365 Foster Care

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 1 365 Foster Care 365 Foster Care 25a Pudding Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1PA Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

365 Foster Care is a privately owned fostering agency based in Maidstone, Kent. At the time of this inspection, 10 active fostering households were providing placements for 12 children and young people. The agency aims to provide short-term, long-term, permanent, respite, emergency, remand and parent and child foster placements.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

p.1

inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

p.1

inadequate

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2016

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This independent fostering agency is inadequate because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Significant failings in the agency’s safeguarding knowledge and practice present ongoing risks to the safety and welfare of some of the children.  Significant gaps in relation to essential training compromise the ability of the manager, agency staff and foster carers to provide safe, competent care.  Omissions with regard to safer recruitment practice increase the risk of appointing unsuitable staff.  Managers and the staff have failed to ensure that necessary services have been provided to children in line with their care plans.  Managers and staff have failed to ensure that plans for some of the children meet their needs.  Inadequate management oversight of the agency has resulted in significant shortfalls not being identified nor remedied.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The independent fostering agency’s strengths:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The majority of foster carers build positive and nurturing relationships with the children.  Most of the children are making progress and enjoy a range of positive experiences because of the direct care that they receive from their foster carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 3

p.2

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

*The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to— b) the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children placed by the fostering agency, carry on or manage the fostering agency (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8(1)(b)) 12/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that— (a) the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11(a)) 12/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

*The fostering service provider must prepare and implement a written policy which— (a) is intended to safeguard children placed with foster parents from abuse or neglect, and (b) sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 12(1)(a)(b)) 12/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The fostering servicer provider must prepare and implement a policy, which is agreed with the local police, setting out— (a) the measures to be followed to prevent children placed with foster parents from going missing form their placement, and (b) the procedure to be followed if a child is missing from a foster parent’s home without permission. (Regulation 13(3)(a)(b)) 12/12/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the fostering service provider must ensure that each child— (a) is a registered patient with a general medical practitioner who provides primary medical services under Part 4 of the National Health Service Act 2006, 12/12/2017 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 4 (b) has access to such medical, dental, nursing, psychological and psychiatric advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 15(2)(a)(b)) In particular, the fostering service provider must— (a) implement a procedure for monitoring the educational achievement, progress and school attendance of children placed with foster parents, (b) promote the regular school attendance and participation in school activities of children of compulsory school age placed with foster parents, and (c) provide foster parents with such information and assistance, including equipment, as may be necessary to

p.3

Requirement Due date

meet the educational needs of children placed with them. (Regulation 16(2)(a)(b)(c)) 12/12/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

*The fostering service provider must provide foster parents with such training, advice, information and support, including support outside office hours, as appears necessary in the interests of children placed with them. (Regulation 17) 12/12/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

*1) The fostering service must not— (a) employ a person to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so. (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless that person— (a) Is of integrity and good character. (b) Has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work they are to perform. (c) Is physically and mentally fit for the work they are to perform. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(2)(a)(b)(c)) 12/12/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that all persons employed by them— (a) receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal, and (b) are enabled from to time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 21(4)(a)(b)) 12/12/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that the fostering panel has sufficient members, and that individual members have between them the experience and expertise necessary, to effectively discharge the functions of the panel. (Regulation 23(7)) 12/12/2017 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 5 *The registered person must maintain a system for— (a) monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and (b) improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. (2) The registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on request, to any local authority. (3) The system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for consultation with foster parents, children placed with foster parents, and their placing authority (unless, in the case of a fostering agency which is a voluntary organisation, it is also

p.4

Requirement Due date

the placing authority). (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)(2)(3)) 12/12/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 take place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36(1)) 12/12/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.5

Recommendations

 Ensure that fostering households understand the nature of records maintained and follow the service’s policy for the keeping and retention of files and managing confidential information. There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and action is taken when needed. (NMS 26.2)  Improve upon gate-keeping processes for the panel and ensure the close monitoring of exemptions and extensions. (NMS 6)  Improve upon the monitoring systems in place with regards to educational attainment and make effective support provision for those children who are not in school. (NMS 13)  Improve upon consultation mechanisms for all stakeholders, including the birth children of foster carers. (NMS 11)  Consider the value of providing the panel with specific reports, for example training attendance, to better inform its quality assurance role. (NMS 30)  Ensure all of the written records pertaining to the supervision of foster carers are

p.5

Recommendations

of the same good quality. (NMS 21)  Consider the value of implementing a foster carer supervision format that includes clear subject headings and ensure this features the monitoring of pocket money/savings. (NMS 22) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 6  Ensure the ongoing training and development needs of new staff are closely monitored and provided for. (NMS 17)  Improve upon the monitoring of young people’s finances to safeguard against potential financial abuse. (NMS 9)  Follow the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocol, comply with and make foster carers aware of any other processes required by the responsible authority, specified in the individual child’s care plan and in the RMFHC protocol covering the authority responsible for the child’s care. (NMS 5.7)  Ensure children pursue individual interests and hobbies and take part in a range

