Sheffield Local Authority Fostering

Sheffield Local Authority Fostering Inspection report for la fostering agency

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SC043767 Unique reference number 13 August 2007 Inspection date Stella Henderson Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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Floor 2 Local Authority Fostering Address Exchange Street Sheffield South Yorkshire S1 2AH 0114 273 5155 Telephone number

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Email

Family Placement Service (scc) Registered person Paul Harold Massey Registered manager Jayne Louise Ludlam Responsible individual 8 November 2006 Date of last inspection .

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Email

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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Email

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 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007

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Brief description of the service

Sheffield Family Placement service provides foster care as part of a full range of accommodation for looked after children.

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Summary

The purpose of this visit was to follow up on requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection, and to undertake a key announced inspection. Five outcomes were inspected - Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Positive Contribution and Organisation. Key National Minimum Standards (NMS) are generally met, and the service has more strengths than weaknesses. There are no significant weaknesses relating to health and safety issues and management. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All the outstanding requirements from the last inspection are met. The service has generally adapted to changes expected of it through regulation, departmental re-structuring and market forces. A marketing strategy is in place that draws on foster carer surveys and previous inspection reports. Staffing levels have increased.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The fostering service takes seriously its responsibilities for the health of children looked after. Sound policies and procedures are in place which support good practice overall. No prospective carer who smokes is allowed to foster a child under five years of age. There are well established working relationships with key professionals and other agencies to promote the overall health of fostered children. Improved or good health outcomes can be demonstrated for individual children who are fostered. Most children get the general support or specialist help they need to promote their good health. Children's health plans address health needs well. These are regularly reviewed, updated and acted upon with good outcomes for the child. Children and young people have access to information, advice and are offered choices where possible. Children and young people have appropriate knowledge of healthy lifestyles and feel encouraged

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Helping children to be healthy

and supported in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Placements are made with carers whose assessments and continuing approval status are subject to rigorous scrutiny by people with a good understanding of the needs of children. Poor quality applicants are screened out at an early stage. Assessments are thorough and evidence 0based. There are sound child protection procedures, implemented by staff and carers. Children's behaviour is managed positively. All children are cared for safely without suffering further avoidable significant harm for the duration of the placement. There is a high level of placement stability. Anti-bullying and absconding policies and procedures are in place. Accidents and incidents are recorded, along with the dispensing of medication. Children are able to raise 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007 complaints and concerns, and the fostering service ensures these are acted upon. Independent

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

services are available for young people. Allegations and complaints are dealt with promptly using recognised procedures. There is a system in place for referrals relating to the Protection of Children Act. Carers, children and young people reported that matching was 'good' and 'outstanding' in their surveys, however Foster Placement Agreements do not always show matching considerations. Fostering panel considers all changes in terms of approval, including any exemptions to the usual fostering limit. The fostering panel has a clear role in matching children to long-term foster carers. Minutes of previous panel meetings demonstrated that there is rigorous and robust discussion of each case presented. Out of category placements are made on a regular basis to cope with the demand for placements. There was no evidence that risk assessments are routinely undertaken where bedroom sharing is concerned, or that children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

already in placement are consulted. The fostering service welcomes independent scrutiny of its placement arrangements. The fostering panel produces an annual report. The quality assurance role and annual report of fostering panel is limited. It does not include information about annual reviews, disruptions, variations, allegations and complaints. Staff and carers are demonstrably safe and suitable to work with children, but gaps exist in some cases regarding pre-employment information. Carers are regularly supervised and receive unannounced visits.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The fostering service meets the educational needs of each child in a manner consistent with the principles and practices of being a 'good parent'. The fostering service ensures that most children and young people are encouraged and supported to succeed and to reach their potential. They are reinforced and rewarded when they make a positive effort and do well, and there is an emphasis on out of school learning. The fostering service sets and monitors targets for children's school achievements. The agency monitors its performance in relation to children's achievements. The agency actively contributes to the assessment of children's educational needs and progress for the planning and review process, however personal educational plans are not routinely in place. The fostering services Corporate Parenting strategy identifies the need to improve educational outcomes for looked after children. The agency sustains good

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

links with school, the education service, recreation and leisure departments. Foster carers attend parents evenings and open days and work closely with teachers and other educational support staff.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's views and experiences are taken seriously and viewed as central to a safe service. The service is responsive to feedback and can demonstrate improvements as a result of listening to children. Children's views are taken into account in decision making processes, and carers understand the importance of listening to the views of children in their care. Children's comments are recorded and incorporated into statutory review meetings. The service produces a children's guide which is provided to all children at the time of placement. The service ensures that children are encouraged to maintain and develop family contacts and friendships, where this is appropriate. The views of the child are sought and given weight in determining contact arrangements. The agency provides help and support to carers in dealing with any difficult contact issues that may arise. The opinions of carers are sought through interviews and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

questionnaires, but the views of parents are not routinely obtained. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The manager provides leadership in encouraging staff to keep up to date with key policy and practice developments. The service delivered remains stable and reliable despite workforce changes . Staff and carers express job satisfaction and confidence in management. Staff demonstrate their commitment to achieving best outcomes for children in their daily behaviours and interactions with service users. There is commitment to regular, structured staff supervision and annual appraisal. Newly appointed staff report receiving induction and support and supervision. Carers and children confirm that they receive a good and reliable service from staff who are courteous, respectful and communicate well. Enquiries from prospective carers are dealt with promptly and they are assessed within appropriate timescales. Record management, safeguarding and other key systems and processes are in place but there are some gaps and

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Organisation

inconsistencies in recording and maintaining such documents and systems. There are effective methods and systems for staff and service user views to be heard and there is evidence of management action to address identified areas for improvement. Although case records are fully up to date in the majority of case files inspected, care plans are not in place for some children and young people placed in independent fostering agencies. Family and friends placements are not assessed within required timescales.

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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

17 September 2007 provide an action plan to ensure that care plans are supplied for all children and young people placed in independent fostering agencies (Regulation 34)

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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, if a child has been abused or has abused another child, the needs of all children in the home are assessed before any decision is made to allow the sharing of bedrooms (NMS 6) • implement a monitoring system to ensure that all required information is in place prior to employment (NMS 15) • develop the quality assurance role of fostering panel (NMS 30) • increase the numbers of children and young people who have personal education plans (NMS 13) 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007 • ensure that all family and friends assessments meet required timescales. (NMS 32) 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007

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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) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007

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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. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Sheffield Local Authority Fostering, 13 August 2007

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