Resolution Fostering Service

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 1 Resolution Fostering Services Resolution Fostering Services Limited 355 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6XU Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency was registered in October 2016. It provides long- and short-term foster care placements, including emergency placements, for children and young people from birth up to the age of 17. The agency currently provides eight foster families who are caring for 18 children, including three sibling groups.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Inspection dates: 27 November to 1 December 2017

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: first inspection after registration

p.1

inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

Not applicable Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This independent fostering agency is inadequate because:  The leadership and management of the service are weak. There are many shortfalls in practice and breaches in regulations that have an impact on the quality of care to children and the overall operation of the service.  The responsible individual and the registered manager have not carried out their duties to manage and monitor the service effectively. Consequently, the operation of the service and children’s progress and outcomes have not been properly reviewed and the need for improvement has not been identified.  The service is not being run in accordance with its statement of purpose. The agency’s website does not include a copy of the statement of purpose as required. A recent review of the document was not shared with Ofsted.  There are significant shortfalls in recruitment practice. These weaknesses mean that the agency cannot be assured that staff and panel members are suitable

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

for their role and are not likely to cause harm to children.  Staff are not supervised in accordance with the agency’s supervision policy. No proper arrangements are in place for the manager to receive professional supervision.  Record-keeping is particularly weak. The manager’s system for monitoring and auditing foster carers’ and children’s files is ineffective.  There are many gaps in information on foster carers’ files. Copies of important documents, such as foster carer agreements, notices of approval and delegated authority records, are not held. Carer supervision records are minimal and do not demonstrate that carers are appropriately supervised and supported.  Children’s records are not well maintained and many are very poor. Some lack basic information about the child, such as the child’s date of birth.  Records indicate that, for some cases, there are significant delays in holding placement planning meetings.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The agency does not routinely notify Ofsted of serious events, such as allegations against carers. Complaints against the service are not well documented.  Records of safeguarding incidents are unreliable, because pertinent information is missing. There is no evidence that an episode of poor practice by foster carers, which placed a child’s safety and welfare at risk, was challenged by the agency.  There is evidence of unsafe practice, including the placement of a child with people who are neither assessed nor approved as carers.  The arrangements for the supervision and quality assurance of foster carer assessments are weak, which results in incomplete assessments being presented to panel. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 3  The approval process is not robust. This does not ensure strong, reliable and impartial decision-making.  The arrangements for the administration of the fostering panel are

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

unsatisfactory. The panel chair resigned in August 2017 and no efforts have been made to replace her.  Risk assessments and safer-caring plans do not clearly identify known risks to children and do not provide clear guidance and strategies for individual risk management.  Systems for matching children to foster families are underdeveloped. Matching is carried out without proper reference to children’s needs and compatibility.  Records do not demonstrate that effective protocols have been set up for carers transferring from other agencies. This does not safeguard carers and children.  The agency has not ensured that an exemption to the usual fostering limit has been agreed by the local authority. Consequently, four children have been living in a foster home outside of the carer’s approval status and the foster carer has been running an unregistered children’s home for five weeks.

p.3

Key findings from this inspection

The independent fostering agency’s strengths :

p.3

Key findings from this inspection

 The manager and staff are nurturing, caring individuals who have an understanding of children’s needs and development. They go the extra mile to help children settle into their placements.  Foster carers report that the quality of support and guidance provided by key staff, such as the supervising social worker, is positive.  Placing authorities say that this is a very child-focused agency that delivers good quality care. They report that the supervising social worker is extremely supportive, that communication is good and that the agency verbally contributes to children’s care planning.  The agency provides carers with valuable training, bespoke workshops and intensive support, which promote the development of strong bonds between carers and children.  38% of children are in stable, long term placements, having transferred to this service with their carers. Adults report that they are making good overall progress.

p.3

Key findings from this inspection

 The agency provides a service for hard-to-place children. For example, 50% of children are placed in sibling groups.  Carers are encouraged and enabled to network together, to develop strong, supportive relationships that they find beneficial.  The agency is in the early stages of developing a children’s group in which both fostered and birth children share experiences. Children play an active part in contributing to and editing the newly developed bi-monthly children’s magazine. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 4

