Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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Lead Inspector Sue Young Announced Inspection 30th January 2006 09:30 Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 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 Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 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. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 4

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Name of service

Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service

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Name of service

Address Children's Services 1st Floor, West Wing Wildwood Way Worcester WR5 2NP

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Email address

Provider Web address www.worcestershire.gov.uk

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Auth Fostering Service

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of places

Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 5

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Conditions of registration:

Date of last inspection 31st January 2005

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Brief Description of the Service:

Worcester County Council Fostering Service provides a range of foster care services to children requiring short-term, long–term and permanent placements. The fostering service’s placement team provides a comprehensive placement service including searching for and arranging placements with internal and external residential children’s homes and alternative fostering service providers. The service recruits and trains new foster carers, provides a range of training, support services and supervision to existing foster carers and approves family and friends as carers. A short breaks “support care” scheme is also in operation providing care for non-disabled children and young people and working with children and families towards maintaining the child with the family of origin. The scheme is an essential part of the department’s strategic plan to prevent children entering the Looked After System full time. All teams including the short breaks support care scheme are supported by

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Brief Description of the Service:

Integrated Services for Looked after Children (ISL), who provide an additional service of support, advice, and training to children and carers within schools and enabling access to community and leisure opportunities. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 6

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SUMMARY

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

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SUMMARY

Two inspectors carried out the inspection over eight days. Four foster carers were chosen for case tracking and these included a carer looking after a child with disabilities, two carers caring for young people over 16 years and a carer looking after a sibling group in a trans-racial placement. Children and foster carer files were read, foster homes visited and carers and young people spoken with. In addition two family and friends files and one support care carer’s file were inspected.

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SUMMARY

Interviews were undertaken with groups of social work staff, foster carers, and fostering managers. Individual interviews were conducted with managers and workers involved in support care, training and development and integrated services for looked after children. Records of the fostering service were examined and personnel files were read.

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SUMMARY

54 foster carers, 35 young people and 64 children’s social workers completed and returned questionnaires.

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What the service does well:

Education is given a high priority by the fostering service. Good evidence was seen of the support given to young people in education through the integrated services for looked after children (ISL). ISL provide support to young people through mentoring, advice and through training to carers. Foster carers supported children with homework and liaised well with school staff.

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What the service does well:

The fostering service ensures the health and development of children in the looked after system is met. The service has developed good health support to children and carers through the Integrated Service for Looked-After Children (ISL), who support children and carers by ensuring looked-after children are given priority in accessing CAMHS services, and in providing information and training to carers.

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What the service does well:

Good support is given to foster carers by the fostering service on ensuring children and young people maintain contact with their birth families and friends.

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What the service does well:

It is clear that the fostering service place a high value on the training needs of staff who work in the service. Training is regularly audited and evaluated.

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What the service does well:

The service and has a clearly set out assessment process for carers. Assessment reports are competency based and completed to a good standard. Annual review reports are also competency based and are of a high standard. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 7

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The service has developed a matching pro-forma for short-term placements. This needs to be completed fully in order to demonstrate how the placement meets the needs of the children placed and evidence any gaps in matching and how these are met.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Training on child protection and contact has been developed since the last inspection.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The foster care agreement has been reviewed and developed to meet Schedule 5 of the Fostering Regulations.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

A system of monitoring matters in Schedule 7 has been established since the last inspection and for notifying matters listed in Schedule 8. Evidence could be seen where improvements in quality of care had been improved as a result.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The service has developed the quality assurance role of the two fostering panels, which has improved the quality of assessments of prospective foster carers.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The fostering handbook has been reviewed and updated since the last inspection and was distributed on mass to all foster carers. Some carers stated that they had not received their updated handbook.

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What they could do better:

The fostering service has been suffering from a shortage of staff, which has been having a direct effect on service provision as a whole. Some carers were without an allocated supervising social worker and others were not receiving supervision on a regular basis. Annual reviews were not being completed on time and unannounced visits were not always taking place. At the time of the inspection south team had a 50% vacancy rate and was reliant on agency staff, north team had 2 vacancies and had a high sickness level over the past year. At the time of the inspection the fostering service were also losing foster carers and not recruiting at a sufficient rate to replace those lost. This has had a negative affect on the service’s ability to always place children appropriately. It was apparent that staff shortages within the fostering service were also having a negative impact on family and friends carers.

