Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 1 Olive Branch Fostering Ltd Olive Branch Fostering Ltd Hardmans Business Centre, New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 6HH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Ofsted registered this independent fostering agency in May 2016. The main function of the agency is to undertake the recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers and to provide care and support to children and young people. At the time of the inspection, there were 14 children and young people in placement, with 10 approved fostering households.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The independent fostering agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: N/A

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This independent fostering agency is good because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager and responsible individual provide inspirational leadership, which creates a positive and nurturing agency.  Foster carers feel valued. They receive good quality preparation, training and support, which enables them to provide highly individualised care for young people.  The registered manager ensures the agency recruits foster carers from diverse backgrounds so young people’s specific linguistic, religious and cultural needs can be met.  Young people benefit from carefully matched placements, which lead to good levels of stability.  Young people feel safe. Most young people become increasingly safer as they develop positive relationships and a sense of belonging.  Young people make excellent progress across all areas of their development. They are actively involved in self-evaluation of their progress resulting in real investment in their identified targets.  The registered manager provides good supervision and development of

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

supervising social workers. A supervising social worker said: ‘It’s like a family here, it does not feel like going to work. It’s a lovely environment to work in and we approach everything with the children at the centre of all we do. It’s a real team approach here.’

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The independent fostering agency’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Ensure that agency staff undertake robust assessment of risks and develop clear, individualised risk management plans which they share with foster carers. Ensure that agency staff regularly review and update risk assessments which inform safe care practice.  Ensure that agency staff and foster carers maintain detailed case records which are useful to young people now and in the future.  Ensure that suitable arrangements exist for regular professional supervision of the agency’s registered manager.  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.  Staff recruitment generally reflects safer recruitment practices. The registered manager’s monitoring and practice review has not identified that staff have started in post without a new disclosure and barring service (DBS) clearance.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 3

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

A person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. In particular, that DBS certificates are obtained before staff commence employment with the agency. (Regulation 20 (3) (c)) 18/08/2017

p.3

Recommendations

 The service implements a proportionate approach to risk assessment. In particular, ensure robust assessment of risks and that clear, individualised risk management plans are implemented, kept under review and inform safe care practice. (NMS 4.5)  Ensure that suitable arrangements exist for professional supervision of the agency’s registered manager. (NMS 24.3)  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. (NMS 25.2)  Information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future, with specific reference to the need for greater detail for all records. (NMS 26.6) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection of the agency, which has been operational for nearly a year. The agency has developed quickly due to dynamic and innovative leadership. Although the agency has a relatively small number of fostering households, it has a clear and targeted recruitment strategy which attracts a broad range of foster carers who can specifically meet the needs of young people. Foster carers say that they select the agency because of its positive and nurturing ethos.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers feel they receive a fast and responsive service. One carer commented: ‘Olive Branch went above and beyond in preparing me and my family for fostering.’ The agency completes assessments within required timescales. Foster carers found the preparation for fostering really enjoyable and thought provoking. One carer described how it: ‘…opened our eyes and helped us to reflect and really think about the realities.’ As a result, foster carers feel well-prepared for their formal presentation to the fostering panel. Foster carers speak highly about their supervisory visits and the support they receive from the agency. Regular visits, support groups, activities and phone calls ensure that carers feel part of a team. This helps shape foster carer’s practice and ensure retention.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency matches young people well with foster carers. A local authority commissioner commented that: ‘I am very satisfied. There is a good cultural mix of carers so Olive Branch is able to offer well-matched placements. The agency is very flexible and willing to work with us to ensure a smooth transition for the young people.’ Young people are quickly able to build up trusted relationships with their foster carers. They feel an appropriate sense of belonging and are able to talk about what is difficult for them. A young person said: ‘My foster carer made me feel so welcome. The family is nice and generous. I feel safe and can talk to them about anything.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers encourage young people to develop a positive self-view. They support young people’s contact with family and friends when that is safe and in their best interests. This promotes their sense of identity. Most young people make progress from their starting points. They all attend education and achieve. Most young people are able to remain in the same school when they move into placement, which ensures continuity of education. Young people develop positive perceptions of education as their foster cares are proactive in advocating on their behalf. This results in young people receiving the additional support they need and their re- integration to school following a period of exclusion.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy access to a range of activities which help improve their self- esteem such as dancing, football, keeping birds and being included on foster carer’s holidays. This allows young people to have fun and develop their social networks in the local area.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers promote young people’s health. All young people benefit from Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 5 universal health services, and foster carers ensure that young people access specialist physical, sexual and mental health services as necessary. Young people make tangible progress in improving their health. For example, some young people who are fearful of attending the dentist and other health appointments receive support from their foster carers and within six months are able to attend and receive treatment.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency plans transitions well. Whenever possible there are introductions and meetings, and young people benefit from seeing profiles of their foster carers and their home before visiting. This allies any fears young people may have. All report feeling welcome at the point of placement. Similarly, those young people who move on to semi-independent living do so in a planned way once they have acquired the necessary skills. A local authority commissioner commented: ‘We have had a number of positive placements with the agency. They offer well-matched, good quality placements. I have been impressed with the carer profiles they send through. This really helps prepare young people for the transition.’

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Most young people become increasingly safe. One young person said: ‘It’s going so well – I feel dead comfortable. They keep me safe. I am able to talk to them – they’re like my mum and dad. I’ve got everything I need. I’ve joined football, dancing, and martial arts, I’m getting my life together – I was a road man, smoking skunk, and now I’m a posh road man.’