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.4

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the Chief Inspector and place a copy on their website (if they have one). The fostering service provider must ensure that the fostering service is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 3(2)(5)) 11/02/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must keep under review and, where appropriate, revise the statement of purpose and children’s guide, and, notify the Chief Inspector of any such revision within 28 days. (Regulation 4(a)(b)) 11/02/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

A person must not manage a fostering agency unless they are fit to do so. A person is not fit to manage a fostering agency unless that person, having regard to the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by it has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for managing the fostering agency, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. (Regulation 7(1)(2)(b)(i)(ii)(Schedule 1)) 11/02/2018

p.4

Requirement Due date

* The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by the fostering agency, and 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. The registered provider must ensure that where the registered provider is an organisation, the responsible individual, undertakes, from time to time, such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have the experience and skills necessary for carrying on the fostering agency. The registered manager must undertake from time to time such training as is appropriate to ensure that they have the 11/02/2018 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 5 experience and skills necessary for managing the fostering

p.4

Requirement Due date

agency. (Regulation 8(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(3)) * The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all time. (Regulation 11(a)) 11/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint or representation, the action taken in response to it, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 18(4)) 28/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* The fostering service provider must not employ a person to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so. For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless that person has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work they are to perform, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(3)(b)(Schedule 1)) 28/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* The fostering service provider must ensure that all permanent appointments are subject to the satisfactory completion of a period of probation, and provide all employees with a job description outlining their responsibilities. The fostering service provider must ensure that all persons employed by them receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 21(1)(a)(b)(4)(a)) 28/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* A fostering service provider must maintain a case record for each foster parent approved by them which must include copies of the documents specified in paragraph (2). The documents referred to in paragraph (1) are any recommendations made by the fostering panel, the foster care agreement, and a record of each placement with the foster carer, including the name, age and sex of each child placed, the date on which the placement began and, if the placement has been terminated, the date and circumstances of the termination. (Regulation 30(1)(2)(c)(d)(3)(a)) 11/02/2018

p.5

Requirement Due date

* The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. 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. (Regulation 35(1)(a)(b)(2)) 28/02/2018

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 28/02/2018 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 6 bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36(1)(Schedule 7))

p.5

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

p.6

Recommendations

 Ensure that 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 should work with the responsible authority to ensure the placement plan sets out any additional training, resource or support required. (NMS 15.1). In particular, record matching considerations and decisions.  Ensure that staff, panel members and 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). Ensure there is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and take action when needed. (NMS

p.6

Recommendations

26.1). In particular, ensure that all records are uploaded and stored on the agency’s recording system in a timely way.  Ensure that where there is an agency placement, the agency works with the responsible authority to ensure effective integration of information held in the agency’s case files and those of the responsible authority. (NMS 26.8) In particular, obtain children’s care and placement plans, review documentation and all relevant information held by the responsible authority and keep copies on the children’s and foster carers’ files.  Ensure that the placement plan, which forms part of the child’s care plan, is drawn up before the child is placed, or if this is not possible, within five days of the start of the placement (Regulation 9(2) of the 2010 Regulations). The foster carers should play an active role in agreeing the contents of the child’s placement plan and must have a copy of the child’s placement plan (standard 31). An

p.6

Recommendations

effective placement plan will ensure that the foster carer receives essential information about the child, including his/her health, education and emotional needs, how these may affect the child day to day, and appropriate strategies for responding to these needs. This will include information about any behaviour which was of a concern in a previous placement. (‘The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4: Fostering Services’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 7

p.6

inadequate

The agency’s systems for matching children to foster families are under-developed. Matching is carried out without proper reference to children’s needs and compatibility. While, there are children that are in settled, long-term placements, this group transferred to this agency along with their carers. The twelve children placed with carers by this agency, have no completed matching reports and matching decisions are not recorded, so there is no clarity around why a particular family has been selected to meet a child’s assessed needs.

p.7

inadequate

Matching is carried out without proper reference to a child’s safeguarding needs. The potential impact of the child on other household members, including birth children or foster children, is not assessed. This does not ensure that the suitability of a placement is fully explored before a child is placed, and it increases the risk of placement disruption. Despite this shortfall, children’s identity is promoted and their diverse needs are met, including their cultural and religious needs. A key strength of the agency is that it offers several placements where three siblings live together.