p.5

Recommendations

of activities, including leisure activities and trips. (NMS 7.2)  Support children to attend school, or alternative provision, regularly. (NMS 8.3)  Ensure the fostering panel makes its recommendation on the suitability of a prospective foster carer within eight months of receipt of the prospective carer’s application to be assessed. (NMS 14.4)  Ensure foster carers are able to evidence that the Training, Support and Development (TSD) Standards have been attained within 12 months of approval. Foster carers approved more than 12 months ago are provided with clear expectations and timescales for attaining the TSD Standards. (NMS 20.3)  Ensure children have access to independent advice and support from adults who they can contact directly and in private about problems or concerns, which is appropriate to their age and understanding. Children know their rights to advocacy, how to access an advocate and how to contact the Children’s Rights

p.6

Recommendations

Director. (NMS 1.5)  A stage 2 assessment that has been started must be completed, unless: the assessment is terminated following a brief report; the applicant withdraws from the process; in particular, evidence why an assessment has not been concluded. (Assessment and approval of foster carers: Amendments to the Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services July 2013, p.9)  Approval of all foster carers must be reviewed within a year of approval, and thereafter whenever felt necessary, but at least annually. The review must consider whether the foster carer and their household continue to be suitable. The fostering service must make whatever enquiries it considers necessary to inform this judgement which may include checks in relation to any new members of the household. Specifically, it must take into account the views of the foster carer, any child placed and the responsible authority for any child who has been

p.6

Recommendations

in placement during the previous year. In practice, the latter will mean obtaining the views of the social worker for any child in placement since the last review (regulation 28). In particular, ensure that recommendations for a change of approval are evidence based and that any change of accommodation is formally assessed. (The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services, p.50, paragraph 5.60)  Ensure the fostering service only suggests foster carers to local authorities as a potential match for a child if the foster carer can reasonably be expected to meet the child’s assessed needs and the impact of the placement on existing household members has been considered. Where gaps are identified, the fostering service Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 7 should work with the responsible authority to ensure the placement plan sets out any additional training, resource or support required. In particular, provide secure

p.6

Recommendations

evidence of the matching process. (NMS 15.1)  Ensure a clear and comprehensive summary of any allegations made against a particular member of the fostering household, or staff member, including details of how the allegation was followed up and resolved, a record of any action taken and the decisions reached, is kept on the person’s confidential file. A copy is provided to the person as soon as the investigation is concluded. The information is retained on the confidential file, even after someone leaves the organisation, until the person reaches normal retirement age, or for ten years if this is longer. (NMS 22.7)  Ensure 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

p.7

Recommendations

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, ensure that the policy includes guidance on recording any instances of control, restrain or discipline. (NMS 3.8)  Foster carers have a challenging and key role to play within a foster care service. They need skill, knowledge, expertise, self-awareness, commitment and the ability to work as part of a team, providing a high-quality, effective service to vulnerable children. To undertake this role successfully, it is essential that their contribution to improving outcomes for children looked after is appropriately recognised and acknowledged, their status respected and their levels of authority clearly defined so that they can give children in their care a full experience of family life, safeguard them and help them to grow and reach their potential. In particular,

p.7

Recommendations

adopt the foster carers’ charter. (The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services, p.11 paragraph 2.4)  Ensure fostering households understand the nature of records maintained and follow the service’s policy for the keeping and retention of files, managing confidential information and access to files (including files removed from the premises). There is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. (NMS 26.2) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 8

p.7

inadequate

Weak matching practice has resulted in children being placed with foster carers who do not have the necessary knowledge or skills to meet the children’s needs or to keep them safe. The matching of the children to potential foster carers is completed by an unqualified member of staff who has not completed any training to carry out this role. There has been no oversight of this task by managers or qualified staff. Gaps in placement matching remain unidentified and unaddressed. Consequently, the children are placed with foster carers without consideration of their compatibility or the foster carer’s ability to care for that child competently and safely. The poor assessment of respite carers fails to ensure that they are sufficiently capable and skilled to provide safe care to the children placed with them. Information is not readily shared by foster carers with respite carers to ensure a consistency of approach. Respite carers do not evidence the care and support

p.8

inadequate

provided to the children while in their care. As a result, the agency and placing authorities are unaware of whether the children receive good care in respite placements. Omissions in the provision of services to children have resulted in poor-quality care. The agency failed to source specialised help to support a child’s mental health and well-being for three months. A staff member who did not have the necessary training, or recruitment checks, was employed to provide support work to a vulnerable child. Consequently, some children are not receiving the level of expert support that they require in order to progress and move on with their lives. The agency has not escalated its concerns in relation to the lack of educational provision for one child. Managers have not taken responsibility for liaising with local authority colleagues to ensure that education is provided. No alternative activities are being provided to the child in the absence of formal education. The agency’s

p.8

inadequate

inaction has hindered this child’s chance of achieving their full educational potential. Insufficient communication with other professionals, and poor multi-agency working, has resulted in the agency’s failure to escalate concerns and challenge poor practice. Supervising social workers do not provide regular updates to placing authorities to ensure that they have an accurate picture of the child’s needs and progress. As a result, some children have not received the urgent intervention that they have needed. Despite the agency’s failings, foster carers ensure that children are welcomed into their homes. The lack of required guidance and support from the agency leaves some foster carers reliant on their own experience and skills to provide safe and stable placements. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 9

