Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service Inspection report for la fostering agency

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SC041234 Unique reference number 25 July 2008 Inspection date Jeffrey Banham Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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Conway House Address Conway Street Birkenhead CH41 4FD 0151 6664696 Telephone number

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Email

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Children & Young Person's Department

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Responsible individual

15 February 2008 Date of last inspection .

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Responsible individual

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Responsible individual

You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008

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Brief description of the service

The fostering service of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council is based in Birkenhead and provides a range of services to children and young people looked after by the local authority (LA). The primary responsibility of the service is to recruit, assess, train and support foster carers who can provide short term, long term and respite care placements throughout the borough. The manager of the fostering service leads the family placement team, consisting of team leaders, supervising social workers, support workers and administrative staff. The service works with other social work and education teams of the LA's Children and Young Person's Department to provide foster care placements and support foster carers in meeting the needs of children.

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Summary

The inspection was announced and examined all of the key National Minimum Standards (NMS) relevant to a fostering service. Children are well cared for by the fostering service. Significant changes have been made to a number of aspects of practice and procedure. The role of the supervising social worker has become clearer and more robust, and the quality and quantity of information provided to foster carers on children placed with them has improved. This, together with an increase in placement choice available has resulted in better matching of children with carers. Outcomes for children are demonstrably good, and children in a range of placements are able to develop with security and in accordance with their identified care plans. Carers are well supported by the family placement team and are aware of their responsibilities to work on behalf of the children for whom they care. The service does not yet ensure that it collects the

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Summary

information carers have on children who move out of placement. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The service has made significant improvements to a range of issues identified at the last inspection. Foster carers now have all the available information on children placed with them, and procedures for ensuring that this practice becomes consistently applied are in place. As a result children are more effectively matched with carers who are better able to meet their needs. Carers now also have clear and effective delegated consent to medical treatment. Children are cared for more effectively by being placed with carers who are approved to meet their needs and the approval status of each carer is made apparent through the foster care agreement. The information held on staff through the staff selection and recruitment procedures has been strengthened and a result the service is able to demonstrate that all staff are suitable to work with children. The role of the supervising social worker has become clearer and more robust

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Improvements since the last inspection

both in relation to the monitoring of foster carers' practice and in representing the family placement service within children's services as a whole. Foster carers are clearer about what and how to record information on children placed with them so that children's progress can be monitored more effectively. Systems for approving and supporting family and friends as carers ensure that practice conforms to the NMS and children are cared for safely and effectively.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. 4 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008 The service provides foster carers who help each young person to receive health care which meets his or her needs for physical, emotional and social development. Foster carers receive information, training and support to enable children and young people make informed decisions about their own health needs in so far as their needs and abilities allow. The quality of information on children in placement has improved significantly since the last inspection. The new and improved letter setting out the terms of delegated consent to medical treatment gives clear guidance to foster carers about the limits of their responsibilities. Carers have clear health plans for each child. These plans set out tasks and responsibilities for carers and other relevant professionals so that children receive health care appropriate to their identified needs. The

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Helping children to be healthy

development of a child's health care is monitored by foster carers themselves, social workers and the independent reviewing system. These processes ensure that outcomes for children and young people are demonstrably good and demonstrate individual care and support which accurately reflect a child's needs. There is a well developed understanding of issues to do with equality and diversity both for young people from different cultures and for children and young with special needs such as autism. The support provided by foster carers ensures that a high priority is given to meeting children's health care needs. The concept of a 'team approach' is appreciated by foster carers who are clear about their role in supporting children and who give a high level of commitment to ensuring they are healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for safely by the fostering service. Over the past 12 months there have been changes to the strategic management and leadership of the service due to better designation of roles and a greater emphasis on performance management. The service continues to be managed by suitably qualified staff with experience and practice of management within children's services. There is a clearer sense of direction, and an improved ability to identify and prioritise areas where improvement is needed in the framework of practice within which children are to be cared for. The people who work in the service are suitable to work with children and young people. The placement of children with carers who can meet their needs is a strength of the service. A rigorous system of risk assessment means that children's behaviour and needs are taken fully into account when placements with foster carers are being considered. Matching

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

has been strengthened to ensure no children are placed outside the carer's registration. All foster care agreements have been checked and where appropriate updated. Children are placed with foster carers who are assessed, approved, trained and supported to meet their needs. Placement choice has improved over the past 12 months following the recruitment drive and an increased number of new foster carer assessments being completed. The service has greatly improved the amount and quality of the information on children available to foster carers. Foster carers' homes are able to care securely and safely for children and are inspected regularly, through the visits of the supervising social workers and the annual health and safety review. Children are protected from all forms of abuse, neglect exploitation and deprivation. Safe caring practices are robust and implemented consistently throughout the service. Management systems