p.7

inadequate

There is evidence of unsafe practice, including the short-term placement of a child during the time of their main carers’ holiday, with people who were neither assessed nor approved as carers. This compromised the safety and well-being of the child.

p.7

inadequate

There are shortfalls across the agency’s operation that have had an impact on the overall experiences judgement, making it inadequate. However, there is evidence of some positive outcomes for fostered children, and carers and young people report that the manager and the staff are nurturing, caring and ‘extremely supportive’. Social workers and foster carers speak highly of the quality of the support given to foster carers. They say that this has a positive impact on children in placement, most of whom make good progress. However, this is mainly anecdotal as agency records do not sufficiently capture or plot children’s progress. Pertinent relevant documents are not held on file and children’s records do not demonstrate the way the agency is supporting them to make progress. There is no evidence of detailed personalised care planning. This means that those who return to look at their records in the future are not able to gain a good insight into their time in foster care, their

p.7

inadequate

experiences or decision-making about their care. The agency’s files do not reflect the quality of the support and constructive guidance that foster carers say they receive.

p.7

inadequate

Carers report that they receive suitable guidance and training in how to manage children’s behaviour, and know how to keep them safe and promote their well-being. However, one foster family left their fostered child with adults who were not approved for fostering, as previously reported.

p.7

inadequate

Staff and carers work collaboratively with schools and the virtual school. This helps to ensure that children have suitable experiences of school and that carers and Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 8 teachers have a shared understanding of the child’s needs, and a consistent approach to managing challenging behaviour. For example, the agency provides training for school staff that helps to improve their understanding of the complex and specific needs of individual children and how to respond effectively to them. The agency has helped a child who has missed a significant amount of education to prepare both academically and emotionally for a transition to school, so that the child is no longer fearful of and rejecting school. Instead, he is looking forward to attending.

p.7

inadequate

While records are scant, in practice children’s health needs are well addressed. Foster carers are confident in seeking medical advice and treatment. This ensures that children receive the health support and treatment they need. Often, children grow rapidly from the point of placement. One social worker described a child’s progress as ‘astonishing’. She said that the child is, ‘walking taller, has rosy cheeks and brighter eyes’. She also said: ‘The tearful and distressed child we placed has been replaced by a happier, more confident child.’

p.8

inadequate

Children benefit from the focus on maintaining contact with their families and, in some cases, agency staff support and supervise contact. They recognise the emotional upheaval that it can have on a child and are skilled at supporting children to manage their feelings and overcome any anxieties and distress.

p.8

inadequate

Children who need additional emotional support benefit from direct work, including life-story work and play therapy carried out by a dedicated social worker. This helps children to make sense of their experiences and develop emotional strength and resilience. Children say they are well cared for and happy. They have a sense of belonging, which helps to build their self-esteem and emotional resilience. Their views are reflected in the following comment, made by one child: ‘It’s really good. There’s not one thing I would change, they should just keep doing what they are doing.’

p.8

inadequate

Six of the eight foster families are very experienced carers who say they transferred to this agency because of the good reputation of the supervising social worker. Through joint activities, support groups and buddying arrangements, the agency helps to build supportive, beneficial relationships between fostered and birth children and between carers. In particular, carers value the social media page where they can seek advice and share experiences confidentially.

p.8

inadequate

Children are supported and encouraged to engage in a range of activities, which develop their interests, skills and self-esteem. The agency has recently introduced a bi-monthly children’s magazine which has proved popular with children, several of whom actively contribute to it. One young person has taken the lead on editing the newsletter and is justifiably proud of the finished product.

p.8

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

The manager does not routinely notify Ofsted of serious events, such as allegations against carers. This prevents Ofsted from meeting its duty to monitor serious incidents. A complaint that was investigated by the responsible individual at the Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 9 request of Ofsted is not listed in the agency’s complaints log. As a result, the service has inadvertently given false information to Ofsted about the number of complaints received. It also means that the agency cannot fully demonstrate their learning from concerns and complaints.

p.8

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

Most children do not engage in high risk-taking behaviour. The agency works collaboratively with the police and partner agencies to safeguard missing children. Allegations against carers are appropriately referred to the designated officer, and an agreed approach to safeguarding is implemented. However, poor recording of safeguarding incidents means that records are not reliable. For example, records of a child being missing and later making an allegation against a carer are not sufficiently detailed to demonstrate what happened, or the action taken by the agency in response to serious concerns. Records do not demonstrate that the child has been listened to or taken seriously.

