Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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Lead Inspector Sarah Oldham/Helen Humphreys Announced Inspection 22nd January 2007 9:30 Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 2 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

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• Put the people who use social care first • Improve services and stamp out bad practice • Be an expert voice on social care • Practise what we preach in our own organisation

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Reader Information Document Purpose Inspection Report Author CSCI Audience General Public Further copies from 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI Internet address www.csci.org.uk Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 3 This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Fostering Services. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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Every Child Matters, outlined the government’s vision for children’s services and formed the basis of the Children Act 2004. It provides a framework for inspection so that children’s services should be judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to wellbeing in childhood and later life. Those outcomes are: • Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and achieving • Making a contribution; and • Achieving economic wellbeing.

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In response, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has re-ordered the national minimum standards for children’s services under the five outcomes, for reporting purposes. A further section has been created under ‘Management’ to cover those issues that will potentially impact on all the outcomes above.

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Copies of Every Child Matters and The Children Act 2004 are available from The Stationery Office as above This report is a public document. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the prior permission of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 4

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Name of service

Address 4th Floor Waterside House Sale Manchester M33 7ZF

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Authority Fostering Service Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 5

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Brief Description of the Service:

Trafford Family Placement Team provides fostering service for the authority. It provides short-term, long-term and permanent placements for children 'looked after'. It also provides short-term breaks for children with disabilities and children in need or at risk of being 'looked after'.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The service was responsible for recruiting, assessing and approving foster carers as well as supporting them. Since the last inspection, the responsibility for assessing and supporting friend and family (kinship carers) has transferred from the social workers in the area teams, to the Family Placement team.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The Family Placement Team is based in Sale, in a new local authority building which houses a number of other council services. However, some of the administrative support to the service was still based at other sites.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The Family Placement Team is made up of the Family Placement Team Manager, 1 Senior Practitioner and 4 .6 Family Placement Officers and 1 Support Worker. At the time of the inspection, two agency workers was filling one vacant post. Two full time members of staff have been recruited to support carers for the Home from Home scheme . A Team Clerk and 3 Administration Officers provide administrative support to the team. The Children with Disabilities Team Manager has one full time member of staff who recruits and supports carers for the ‘Home from Home scheme.

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Brief Description of the Service:

There is no requirement under the Care Standards Act 2000, to register a local authority Fostering Service. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 6

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SUMMARY

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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SUMMARY

This was the annual announced site visit to the service and formed part of the inspection process. The site visit started on Monday 22 January 2007 and a total of four days was spent at the service. Two inspectors spent time examining case files and policies and procedures used by the service. In addition to this, the inspectors met with the Head of Service for Looked After Children, the Placements Manager, Team Manager, Family Placement Workers, Placing Social Workers, Health Professionals and Children Rights Officer. The inspection process also included the attendance of a Foster Carers’ support group and observation of the Fostering Panel.

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SUMMARY

The inspectors also visited some carers at their homes and met the children and young people placed with them. This was to gain the views and opinions of the foster carers about the process of becoming a foster carer and the support that they received from the service including training and supervision. The inspectors listen to their views and opinions about their foster placement and the support that they received from their carers, the fostering service and their placing social workers.

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SUMMARY

Questionnaires were also sent to foster carers and children/young people and their responses are included in various sections of this report.

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What the service does well:

The fostering service was able to demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the health care needs of the children and young people in placement were supported. A Looked After Children (LAC) nurse and a clinical child psychologist for Looked After Children supported the children and young people in placement. Both of these posts were funded by the Health Authority although the nurse and psychologist were based within the Children and Young Person service. This supported multi-disciplinary working and enabled family placement staff to have easier access to health care professionals. This resulted in increased support to children and young people. Children and young people felt that they were supported with their health care needs.

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What the service does well:

The recruitment and selection of both staff for the service ensured that staff had the necessary qualifications and experience to undertake their role. Staff felt that they were well supported to undertake their role and felt that senior management were accessible for advice and support. It is clear that the fostering service were seeking to improve and striving to develop better practice. The team was being effectively managed and supported and works jointly with other services and professionals to meet needs. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 7 The service continued to undertake recruitment of carers from a wide range of backgrounds to meet the needs of the children and young people for whom the service provided support.

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What the service does well:

The service had a good ‘Home from Home’ scheme that provided support and respite to children and young people with disabilities. This service continued to expand and there were also an increased number of multi-link carers who provided support to a number of children and their families.