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What they could do better:

Although the majority of foster homes were found to be warm and comfortable, a number of environmental and safety issues within foster homes caused concern. There was no evidence of safe caring guidelines or detailed Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 8 risk assessments having been completed. These need to be developed for all fostering households as part of the matching process and in response to identified need.

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What they could do better:

Currently Worcester County Council are using the Looked After Children (LAC) documentation placement plan part 1 and essential information part 1 as the foster placement agreement. This does not meet all matters set out in Schedule 6 and a requirement regarding this was made following the last inspection. There are plans to introduce a new placement information record as part of the integrated children’s system in April 2006, which will meet all aspects of Schedule 6.

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What they could do better:

Personnel files on independent social workers and panel members did not comply with all aspects listed in Schedule 1, and staff and carer’s CRB checks were not all in place. All those working in and for the fostering service including foster carers must have a current CRB check in place and be recruited per the requirements listed in Schedule 1.

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What they could do better:

Although good examples were seen of carers supporting young people move into adulthood little had improved since the last inspection. The local authority’s contact with a voluntary agency for the provision of leaving care service to young people has continued despite little improvement. Inspectors were informed during the inspection that this contract was under review and at the time of writing this report the decision has been reached to bring the after- care service back in house.

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What they could do better:

Not all foster carers had completed their core training or had been receiving regular on going developmental training. Training, where necessary, in restraint techniques needs to be developed. Inconsistency was seen regarding the standard of recording by foster carers. A structured approach could not be seen of the service encouraging children to reflect on and understand their history and to come to terms with past events.

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What they could do better:

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. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 9

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 10

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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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The Commission considers Standard 12 the key standard to be

inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

Worcester Fostering Service is proactive in promoting the health and development of children and young people looked after but consent to medical treatment is not always provided to carers at the start of each placement. A continuous written record of all health treatment given to children and young people should be developed and regularly updated.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers were seen to be proactive in ensuring children and young people’s health needs were being met. All children and young people visited were registered with doctors and dentists and appropriate health appointments were kept. A common feature in completed questionnaires from young people was of having a healthy diet in foster homes.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers stated that the delegation of consent to carers to authorise routine medical treatment and immunisation for young people is not always obtained at the point of placement and this can take several weeks to be completed. Two files looked at during the course of the inspection demonstrated that delegation of consent had not been obtained at the point of placement.

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EVIDENCE:

The service has developed good health support to looked-after children and carers through the Integrated Service for Looked-After Children (ISL). This is a multi agency team which includes health practitioners alongside social workers, education staff and a community & leisure development worker who support children and carers by ensuring looked-after children are given priority in accessing CAMHS services, disseminating information and providing training to carers, and in ensuring health assessments are completed. Carers receive training in first aid and in promoting healthy lifestyles. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 11 Health needs of children and young people are discussed in supervision sessions with carers. A continuous written health record needs to be developed and updated during placement, which the young person has access to. Worcestershire County Council Fostering

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EVIDENCE:

Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 12

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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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The Commission considers Standards 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key

standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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

Although the service has developed policies and procedures to protect children and young people, safe caring systems and practices need to be further developed to routinely ensure the safety and well being of children and young people looked after. Shortfalls in service delivery have potentially left children at risk of harm.

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

Appropriately qualified and experienced managers and social workers run the service and recruit carers who are committed and suitable to work with children and young people.

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

The department has developed an appropriate system for staff recruitment, which needs to extend to cover independent social workers and panel members

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EVIDENCE:

Individually foster carers were seen to be producing good outcomes for children despite the lack of safe caring systems and practices in place from the fostering service. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 13 Although the majority of foster homes were warm, and comfortable during the inspection a number of environmental issues caused concern; overcrowding in two foster homes was noted, two children were placed by the department’s emergency duty team in a foster home sharing a double bed, although it is noted that this was quickly rectified by the fostering service no risk assessment had been conducted and the children continue to share a bedroom, lack of privacy in bedrooms and within foster homes, kitchen and ornamental knives stored openly on walls, and inadequate storage of medication, including controlled drugs.

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EVIDENCE:

In all these situations there was no evidence of safe caring guidelines or detailed risk assessments having been completed. Risk assessments need to be completed as part of the matching process and for identified behaviours.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has recently developed a general safe caring policy and plan to ensure all new foster carers have an individual safe caring policy in place as part of the assessment process. Individual safe caring policies are not yet in place for existing foster carers. The service must ensure individual safe caring guidelines are in place for all foster households, which are reviewed prior to each placement and agreed with the child’s social worker.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service must ensure that each child placed has her/his own bed, accommodation arrangements reflect the child’s assessed need for privacy and that the home and immediate environment are free of avoidable hazards that might expose a child to risk of harm.