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The agency provides foster carers with support to ensure that young people become increasingly safe. This includes training and information booklets, for example covering e-safety, bullying and self-harm. Foster carers feel they have excellent support from their supervising social worker and the registered manager who are always available. However, there are shortfalls as risk assessments identify areas of risk but there are no details of strategies to manage risk-taking behaviours including missing, self-harm and risk of trafficking. The impact of the lack of up-to-date risk assessment and actions foster carers should take is minimal, as it is mitigated by the other positive support and guidance that carers receive from their supervising social worker and registered manager.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carers provide clear and consistent boundaries which ensure that young people feel a strong sense of security and permanence. Foster carers are proactive in their response to risk-taking and engage with the police and placing authorities appropriately when they report young people missing. The recording of missing incidents is an area for development as it is unclear, for example, how long young people have been missing or what immediate actions the carers have taken to safeguard them. Independent return interviews appear to be taking place but the way the agency captures that information is not robust. The registered manager is aware of this shortfall and recognises this is an area for improvement.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people know how to complain, although this has not been necessary. They report that foster carers and supervising social workers listen to them and as a result Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 6 they feel settled and valued. Foster carers support young people to understand their risk-taking behaviour, and most young people’s risk-taking reduces. Foster carers encourage young people to take age-appropriate risks, balancing risks with their growing independence as a responsible parent would. They encourage positive behaviour and spend time getting to know young people so they can de-escalate situations. Foster carers understand the risks that the internet poses. The agency provides training and support, and foster carers are able to implement this to ensure young people’s safety when using social media and online gaming.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carer recruitment focuses on keeping young people safe. The agency has been operating for almost a year and unannounced visits have not yet taken place, although the registered manager understands the necessity for these to take place in the coming months. The registered manager has developed training and systems to record complaints, allegations and child protection referrals. However, to date none has been received. The registered manager notifies Ofsted appropriately of significant incidents involving young people and foster carers. This allows the regulator to have oversight of patterns and trends.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. She has been in post for nearly a year and has previous experience of leading and managing a fostering agency. She is ambitious and has worked effectively with the responsible individual to develop the agency. Despite the rapid development of the agency there are currently sufficient staff to meet carers and young people’s needs. However, there is recognition that further recruitment of qualified social workers is necessary as the agency grows.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The ethos of the agency is nurturing and child-focused. The agency is outward facing and engages well with the community both in terms of recruitment and also charitable work. As a result, carers and staff are attracted to the agency which values their caring approach. This is reflected in foster carers’ comments, with one saying: ‘The support has been absolutely fantastic, they are always available but not in your face. It’s like a family, not just a business, we’re all in it together.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager seeks to drive forward improvements for young people including the effective use of self-evaluation tools to help young people identify and review targets and goals. The registered manager’s monitoring has not always identified shortfalls such as the gaps in risk assessment documents, the fact that missing from home protocols are not always in place, or checking that staff and foster carer’s recording is sufficiently detailed to be helpful to young people now or in the future. The responsible individual is very visible and forms an integral part of the day-to-day running of the agency. He has not ensured that the registered manager has received formal supervision since taking up her post almost a year ago. This prevents the registered manager in having the opportunity to reflect on her practice and development.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruitment generally reflects safer recruitment practices. However, the registered manager’s monitoring and practice review has not identified that staff Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 7 have started in post without current disclosure and barring service clearance (DBS). She recognises the significance of this shortfall and has introduced improved administrative functions within the agency as a result. Staff benefit from regular supervision as well as informal support. They report a robust two-week induction prepared them well for their role and that the registered manager and responsible individual are always available for support and receptive to their ideas.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers make child-centred decisions when matching young people, giving consideration to the needs of existing young people and birth children. As a result, young people settle quickly and there is good stability of placements. Foster carers report that agency staff actively listen to their views in relations to matching and also the development of the agency. This promotes their investment and commitment to the agency.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruit foster carers from diverse backgrounds and who are able to meet the needs of a range of young people, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The recruitment process takes place in a timely manner with foster carers really valuing the ‘skills to foster’ training as an engaging, informative and enjoyable process. One foster carer commented: ‘They went above and beyond in preparing me and my family for fostering.’ All foster carers, who were spoken to, spoke positively about the preparation and involvement of birth children in the fostering process with several commenting that it was their children’s comments which had triggered their initial interest. Foster carers receive effective training and supervision and supervising social worker’s support them well to complete their training, support and development and standards within a year. Foster carers felt well supported with specific training conducted prior to young people’s placement which reflected young

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Qualified social workers complete assessments and reports, which they present to panel in a timely manner. The fostering panel works effectively to ensure that safeguarding is at the heart of its members’ discussions. The fostering panel is developing in strength and diversity. The panel chair provides strong leadership, which is shaping improvements in the composition of the panel and the recording of panel minutes. The panel is able to make child-centred decisions which challenge appropriately. Foster carers feel well-prepared for the experience of going to panel which mirrors the panel chair’s view that: ‘We strike a good balance between being rigorous in our function while maintaining a service user-friendly approach.’

p.7

Information about this inspection

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 8 Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the independent fostering agency knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.8

Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 9

p.8

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

p.9

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Hardmans Business Centre, New Hall Hey Road, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 6HH

p.9

Independent fostering agency details

Email address: ziafat@olivebranchfostering.co.uk

p.9

Inspectors

Rebecca Quested, social care regulatory inspector Ceri Evans, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 10 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10