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What the service does well:

Foster carers recruited had appropriate checks in place. For example, Criminal Record Bureau enhanced disclosures. All potential carers had attended pre- approval training that included the role and responsibilities of the carer in supporting and ensuring the safety of the children and young people placed. All staff working for the service had received child protection training and there was an ongoing programme of training for foster carers that included child protection and staying safe.

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What the service does well:

Children and young people felt that their needs were being met. Comments received included “ I am happy living with my carers” and “I feel that my carers support me and help me”.

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What the service does well:

The service supported the educational needs of the young people and there had been an increase in the number of children and young people attending school and achieving higher grades.

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What the service does well:

The service was developing a Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care Scheme and was recruiting carers for this scheme. The service was able to demonstrate a commitment to supporting children and young people who had complex and challenging needs.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The service was able to demonstrate that they had acted upon the requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection. They also had an ongoing plan on how they would continue to improve the service.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The service had reviewed the health information provided to carers and had made sure that up to date information had been made available to enable carers to support the health care needs of the children and young people placed with them.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The Panel had reviewed the process of making exemptions and the process of making placements.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The structure of the children and young peoples files had improved and they were audited on a six monthly basis to make sure that the records were consistent and up to date. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 8 There was evidence of increased consultation with children and young people and this needed to continue to make sure that they were consulted on a regular basis about the care and support that they received.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Foster carers felt that the training had developed further and they were aware of the training that was available for them to participate in.

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What they could do better:

The service had recruited Family Placement Workers and was fully staffed (including 2 agency workers). Carers that met with the inspectors and some that had responded to questionnaires felt that the level of communication between carers and workerscould improve. Some carers said that they did not always feel valued by the service although other carers disagreed with this. The service needed to ensure that there was clear communication between carers and the service.

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What they could do better:

The service needed to continue to build on the development of the foster carer assessments to ensure that they contained greater analysis about suitability of prospective foster carers.

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What they could do better:

Although training for carers had increased the service did not provide training relating to ‘sudden unexplained death’ and carers who provided care and support to young children and those with complex health care needs felt that this would be beneficial. Another area for development was the ongoing training and support provided to carers in preparing young people for independence. The service had acknowledged that there was a lack of provision for housing for young people moving on. Work was ongoing to address this issue.

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What they could do better:

Some carers who spoke with the inspectors or who responded to questionnaires felt that foster carer support groups could be more structured and some felt that the development of support groups for family and friend carers would be beneficial as some of the issues were different from those of recruited carers.

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What they could do better:

The service identified that further work could be undertaken with regards supporting leisure facilities for young people in placement and this was being discussed at senior level within the authority. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 9 Please contact the provider for advice of actions taken in response to this inspection. The report of this inspection is available from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting your local CSCI office. The summary of this inspection report can be made available in other formats on request. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 10

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 11

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The intended outcome for this Standard is:

• The fostering service promotes the health and development of children.(NMS 12)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

The service had appropriate arrangements in place for promoting the health and development of fostered children and young people.

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EVIDENCE:

The service ensured that the health care needs of the children and young people were supported. All of the files examined by the inspectors contained details of the child/young persons health care needs completed on the appropriate Looked After Children (LAC) health care documentation and formed part of the Placement Agreement.

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EVIDENCE:

The Community Nurse and the Clinical Child Psychologist for Looked After children were based within the Children and Young Person Service alongside the fostering service, both supported children and young people as well as providing training and support to carers.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service discussed the importance of carers helping to meet the health care needs of the children and young people placed with them as part of the initial foster care training. In addition to this, various training courses were offered regarding health care support including First Aid, Healthy Eating, Autism Awareness and General Health Promotion. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 12 All children and young people were registered with a General Practitioner (GP), Dentist and relevant health care professionals.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers spoken to confirmed that they had received support, training and information relating to the health care needs of the children and young people placed with them, although at times they said it would be helpful to receive more detailed information.

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EVIDENCE:

Health information packs had been sent to the carers within the past twelve months with additional health care literature to provide additional support and advice for carers. Within the coming twelve months the service will be recruiting a substance misuse worker to provide ongoing support and advice to carers and young people as part of the multi-disciplinary children and young peoples service.

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EVIDENCE:

Responses received from the children and young people demonstrated that they felt that they were supported with their health care needs. This included support and advice about smoking cessation. One young person spoken to by the inspectors was able to detail the advice and support that they had received with regards this.