p.9

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

Individual risk assessments are not always in place or up to date. Those that are do not clearly identify all known risks to children and do not provide foster carers with clear guidance on strategies for the management of known risks, such as harmful sexual behaviour. This means that carers do not know how to manage risks presented by their foster children and how best to keep them safe. Typing errors and poor attention to detail mean that, in some cases, details within risk assessments relate to a different child. This undermines the reliability of the document.

p.9

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

Safer caring plans relating to individual fostering households are generic and are not updated when new children are placed. Consequently, children’s individual safety needs are not addressed within these documents or known by carers in practice.

p.9

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

Children’s safety and welfare are at risk because of unsafe practice around the assessment and approval of carers. For example, no proper arrangements were made for a child to have a two-week respite placement when his long term carers were unavailable. The child was cared for by people about whom the agency held little information and who had not been assessed or approved as support carers. Concerns for his safety and well-being were noted during this period. The placing authority had not been made aware that the child was being looked after by persons whose suitability had not been assessed. There is no evidence of the agency challenging poor practice by the carers involved in this circumstance. This does not demonstrate that children’s safety and welfare are paramount.

p.9

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

Although the agency applied for an exemption to the usual fostering limit to enable a sibling group to be placed together, they did not pursue the exemption when the relevant local authority did not respond. Nor did they review the terms of approval of the foster carers. Consequently, the foster carers were operating unlawfully for over five weeks. Neither they, nor the children, were protected by legislation. Caring for four children, the carers were acting outside of their approval status, which meant that they were running an unregistered children’s home. This matter was only addressed after it was picked up by inspectors. It shows that the manager is not sufficiently proactive in ensuring that the agency is operating in a way that protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and their carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 10 Oversight of staff and panel member recruitment is not strong and practice is not

p.9

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

safe. References are not always obtained from previous or current employers. They are not verified and concerns expressed in some references have not been followed up. Two members of staff have started work before disclosure and barring service checks have been obtained. Recruitment practice is not sufficiently robust to prevent potentially unsuitable people, who could cause harm to children, from being recruited.

p.10

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

The arrangements for the supervision and quality assurance of foster carer assessments are weak, which results in incomplete assessments being presented to the panel, sometimes without relevant references and checks, including ex-partner and disclosure and barring service checks. The assessments, some of which were carried out by the manager, lack evaluation, and in some cases, important information has not been followed up. This does not demonstrate that the manager prioritises children’s safety by ensuring that assessments, checks and references thoroughly demonstrate the suitability of prospective carers who the agency recommends for approval. Given this, it is of particular concern that the manager is also the agency decision-maker.

p.10

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

Although the level of expertise on the panel is limited, the members have exercised effective discretion in deferring foster carer approvals until full information is available.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the service are weak. The many shortfalls in practice and breaches in regulations have gone unchecked by the current leadership team.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual has not maintained good oversight of the agency and has not ensured that it is operating within the fostering regulations and the legal frameworks. He has not ensured that additional staff have been recruited in good time to correspond with the growing number of carers and children. He has struggled to access the agency’s electronic records and has been unaware of significant shortfalls in practice. He has not monitored the operation of the service and children’s progress and outcomes effectively.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The provider has not received any written reports on the management, outcomes and financial state of the service since registration. There is no written evidence of regular meetings between the manager and the responsible individual to address or review the quality of the agency’s service. The agency cannot therefore demonstrate that it is being run effectively and efficiently or that it is delivering a service that meets the needs of its users.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is carrying out social work tasks, including assessments. This impedes her from managing the service properly. Following this inspection, the provider has stated his intention to increase the number of social workers as well as to recruit an administrator, and to make changes that will improve the management Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 11 and monitoring of the agency.