p.8

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

Significant failings in the agency’s safeguarding practice present ongoing risks to the safety and welfare of children. Poor understanding of the children’s risk factors has resulted in the children being placed with foster carers who do not have the knowledge or skills to keep them safe. For example, children who are at high risk of exploitation and going missing have been placed with foster carers who have not received the necessary support and guidance. Training in specific risk factors, such as online safety, is weak and does not inform foster carers of the specific actions that they should take to protect children. Insufficient guidance to foster carers compromises their ability to recognise risks and take action to protect the children. Risk assessment and safer care plans are weak and simplistic. They are not updated after significant or concerning events and do not identify risks or protective factors in order to support carers in protecting the

p.9

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

children. Some children have not received the appropriate help to manage their behaviour and feelings safely. The foster carer has not been given the support to address and reduce this behaviour, as outlined in the agency’s policy. The foster carer has received no clear guidance in relation to strategies that could be used to protect the child. Failure to recognise the signs and symptoms of specific risk factors has resulted in agency staff not acting on and escalating concerns to protect children. Managers and the staff have not followed their own safeguarding procedures. Placing authorities have not been made aware of incidents and the children’s risk-taking behaviours have remained unchallenged. Children who go missing receive an appropriate response. Foster carers ensure that all relevant parties are notified. The agency has not been proactive in challenging local authorities which have not undertaken return home interviews when children

p.9

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

have gone missing. Consequently, there has been no analysis of the factors which led to the child going missing. The potential for the agency and foster carers to recognise and reduce the likelihood of the child going missing again in the future has been missed. Weak recording has hindered the manager’s ability to ensure that issues of concern are dealt with quickly and effectively. The agency has failed to develop and maintain a chronology and evaluation of safeguarding concerns, for example self-harming, going missing and sexual exploitation, for individual children or as a group placed with the agency. Consequently, the agency has not evaluated the effectiveness of its safeguarding procedures to ensure that it is able to take appropriate action to protect the children. Unsafe recruitment procedures do not ensure that the staff are suitably vetted and qualified to work with the children. There is no oversight of unqualified staff or of

p.9

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

the direct work they undertake, or of the decisions they make. Consequently, the agency cannot be assured that the children receive competent and safe care. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 10 The failure to notify relevant authorities of significant events has compromised external professionals’ ability to evaluate practice and ensure that all appropriate actions have taken place to protect the children.

p.9

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Serious managerial failures in the oversight of this agency have led to significant failings. Safeguarding practices are inadequate, carers and staff have been given insufficient training, and managers have failed to identify or address instances of poor quality of care. Previous requirements in relation to safeguarding children, monitoring the quality of care and unsafe recruitment practices have not been met. The inaction of leaders raises concerns about their knowledge and ability to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. A new manager has been in post since June 2017 and he has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. The manager has failed to evaluate all aspects of the agency adequately and has been ignorant of its shortfalls. There is a limited understanding of the experience of the children and the impact of their time with the agency. Poor recording does not provide a sufficient or accurate reflection of the

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

children’s placements. There is no evidence that the children’s experiences are evaluated or used to inform service development. The agency does not have a sufficient development plan and there are no systems to drive improvement. Leaders and managers failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and understanding of the foster carers they manage and the children they care for. Concerns raised during the inspection, including concerns regarding a child at risk of child sexual exploitation and self-harming, were unknown to the managers until highlighted by the inspector. There is no evidence to suggest that the manager takes steps to ensure that the plans for the children meet their needs and that services are delivered in accordance with children’s care plans. Such failings question the competence of the provider. Managers and the agency staff are ill-equipped to carry out their roles or to protect children. The manager has not completed designated safeguarding training or

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

updated his safeguarding knowledge in relation to specific risk factors. The manager said ‘I don’t know anything about technology’ when discussing online safety. Supervising social workers have failed to identify safeguarding risks and escalate concerns. The role of the panel advisor is undertaken by a staff member who has not had the appropriate training or recent experience. Poor supervision of the staff by the managers has failed to identify and rectify shortfalls in practice. Staff supervision does not evidence reflection, analysis and evaluation of the work being undertaken or its impact on the children. There is no evidence of meaningful discussion and decision-making on the part of the manager in relation to the children who cause concern. The recordings of supervising social workers’ supervision is poor, and there is a blurring of accountabilities, responsibilities and roles. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 11

p.10

Information about this inspection

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 examined 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.11

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: 365 Foster Care 12

p.11

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Capital Care and Foster Ltd (Trading as 365 Foster Care)

p.12

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: C7-C8 Spectrum Business Centre, Anthony’s Way, Rochester, ME2 4NP

p.12

Inspectors:

Jacqueline Georghiou, social care inspector Helen Lee, social care inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: 365 Foster Care 13 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.12

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.13

Inspectors:

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

p.13

Inspectors:

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

p.13