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EVIDENCE:

Another young person seen by the inspectors said that they felt supported with their health care needs and said “ my carer always cheers me up when I am sick and gives me lot’s of cuddles”. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 13

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• Any persons carrying on or managing the service are suitable. (NMS 3) • The fostering service provides suitable foster carers.(NMS 6) • The service matches children to carers appropriately.(NMS 8) • The fostering service protects each child or young person from abuse and neglect.(NMS 9) • The people who work in or for the fostering service are suitable to work with children and young people.(NMS 15) • Fostering panels are organised efficiently and effectively.(NMS 30)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following Standard(s):

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following Standard(s):

The service had trained staff with the skills to assess and recommend foster carers who had the skill and knowledge to promote the health, safety and well being of the children and young people placed with them.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager of the service had the qualifications to manage the service. He had previously worked within the family placement service and was able to demonstrate that he had a clear understanding of his role and responsibilities. Family placement workers said that they were supported within their role by the manager and that their roles were clearly defined. The general staffing situation had improved within the past twelve months with nearly all of the posts filled by permanent members of staff. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 14 Prior to and during the inspection the Head of Looked After Children service, the Placements Manager and the Team Manager for the service had provided details about the service, the developments that had been undertaken and those that were planned. This included the development of a Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care scheme (ME2) for 2007. This service was to provide

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EVIDENCE:

support and care for children and young people who required specialist support and intervention.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service had systems in place to assess the suitability of foster carers. This included family support workers undertaken British Association of Fostering and Adoption (BAAF) form F assessments. As part of the inspection process a number of these forms were examined. It was identified that although the form F assessments contained large amounts of information there was a lack of analysis on some of the assessments provided and some of the information was not relevant to the assessment process. This was discussed with the manager and the Head of Looked After Children service.

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EVIDENCE:

The service made sure that appropriate checks were undertaken as part of the assessment process including references and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosures. Health and safety checks of the carers homes was also undertaken and this was reviewed on an annual basis as part of the foster carers annual review. Carers said that if specialist equipment was required to meet the needs of the children and young people placed, this was provided by the service.

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EVIDENCE:

All of the foster carers files inspected had a Safe Care policy in place. Carers were aware of their role and responsibilities in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people that they provided care and support to. Carers spoken to and who returned questionnaires were able to demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the issues relating to the Protection of Children.

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EVIDENCE:

All staff had received appropriate training regarding the Protection of Children.

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EVIDENCE:

The service was able to demonstrate that they tried to ensure that children and young people were matched to carers who were able to provide care and support meeting the children/young peoples needs. This included their cultural and religious needs. Evidence was seen on individual files of the matching process that the service had undertaken. Staff spoken to said that they did not feel that they had to place a child or young person that did not have an appropriate match and they felt confident that appropriate matches had been made. The panel had reviewed the practice for exemptions and they were only made following close consideration by panel.

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EVIDENCE:

The service recruitment and selection procedures for appointing new staff followed good practice guidance in safeguarding children and recruitment and selection was in accordance with Trafford Councils recruitment and selection Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 15 policy and procedure. The files of six members of staff were randomly selected for examination. They were found to contain appropriate application forms, references and previous experience to ensure that the staff had the skills and qualifications to undertake their role. All staff had enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) disclosures that were renewed every three years.

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EVIDENCE:

As part of the inspection process one inspector observed a Panel Meeting. The Panel was quorate although it had been noted that on some previous occasions the panel had been cancelled due to it not being quorate. The panel does not have anyone on it from the fostering team and no carer from another authority or agency. It is recommended that this is addressed. The Panel Chair had the appropriate knowledge and skills to undertake the role and panel members were observed to contribute effectively to make sure that only appropriate carers were approved.

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EVIDENCE:

Panel minutes examined contained clear information and reasons why decisions had been made. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 16

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• The fostering service values diversity.(NMS 7) • The fostering service promotes educational achievement.(NMS 13) • When foster care is provided as a short-term break for a child, the arrangements recognise that the parents remain the main carers for the child.(NMS 31)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

The fostering service valued diversity and promoted educational achievement. The short break scheme and multi-link care provides a good service for children with disabilities.

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EVIDENCE:

The service recognised that there was a lack of carers in general and was in the process of undertaking a recruitment campaign that included advertisements and information video that was shown in council offices, sports centres and town halls across the borough.