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EVIDENCE:

Healthy and safety checklists are completed as part of the assessment of prospective foster carers and are reviewed annually. These must be dated and signed.

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EVIDENCE:

Ongoing child protection training has been developed for all foster carers. The service plan to introduce training in restraint for a number of identified carers. This needs to be introduced as soon as is possible as the inspectors noted carers were having to hold children without having had any restraint training.

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EVIDENCE:

Children and young people reported appropriate use of sanctions and methods of discipline being used and felt secure and safe within their foster homes

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EVIDENCE:

Carer’s transport documents are checked and seen at the annual reviews and a system exists whereby carers are asked to confirm through their signature on mileage claims that their car is appropriately taxed and insured.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has two tools for matching children and young people to foster placements. A matching matrix is in place for permanency placements and a matching pro-forma for short-term placements has recently been developed. The matching pro-forma for short term placements needs to be Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 14 completed to demonstrate how the placement meets the needs of the children placed and evidence any gaps in matching and how these are met.

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EVIDENCE:

Currently Worcester County Council are using the Looked After Children (LAC) documentation placement plan part 1 and essential information part 1 as the foster placement agreement. This does not meet all matters set out in Schedule 6 and a requirement was made following the last inspection. The service manager plans to introduce a new placement information record as part of the integrated children’s system in April 2006, which will meet all aspects of Schedule 6.

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EVIDENCE:

Worcester County Council has a system, which ensures staff recruitment meets matters stated in Schedule 1. Personal files for all new staff were inspected. Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks were in place for all new staff at the start of employment apart from 1 administration worker in the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service holds personal files on independent social workers and panel members. These files did not comply with all aspect listed in Schedule 1. A system exists for the renewal of CRB checks for foster carers every three years. It was noted that three adult members of one foster household’s CRB checks had not been applied for in time and were therefore out of date at the time of the inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service must ensure all those working in and for the fostering service, including panel members are recruited per the requirements listed in Schedule 1, Standard 15. All those working in and for the fostering service including foster carers must have a current CRB check in place.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service operates two fostering panels; one for the North of the County and one for the South. These were not observed as part of this inspection but the minutes of the last three meetings were read and it was apparent from the minutes and in feedback forms that the panels continue to operate well and have developed their quality assurance role. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 15

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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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The Commission considers Standards 7, 13, and 31 the key standards

to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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

The service places a high priority on promoting educational achievement for looked after children and ensuring children enjoy and achieve their personal goals. This is clearly a strength of the service.

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EVIDENCE:

The service provides training for foster carers in valuing diversity and this is also a core competency in assessment.

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EVIDENCE:

Although evidence of cultural identity could not be seen as always having been considered when matching a young person to foster carers, carers spoken with ensured that the cultural needs of the young people placed with them were met.

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EVIDENCE:

Some good examples of children able to develop and pursue interests and hobbies were seen. This was an area discussed in supervision with carers and support given by the service where identified. Evidence was also seen that children with disabilities were provided with support and assistance when required. One child reported in a questionnaire that “this was the happiest I have ever felt.”

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EVIDENCE:

The ISL community and leisure development worker ensures that looked-after children and their families are able to access leisure and community opportunities throughout the year. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 16 The fostering service has since the last inspection launched a pilot scheme, CZ World; a secure online service designed for LAC and young people. CZ World offers a secure, moderated communication with chat, instant messaging, internal e-mail, a learning centre to provide content over the 4 key stages of the national curriculum, access to information and advice, and a games zone.

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EVIDENCE:

Good evidence was seen of the support given to young people in education through ISL. ISL provide support to young people through mentoring, advice and through training to carers. Priority is given towards looked after children in schools and inspectors saw good examples of carers liaising and working in partnership with school staff. Personal education plans (PEPs) were in place on young people’s files

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EVIDENCE:

The educational achievement of children and young people is monitored through ISL.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has continued to develop its short break scheme “Support Care” for non-disabled children living at home. Although managed separately to the fostering service a line of accountability has been established.

