory body about all matters required by regulation. As this is the first inspection since registration there are no requirements or recommendations to be followed up. Website: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Leadership and management

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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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to inform 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 and 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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