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EVIDENCE:

In acknowledgement of the prejudice and discrimination faced by Black children and young people, the Children and Young People’s Service had set up a ‘Black Case Panel’. The panel aimed to provide more culturally appropriate services to children and young people from the Black and minority ethnic backgrounds and community by discussing individual cases and exploring with the social workers whether needs are being met. There is a Trafford Foster Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 17 Carer representative on the Black Case Panel. Family placement officers and supervising social workers felt that the panel was helpful in exploring issues about how the needs of the child/young person was met. Staff were able to give examples of how the needs of Black and minority ethnic children and young people had and continued to be supported.

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EVIDENCE:

The service provided training to foster carers using the ‘Heritage model’ of training to promote the needs of Black and minority ethnic children and young people. Carers who had attended this training felt that it had been “very positive and useful”.

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EVIDENCE:

Family/friend carers were assessed by family placement workers and the team was continuing to ensure that these carers were assessed and presented to panel in line with the recruited foster carers assessments.

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EVIDENCE:

The family placement workers felt that the continued partnership with working with education and schools had been positive for the children and young people who were in foster placements. Carers also said that in the main they felt that the children and young people were having their educational needs met and supported. Some carers spoken to said that there had been some occasions when young people had been placed some distance from their school and there had been some problems supporting the young people to get to school although carers did feel that it was important that the young person had continuity with their education. The foster service tried wherever possible to take this into account when placing a child/young person. The young people spoken to by the inspectors were very positive about their the support that they received with their education from the authority and from their carers. One young person said “if I am finding my homework

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EVIDENCE:

difficult my carers will help me understand it”.

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EVIDENCE:

The service had a learning mentor that supported children and young people who did not attend full time education or were excluded from school. The National Teaching Advisory Service also provided specific intervention with children and young people.

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EVIDENCE:

All children and young person’s files examined by the inspectors had a Personal Education Plan (PEP) and there was evidence that the educational needs of the child/young person were discussed at their reviews. Foster carers spoken to said that they were able to contribute to the PEP’s. The service did however, acknowledge that not all children had PEP’s that were up to date and the service were continuing to up date PEP’s with the children and young people. Ongoing training had been provided to staff on PEPs.

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EVIDENCE:

The service had provided leisure passes for the children and young people placed with carers to enable them to attend local leisure facilities at reduced Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 18 fees. Discussions were ongoing with senior managers to look at a variety of ways to increase access to facilities.

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EVIDENCE:

The service also provided short term breaks for children and young people. Carers spoken to were able to demonstrate a good understanding of their role and responsibility in supporting the child/young person. Carers on the short break scheme said that they had received placement agreements for the children and young people that they supported. The ‘Home from Home’ scheme was being managed by a team manager for children with disabilities and there were two family placement workers involved with this scheme. Carers spoken to felt that they were very well supported by the service. The service also employed a number of Multi link carers who supported a number of disabled children and their families with respite care. Home carers and respite carers have access to the same training as foster carers. They are also able to attend foster carer support meetings however, some carers felt that they might benefit from a support group that focused on

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EVIDENCE:

their particular role. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 19

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• The fostering service promotes contact arrangements for the child or young person. (NMS 10) • The fostering service promotes consultation.(NMS 11)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

The service promoted contact and encouraged was committed to ensuring consultation with children and young people.

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EVIDENCE:

The service promoted contact between children/young people and their family members. Carers were also included in assisting and promoting contact. The manager said that this was discussed with carers at the initial training and the importance of the contact for the young person if it was in the best interest of the child/young person. Carers spoken to said that in most cases contact arrangements were clear however, on occasions transport to attend contact presented some problems. Where problems had been identified these had been addressed by the service.

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EVIDENCE:

Children and young people who were spoken to or who responded to the questionnaire said that they were happy with the arrangements made for contact. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 20 Details relating to the contact arrangements were documented in the placement agreement and recorded on the young person’s file.

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EVIDENCE:

There was evidence that the service promoted consultation with the children and young people in placement. There had been an increase in the number of children and young people contributing to their statutory review. Although some young people chose not to attend their review they confirmed that they had been consulted and their views recorded.

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EVIDENCE:

Children and young people also had access to the Children’s Rights Officer and a questionnaire had been developed for the children and young people to express their views and opinions. The Children’s Rights Officer also supported individual children and young people if they had any complaints or concerns to make.