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are in place to collate and evaluate allegations of neglect or abuse of a child in foster care. The fostering panel is organised efficiently and effectively. It is able to make good quality decisions about approvals of foster carers in order that placements promote and safeguard the welfare of children in foster care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. 5 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008 The service demonstrates that diversity is valued by ensuring that foster carers provide care which respects and promotes each child's ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic background. One set of carers has, for example, gained a wide range of expertise with children and young people who are asylum seekers. These carers are able to demonstrate how their care has improved outcomes for children from a number of backgrounds. The education and development of children is given a high priority within the service. Foster carers are clear about their responsibilities and are able to act assertively and on their own initiative to support children in school. The progress made by children in foster care placements is evident from assessments and reviews, and confirmed by foster carers and children themselves. Resources from

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

professionals in the education service, the Looked After Children Education Service (LACES) are available and used effectively to provide individual support for children in accordance with their care plans and reviews of progress. Children confirm they are given good support with their schooling and education and that carers talk to them and involve them in their educational development. Where appropriate birth parents are involved in their child's education and foster carers develop positive relationships with parents that help in supporting the child in placement. A wide range of leisure activities is available from the interests and actions of the foster carers and the resources of the Council. These provide children with the opportunities to develop skills and experiences that promote self confidence and develop self-esteem. A range of short term placements is provided particularly for children with disabilities. These arrangements

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

recognise that parents remain the main carers for the child. Relationships between carers and parents are developed to provide as much continuity and consistency of care for the child as possible.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The service recognises the crucial importance to children of maintaining and promoting their relationships and contacts with families and friends. Carers are trained and supported to recognise and implement their role in working with families of children placed. There are a number of examples of foster carers who have formed appropriate and positive relationships with the parents of a number of children who have been placed with them. A child's needs for contact are set out in placement plans and assessments and carers are aware of their responsibilities to ensure these contacts are safe and in the child's interests. The progress of contacts with families is monitored regularly by supervising social workers and by the reviewing process. This scrutiny ensures contact plans are implemented and are in line with a child's identified needs. Systems for encouraging children's participation in discussions and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

decision-making about their future are fully developed into service policy and planning. The opinions of children are obtained regularly and their views are taken into account in so far as is compatible with their level of understanding and safety. For example, children are asked for contributions to a foster carer's annual review and are helped to provide their comments in a range of written and pictorial formats that are available on file.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is satisfactory. Young people receive assistance and support to help them prepare for leaving care and adult life. Pathway plans set out the assistance they need and the responsibilities of staff to work with them. Foster carers are able to access training in preparing young people for adulthood and all young people over fifteen and a half are supported by a worker from the Leaving Care 6 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008 Team. Foster carers are aware of their responsibilities and work with a range of other relevant staff such as the Immigration and Advisory Service and the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice and Information service to provide opportunities for young people to acquire the skills and experience needed for the transition into independence that are related to their particular needs. One young person for example has a number of pathway plans depending on the outcome of the

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Achieving economic wellbeing

application to remain in this country. Carers are able to access available resources relevant to the diverse cultural and ethnic needs of young people. The service can demonstrate how it has supported young people to develop and mature and how a variety of staff work together to ensure positive outcomes for them. Financial support is available to foster carers to enable them to support the children for whom they care. The rates of payments and allowances are set out in the foster carers' handbook. The efficiency of the payment system ensures that carers obtain the amounts to which they are entitled at the right time. Some family and friends carers believe that the financial support available to them needs to improve. The department has not yet implemented the National Minimum Allowances of payments to foster carers.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The fostering service is well managed. A significant number of improvements have been made to ensure that children are placed appropriately with capable carers who are able to meet their identified needs in secure placements. Managers have identified and prioritised a range of areas relevant to the operation of the family placement service in order to improve outcomes for children. An improvement plan has been successfully implemented and built in to future and ongoing practice. Foster carers are well supported by supervising social workers who are clear of their role in supporting foster carers and monitoring their practice. The concept of a 'team approach' is clearly evident in the work of the fostering service. Foster carers have full and clear information on children placed with them, provided when it is needed. Matching is a strength of the service, and children are placed with carers who are able to meet their needs.

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Organisation

The fostering service provides training, supervision and support to both its staff and its carers to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to care effectively for children. There is a range of systems in place, such as the regular supervision sessions and foster carer annual review, to monitor practice and initiate change where required. Children's progress is monitored through case records and foster carers record significant issues to ensure that children are developing in line with their assessed needs and the agreed care plan. Some carers hold on to information on children for whom they no longer care. This compromises the confidentiality of information about children and young people, some of whom may have the left the care system. Carers who are family and friends have effective support in line with the requirements of each placement and there are good systems in place to ensure the needs of children in these

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Fostering Services Regulations 2005 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Due date Action Standard

7 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that carers understand what information they are expected to keep and what information needs to be passed on to the fostering service (NMS 24). 8 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service promotes the health and development of children (NMS 12). Ofsted considers 12 the key standard to be inspected.

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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) Ofsted considers 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key standards to be inspected.

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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) Ofsted considers 7, 13 and 31 the key standards to be inspected.

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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) Ofsted considers 10 and 11 the key standards to be inspected.

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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) Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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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) 9 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008

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Annex A

• 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) • 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)

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Annex A

• local authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers (NMS 32) Ofsted considers 1, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25 and 32 the key standards to be inspected. 10 of 10 Inspection Report: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service, 25 July 2008

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