p.10

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The agency’s website does not include a copy of the statement of purpose. A recent review of the statement of purpose was not shared with Ofsted until requested at the time of the inspection. This does not ensure that Ofsted, foster carers and others are kept abreast of changes to the aims, objectives and procedures of the agency or that interested parties can easily access information about the service.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The agency is not being run in accordance with its statement of purpose. For example, there are no ‘highly qualified’ therapists providing additional support to children as outlined in the document. The arrangements that are set out regarding the management of staff are not adhered to. This means that the statement of purpose does not accurately and reliably reflect the service provided.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager is an experienced fostering social worker. She manages two experienced social workers and a placements officer. Staff do not have job descriptions and they do not receive regular, professional supervision and appraisal in line with the agency’s policy. No arrangements are in place for the registered manager to receive professional supervision. She has made informal, ad hoc arrangements for supervision from an ex-colleague who is also the panel adviser and, inappropriately, vice-chair of the panel. The responsible individual has been unaware of these arrangements. This does not ensure that the registered manager is appropriately supported to manage the service effectively, or that staff receive supervision and guidance that supports them to fulfil their roles and thereby provide a high-quality service to foster carers and children.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Record keeping is particularly weak, with files being poorly maintained. Children’s files are not up to date and the high level of missing information means that records do not contribute to an understanding of a child’s life. For example, relevant documents, such as personal education plans, care plans, consent to medical treatment and health assessments are not held and there is little information that demonstrates how a child’s needs are met or the progress being made.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Placement planning meeting minutes are not always held on agency files, but there are records that show that several meetings have not taken place within the five day timeframe identified in the agency’s policy. In fact, some have been significantly delayed. Where agency reports are in place, including panel minutes and approval decisions, they are unsigned and undated, which reduces their reliability. This means that information is not recorded in a way that will be helpful to a child who accesses their file, either now or in the future.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager’s system for monitoring and auditing foster carers’ and children’s files is ineffective. It does not improve the quality of records or the quality of foster care. The agency holds no background information on some children. For example, basic personal data, including the date of birth, is not held on a child who has lived with agency foster carers for over four months. This demonstrates that the agency records are incomplete and unreliable.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Foster carers’ supervision records are poorly maintained and of variable, but often Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 12 low, quality. Many records are in the form of brief, handwritten notes. They do not support the comments made by carers to inspectors, namely that they are appropriately supervised and supported. There are no foster carer agreements held on carers’ files and no letters of approval, so the agency cannot demonstrate that it has the signed agreement of foster carers to operate in accordance with the agency’s policies.

p.11

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There is little recorded evidence of challenge to placing authorities who have not provided the required documents or whose documents contain insufficient information, such as who can consent to medical treatment. Although foster carers report that they receive written information and delegated authority from placing authorities, these records are not consistently included within the agency’s files.

p.12

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The arrangements for the management and administration of the fostering panel are unsatisfactory. Assessments are presented to the panel without the necessary quality checks on content and insufficient time is given to panel members to review papers before the meeting. Shortfalls in assessments lead to a high percentage of recommendations being deferred. This has delayed foster carer approvals.

p.12

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The central list does not include: members with expertise in education and health, a foster carer or a care-experienced person. This does not ensure that the skills, knowledge and experience of persons on the central list are sufficient to equip the panel to make competent recommendations to the agency decision-maker. Panel minutes are not signed by the panel chair, so their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The panel chair resigned in August 2017. She said that panel feedback about the quality of the agency’s work was not leading to improvements in practice. No efforts have been made to recruit a new panel chair or members with a wider range of expertise.

p.12

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The role of the agency decision-maker is compromised because the manager carries out assessments, quality-assures her own work, presents assessments to panel and makes approval decisions. She does not routinely list the material regarding carers’ suitability that she takes into account in reaching her decisions.

p.12

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The many shortfalls in the operation of the service demonstrate that the registered people have not exercised the skills, expertise and knowledge required to manage this service effectively. They have not recognised the weaknesses in the service and have been slow to challenge other agencies when responses from them have been delayed. They have not taken decisive and effective action to ensure that the service is managed safely and in accordance with the legal framework. This does not ensure that children receive the best possible support and care. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 13

p.12

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 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.13

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: Resolution Fostering Service 14

p.13

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Resolution Fostering Services Limited

p.14

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 355 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6XU

p.14

Inspectors

Sharon Lloyd, social care inspector Marina Tully, social care inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Resolution Fostering Service 15 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.14

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.15

Inspectors

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

p.15

Inspectors

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

p.15