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EVIDENCE:

Files contained some evidence that children and young people were consulted and the service planned to continue to promote and monitor this involvement. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 21

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• The fostering service prepares young people for adulthood.(NMS 14) • The fostering service pays carers an allowance and agreed expenses as specified.(NMS 29)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

14 & 29 Quality in this outcome area is adequate

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

The service continued to increase the support provided to prepare young people for adulthood .

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EVIDENCE:

The After Care Team which is part of the Children and Young Peoples service, supported young people over the age of 16. This included the development of a Pathway plan with the young person. The service continued to make the development of Pathway plans a priority to ensure that the plan is clear with the aims and objectives. One of the files examined by the inspectors of a young person over the age of sixteen demonstrated that the young person had been involved in the development of their plan and that the carers had also been involved in assisting the young person prepare for independence. There were however some carers who felt that there was still the need for ongoing support in preparing young people for independence and moving on. The service acknowledged this and planned to further develop the pathway planning. These proposed plans included further training for foster carers about assisting young people to prepare for independent living.

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EVIDENCE:

Other issues that prevented a smooth transaction for 16+ young people was the lack of suitable housing within the borough. This matter had been identified at the Joint Annual Review (JAR) and this matter was being discussed at senior council level. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 22 Following discussions with carers there was still some areas of confusion about financial aid and support for young people aged 16+ and it was recommended that further training for carers should include clear information and guidance relating to finance.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers confirmed that they received an allowance for the care of the children/young people placed with them. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 23

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• There is a clear statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service and the fostering service ensures that they meet those aims and objectives.(NMS 1) • The fostering service is managed by those with the appropriate skills and experience. (NMS 2) • The fostering service is monitored and controlled as specified. (NMS 4) • The fostering service is managed effectively and efficiently.(NMS 5) • Staff are organised and managed effectively.(NMS 16) • The fostering service has an adequate number of sufficiently experienced and qualified staff.(NMS 17) • The fostering service is a fair and competent employer.(NMS 18) • There is a good quality training programme. (NMS 19) • All staff are properly accountable and supported.(NMS 20) • The fostering service has a clear strategy for working with and supporting carers.(NMS 21) • Foster carers are provided with supervision and support.(NMS 22) • Foster carers are appropriately trained.(NMS 23)

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The intended outcomes for these Standards are:

• Case records for children are comprehensive.(NMS 24) • The administrative records are maintained as required.(NMS 25) • The premises used as offices by the fostering service are suitable for the purpose.(NMS 26) • The fostering service is financially viable. (NMS 27) • The fostering service has robust financial processes. (NMS 28) • Local Authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers.(NMS 32)

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s):

The service was largely well managed and staff and foster carers were supported to meet young people’s needs. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 24

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service had a Statement of Purpose that detailed the aims and objectives of the service and how the service proposed to meet these.

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EVIDENCE:

The Service was found to be sufficiently staffed to meet its roles and responsibilities and all the staff interviewed reported manageable workloads and good support mechanisms.

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EVIDENCE:

The service consisted of a team manager and equivalent of 5.6 qualified staff (including a senior practitioner who deputises in the absence of the team manager.) plus a support worker and an administration worker. The home from home service had 2 qualified members of staff.

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EVIDENCE:

Staff interviewed said that they felt supported within their role and had regular team meetings, supervision and staff appraisal. They also said that senior management were always accessible for further support and advice if required.

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EVIDENCE:

The service had experienced a shortage of staff eighteen months previously and this had resulted in a need to ensure that they service undertook assessments for family/friend carers. The manager reported that this was work was ongoing.

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EVIDENCE:

The service had undertaken a recruitment campaign to recruit foster carers from a wide and diverse background. The service had a recruitment officer whose role was to recruit foster carers to meet the needs of the children and young people.

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EVIDENCE:

Information received from carers both via attending a foster carer support group meeting and responses to the questionnaires indicated about the level of support received varied. One carer said “ the support that I received from my family placement worker was excellent, particularly when the placement was extremely difficult”. Another carer however said that “ I find it difficult to get through to my family placement worker when I need to speak to them”.

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EVIDENCE:

Other areas of concern for carers was that on occasions they felt that the communication from the service was lacking. This was raised by a number of carers at the carers support group that the inspector attended.