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EVIDENCE:

Support Care was seen to be meeting standards with regard to supervision, assessment of carers and annual reviews. Staff and carers work closely with parents in meeting the needs of the children looked after within the scheme. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 17

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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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The Commission considers Standards 10 and 11 the key standards to

be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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

There is a clear strong motivation within the fostering service to maintain contact. Foster carers actively promote contact between children and their families.

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

Young people are able to express their views about their future and quality of care.

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EVIDENCE:

Evidence was seen from reading files and through visits to carers and young people of a strong motivation within the fostering service to ensure contact between children and their families is maintained. Carers are supported by the department in dealing with any difficult contact issues and the views of young people are sought when determining contact arrangements.

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EVIDENCE:

There are clear procedures in the foster cares handbook, which sets out how contact arrangements are to be established, maintained and reviewed. The requirements for contact is considered at matching and discussed in supervision with carers.

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EVIDENCE:

Training has been developed for carers in the importance of helping children and young people maintain appropriate contact with birth families. Carers also receive training in communicating with children.

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EVIDENCE:

Young people spoken with and from feedback from questionnaires felt they were generally well consulted over issues, which affect them on a day-to-day Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 18 basis. Out of thirty-five completed questionnaires, twenty reported that carers often asked young people for their views and opinions and nine said they sometimes did so. Young people also recalled being asked for their views prior to and during reviews.

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EVIDENCE:

‘CZ World’ has also provided a vehicle to enable children and young people to express their views and opinions and keep informed of significant issues that affect them.

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EVIDENCE:

A children’s guide has been produced by the fostering service. This needs to be further developed to make the complaints procedure clearer to children and young people. It was noted though from questionnaires and from talking with young people that young people knew how to complain and evidence was seen that children and young people were able to effectively access the complaints procedure. Twenty-six young people said they knew how to make a complaint and twenty-seven had a copy of the children’s guide. The assistant service manager monitored complaints on a regular basis. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 19

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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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The Commission considers Standards 29 the key standard to be

inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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

Foster carers are providing good individual support to young people moving into adulthood with limited support from the authority. The service has been unable to provide all young people with the guidance and preparation for independent living required.

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

The authority pays carers fees, allowances and expenses as specified.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers spoken with understood their responsibility to promote independence in young people and good examples were seen of carers supporting young people move into adulthood. Carers receive training entitled “moving on “.

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EVIDENCE:

Mentors were provided to young people post 16 by ISL as a transition support into further education and training.

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EVIDENCE:

The local authority’s contract with a voluntary agency for the provision of leaving care service to young people had continued despite little improvement. Inspectors were informed during the inspection that this contract was under review and at the time of writing this report the decision has been reached to bring the after-care service back in house.

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EVIDENCE:

Pathway plans seen on young people’s files were not completed at 16 years of age and were inadequate in detail. Not all young people are allocated a worker from the voluntary agency although where workers had been allocated some good work had been undertaken. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 20 The authority must ensure all young people in the looked after system receive the support services in accordance with legislation.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has a written policy on fostering allowances, which are publicised and provided to each carer.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers are paid an allowance and weekly fee for each child according to the age of the child and level of skills attained by the foster carer. The authority has 3 levels of pay depending on a carer’s competency and skill, which is reviewed at the carer’s annual review.

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EVIDENCE:

Family and friends carers are paid only the foster carers allowance in accordance with the age of the child. Feedback from family and friends carers indicated some felt this dual system of payment to be unfair.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers stated payments were generally on time, problems tending to exist when “out of the ordinary” expenses were needed. Some carers felt aggrieved over what they felt was the apparent lack of consultation regarding recent changes made to expenses. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 21

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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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The Commission considers Standards 17, 21, and 24 the key standards

to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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

1, 4, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 32.

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

The service has a management structure with clear lines of accountability. A system for monitoring and notifications has been developed which has resulted in improvements made in quality of care. The quality of service provision however is directly affected by a chronic staffing shortage within the fostering service, which impacts on virtually all aspects of its operation.

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EVIDENCE:

Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 22 The fostering service has a statement of purpose, which contains clear aims and objectives of the service provided. This had been updated and approved by the council executive in January 2006.

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EVIDENCE:

The children’s guide has been made available to all young people over 10 years of age and those under 10 where appropriate. This needs further development to ensure the complaints procedure is clearly detailed within the guide.