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EVIDENCE:

Some carers also said that they had not been invited to contribute to the child/young persons review and they felt that they had some important information to relate. Other carers however said that they were supported and encouraged to contribute to children/young peoples reviews. The service should ensure that there was a consistent approach to gaining the views of carers. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 25 Carers said that access to training had improved and they were notified of training events available in advance. There was evidence on carers files examined that attendance at training was discussed and what training foster carers required. All carers spoken to said that they had undertaken pre- approval and induction training as well as child protection training and safe care. An area for additional training identified was Sudden Unexplained death syndrome for carers who were approved to care for young children and those

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EVIDENCE:

that were approved to care for children and young people with complex health care needs. This was discussed with the manager of the service. The training needs of carers was discussed at their supervision with their family placement worker and also formed part of the foster carer review.

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EVIDENCE:

Since the last inspection the service had tried to develop support that was given to the birth children of carers. They had arranged two specific evening events however, the attendance at these events had not been taken up although they were advertised and carers were aware of them. The service was continuing to review how to improve this.

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EVIDENCE:

As part of the inspection a number of children and young peoples files were examined. Work had been ongoing to update and organise files in a consistent and comprehensive manner. Guidance had been issued by the Children and Young Peoples service about the maintenance of files and they were audited on a six monthly basis. This had resulted in an improvement of the files.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers were provided with a lockable box to ensure that all documentation relating to the children/young people placed was stored securely. All carers spoken to confirmed this and were aware of the need to ensure appropriate storage of confidential information.

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EVIDENCE:

The family placement team was based in offices were they had access to information technology systems and secure facilities for the storage of information.

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EVIDENCE:

As previously mentioned the friend/family carers were now assessed by the family placement service and work had been ongoing to develop this further. Training was available for all family/friend carers and they were able to attend the foster carer support groups. There was however a view held by some of the family/friend carers that they had different issues to those of recruited carers and sometimes these were not always appreciated. It was recommended to the service that consideration be given to how the service can best meet the needs of family/friend carers. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 26

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

This page summarises the assessment of the extent to which the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services have been met and uses the following scale.

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

4 Standard Exceeded (Commendable) 3 Standard Met (No Shortfalls) 2 Standard Almost Met (Minor Shortfalls) 1 Standard Not Met (Major Shortfalls) “X” in the standard met box denotes standard not assessed on this occasion “N/A” in the standard met box denotes standard not applicable

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

BEING HEALTHY ACHIEVING ECONOMIC Standard No Score WELLBEING 12 3 Standard No Score 14 2 STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 3 1 3 9 3 2 X 15 3 4 X 30 3 5 X 16 3 ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 3 Standard No Score 18 3 7 3 19 X 13 3 20 X 31 3 21 3 22 X MAKING A POSITIVE 23 2 CONTRIBUTION 24 3 Standard No Score 25 3 10 3 26 X 11 3 27 X 28 X 32 3 Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 27 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection?

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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 Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 FS14 16 The service must ensure that young peoples’ Pathway Plans set out clearly how their future goals are to be achieved. 30/06/07

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

2 FS23 28 (5)(b) The service must ensure that the Foster Care Agreements include the particulars specified in Schedule 5 of the Regulations. 30/06/07

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RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1 FS6 The service should continue to improve the assessments of foster carers. 2 FS8 The service should consider ways in which the information gathered about caring for children from different backgrounds, is effectively passed on to carers.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

3 FS23 The service should continue to work to improve foster carers’ attendance at training events 4 FS30 It is strongly recommended that a member of staff from Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 28 the fostering service is a member of the panel. 5 FS11 The service should consider ways in which it can be demonstrated that children and young people are consulted with, on their individual files.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

6 FS21 It is strongly recommended that the service develop a structure for the support groups with an agenda to ensure that information is made available for carers. 7. FS14 When a young person receives a service from both the placing social worker and an aftercare worker, the service should provide clear information to carers, defining whose responsibility it is to pay for particular items and activities.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

8. FS23 The service should ensure that carers training needs are thoroughly appraised and promoted through the Annual Review process.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

9. FS32 The service should continue to develop the role of the Family Placement Team in supporting Family and Friends as carers.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

10 FS32 It is recommended that the service develop support groups for family and friend carers. Trafford Fostering Services DS0000057274.V318254.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 29

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

CSCI, Local office 9th Floor Oakland House Talbot Road Manchester M16 0PQ

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

National Enquiry Line Telephone: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone: 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk © This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI

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