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EVIDENCE:

A system of monitoring matters in Schedule 7 has been established since the last inspection and for notifying matters listed in Schedule 8. Evidence could be seen where improvements in quality of care had been improved as a result. A workload audit has also been developed and piloted in the south of the County.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has since the last inspection undergone a restructure of its organisation. The service consists of 4 teams working across the County. Two teams, north and south foster care teams to support carers and assess family and friends carers, an adoption and fostering development team to recruit, assess, train and support carers up to the first annual review and a placement team which includes a placement service and fostering panels. All teams are now located centrally in Worcester in premises appropriate for the purpose. Inspectors visited premises used by the senior management and fostering teams apart from the adoption and development team. All teams including the short breaks support care scheme are supported by ISL who provide a full service of support advice and training to children and carers.

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EVIDENCE:

It was apparent that the fostering service has been suffering from a shortage of staff for some time, which has been having a direct affect on service provision as a whole. Some carers were without an allocated supervising social worker and consequently were not receiving support and supervision. Where carers were receiving supervision, inspection of files and discussions with foster carers indicated that supervision of carers was not occurring on a regular basis in line with the authority’s policy. Annual reviews were not being completed on time and unannounced visits were not always taking place. At the time of the inspection south team had a 50% vacancy rate and was reliant on agency staff, north team had 2 vacancies and had a high sickness level over the past year.

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EVIDENCE:

In contrast out of fifty-four questionnaires completed by foster carers twenty- four said that they felt well supported and seventeen said they felt quire well supported. Only seven stated they felt they didn’t get enough support. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 23 The authority must ensure all carers receive regular support and supervision, annual reviews of carers are conducted on time and annual unannounced visits to carers take place.

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EVIDENCE:

From discussions with the service manager and in her pre assessment questionnaire it was evident that the senior management team are fully aware the difficulties in staff recruitment was having on service delivery. Repeated adverting during 2005 failed to attract suitable qualified applicants. At the time of the inspection a skill mix was being piloted in the south foster care team by means of introducing a social work assistant post to cover non social work functions. This should enable social works to concentrate on the necessary social work tasks. Agency workers have been employed and independent social workers have been used for assessments, usually family/friend assessments and post allegation reviews. A protocol exists to provide support to unallocated foster carers in which a manager telephones the carers on a minimum of a fortnightly basis. From discussions with carers and from feedback from

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EVIDENCE:

questionnaires this protocol is not an adequate or effective way of support. A review of the protocol is required.

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EVIDENCE:

At the time of the inspection Worcester fostering service were losing foster carers and not recruiting at a sufficient rate to replace those lost. This has had a negative effect on the service’s ability to always place children appropriately. 49 foster carers have left the department since January 2005, 10 of who were family and friend’s carers and 3 of who were support care carers. In the same period 18 foster carers have been approved, 7 of whom are family and friends carers and 2 support care carers. The development of the adoption and fostering team with a structured recruitment strategy to recruit, assess and approve 25 new foster carers in 2005/6, plan to address this shortfall.

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EVIDENCE:

The service uses BAAF Form F and has a clearly set out assessment process for carers in line with standard 17. Assessment reports are competency based and completed to a good standard. Annual review reports are also competency based and are of a high standard.

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EVIDENCE:

A clear strategy for the management and support to foster carers exists and is documented in the foster carers handbook. Since the last inspection the fostering service had updated and reviewed its foster carer’s handbook and was distributed on mass to all foster carers. Some carers stated that they had not received their updated handbook. It is recommended that an audit be undertaken to ensure all carers have a copy of the new revised handbook. The foster care agreement has been reviewed and now meets all matters listed in Schedule 5.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has a rational audited approach to the training needs of staff working within the service. This is provided by the children’s service learning group and is regularly audited and evaluated. Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 24 Preparation training for prospective foster carers is provided using the skills to foster course. The service has a developed a programme of core and developmental post approval training. From examination of files and discussions with foster carers, it was apparent that not all carers had completed their core training or had been receiving regular on going developmental training. Due to difficulties with the local college providing the training there is no current NVQ training available to foster carers. The timing and schedule of training courses has been reviewed and recently changed to evenings and weekends to take account of those unable to attend training on

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EVIDENCE:

weekdays. Although it was apparent that the training needs of foster carers are audited and highlighted at reviews little effective follow-up could be seen to ensure missed training is completed. Management team must ensure foster carers completed all core-training requirements.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster files were generally in good order. There was evidence of regular audits taking place. Placement lists existed on the front of some files but were not always complete or accurate. Inconsistency was seen regarding the standard of recording by foster carers. Some carers provided very minimal recording and 1 carer wrote shared recordings on siblings placed together. Managers must ensure foster carers follow the service’s policy on recording and that each child has a comprehensive case record maintained. A new IT system is planned to be introduced in 2006.

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EVIDENCE:

Good examples were seen of individual carers supporting children to keep appropriate memorabilia. A structured approach should be developed by the service to encourage children to reflect on and understand their history and to come to terms with past events.

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EVIDENCE:

Two family and friends carers were spoken with during the course of this inspection and two further family and friend’s carer files were inspected. Questionnaires were also received from family and friends carers as part of the inspection. It was apparent that staff shortages within the fostering service was also having a negative impact on family and friends carers who reported as not being treated the same as other carers with regard to payment and support and not having named social workers allocated to them. Senior managers stated that family and friend’s carers are able to access the same information, training and ISL support as other carers and are invited to attend the foster carers forum meeting held on a quarterly basis although recognised that priority, based on risk assessment, is not always given to family and friends carers when allocating social workers Worcestershire County Council Fostering

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EVIDENCE:

Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 25

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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 2 Standard No Score 14 2 STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 1 Standard No Score 8 2 1 3 9 2 2 3 15 2 4 3 30 3 5 X 16 2 ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 1 Standard No Score 18 X 7 3 19 3 13 4 20 3 31 3 21 3 22 2 MAKING A POSITIVE 23 2 CONTRIBUTION 24 2 Standard No Score 25 2 10 3 26 3 11 3 27 X 28 X 32 2 Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 26 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 FS6 11,35 The fostering service must ensure all children are provided with a safe, healthy environment, free from hazards, which reflects their need for privacy and space. 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

2 FS6 11 Risk assessments must be developed and used as part of the matching process and in response to identified need 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

3 FS8 34 Sch 6 Foster placement agreements must include all matters listed in Schedule 6. (Timescale of 01/09/05 not met). 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

4 FS9 11 Individual safe caring guidelines must be developed for every fostering household and reviewed at every placement. 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

5 FS12 17(3) The fostering service must ensure the arrangements for giving consent to medical treatment is in place at the start of placement. 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

6 FS12 17(3) A continuous written health record must be kept in placement for each child. 30/04/06 Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 27 7 FS14 Leaving Care Act2000 The fostering service must ensure all qualifying children receive the appropriate services in accordance with legislation. (Timescale of 01/09/05 not met). 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

8 FS15 7,20 Sch The fostering service must ensure all people working for of in the fostering service are recruited per requirements listed in Schedule 1 and have a current CRB check in place. (Timescale of 01/05/05 not met). 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

9 FS16 29 All reviews of foster carers must be held at intervals of not more than 12 months in line with Regulation 29(2). (Timescale of 01/09/05 not met). 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

10 FS17 19 The fostering service must ensure it has an adequate number of experienced and qualified staff. 31/07/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

11 FS22 17 All foster carers, including family and friends carers, must receive support and supervision on a regular basis 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

12 FS22 11 The fostering service must ensure all foster carers, including support care carers, have at least one unannounced visit a year from a supervising social worker. 30/04/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

13 FS23 17 All foster carers must receive adequate training, including where necessary, training in restraint, to ensure the needs of children placed in their care are met. 30/09/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

14 FS25 30(3)(a) The fostering service must ensure a record of each placement is maintained on foster carers files. 30/04/06 Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 28

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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 FS1 The children’s guide should ensure the complaints process is made clearer. 2 FS6 Health and safety reports should be signed and dated. 3 FS8 The matching pro-forma should evidence any gaps in matching and demonstrate how these gaps are filled. 4 FS17 A review is recommended of the protocol to give support to unallocated foster carers. 5 FS22 It is recommended that an audit be undertaken to ensure all carers have a copy of the new revised foster carer handbook. 6 FS24 Managers should ensure foster carers follow the service’s policy on recording and that each child has a comprehensive case record maintained. 7 FS24 The fostering service should develop a structured approach to ensure children are encouraged to reflect on and understand their history and to come to terms with past events Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service DS0000060111.V270831.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 29

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

Hereford Office 178 Wide marsh St Hereford Herefordshire HR4 9HN

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

National Enquiry Line: 0845 015 0120 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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