Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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Lead Inspector Jacqui Malcolm Announced Inspection 6th February 2006 10:00 Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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 Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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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LS2 8QB

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. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 4

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Name of service

Address Merrion House 110 Merrion Centre Leeds LS2 8QB

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(if applicable)

Leeds City Council Department of Social Services

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Auth Fostering Service

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of places

Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 5

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Brief Description of the Service:

Leeds Fostering Service is based in the centre of the city and following recent restructure of the service, now provides separate fostering and adoption teams. There is also a separately resourced and managed family placement team for children with disabilities, which was not inspected on this occasion.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The service exists to provide foster care to children and young people who are being looked after by the local authority. They can be subject to care orders or may be voluntarily accommodated under the terms of the Children Act 1989.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The fostering service is responsible for meeting the placement needs of children and young people referred to the service. The service therefore recruits, assess, train and support foster carers. The service also train and supports existing carers. The fostering service includes temporary placements, permanent placements, planned short breaks (respite scheme), a range of fee paid schemes and family placements, providing long term or shared care for children with disabilities. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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

This inspection was announced and was completed by 2 inspectors over the course of 6 working days. Prior to the inspection, the managers of the fostering service met with the inspectors and later submitted questionnaires to the Commission. A number of questionnaires were also sent out to foster carers, young people in foster placements and placing social workers. The information from these questionnaires has been used in the preparation of this report.

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SUMMARY

During the inspection, discussions were held with members of the different fostering teams, with their team managers, and senior managers. A fostering Panel meeting was attended and inspectors attended a foster carer support meeting. Discussions were held with carers from Leeds Foster Carers Association. Visits were made to four foster carer households. In addition, time was spent preparing for the inspection.

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SUMMARY

The manager made a range of documents, including policies and procedures available for inspection.

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SUMMARY

This inspection considered the key standards and the standards covering requirements made at the previous fostering inspection.

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What the service does well:

The fostering service supports a number of carers from a variety of different schemes in the area. Young people are cared for safely and there are good systems in place to make sure this happens. Foster carers and workers right through the fostering services are good at supporting the health, education and development of children and young people who are looked after and foster carers are keen to make sure that children and young people keep in contact with their families and are consulted about the service. Relationships with the health services are good.

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What the service does well:

Young people said that the best things about being fostered were:

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“I don’t feel I am being fostered”

Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 7 Some of the comments made by foster carers about the fostering service included:

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“I don’t feel I am being fostered”

“Our link worker is great. Always there when needed”.

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“I don’t feel I am being fostered”

“My link worker does a good job – social worker could do better”.

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“I don’t feel I am being fostered”

“I think they do a great job with the resources they have”.

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and understanding. Good quality courses are available throughout the

Recruitment plans are targeted to reflect the needs of children and young from Black and minority ethnic communities, fee paid long-term carers and remand carers.

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and understanding. Good quality courses are available throughout the

The short breaks services are well planned and the service values the central role of parents to the care plans of their children.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The staff files seen contain all of the checks to make sure that staff employed can have contact with children and young people.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Three elected chairs have now been employed by the authority to attend the panel meetings.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

Serious accidents, illness and injuries are now being monitored by the service.

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What they could do better:

The computer system that keeps fostering information needs to be improved to make sure that it is accurate and can be easily found.

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What they could do better:

The paperwork used to match carers with children and young people needs to clearly state how the needs of children and young people will be met when these placements are made in an emergency or when children and young people are placed with foster carers who are from a different cultural heritage.

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What they could do better:

The allegations procedure needs to be made clearer to foster carers.

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What they could do better:

‘Safe Caring’ policies need to be put into action in all foster care households.

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What they could do better:

There needs to be enough staff in the teams to make sure that Family and Friends carers, have an allocated fostering officer and that a kinship carers group is followed up as planned by the local authority. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 8 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. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 9

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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:

The health and developmental needs of children and young people who are fostered or who have short breaks care, are well met by the fostering service. Foster carers and workers make sure that young people have good access to health care and that a healthy lifestyle is promoted.

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EVIDENCE:

The foster care agreement makes it clear that foster carers must make sure that children and young people are receiving proper medical attention. ‘Looked After Children’ (LAC) documents showed that consent is obtained from the placing authority for children and young people to receive medical treatment. Foster carers were clear about their responsibilities to register a child and young person with the Doctor and Dentist and taking the children and young people to health appointments as needed, including therapeutic appointments. Foster carers also have access to the local authority ‘Fostering Surgery’, run by the Therapeutic Social Work Team, which is targeted at foster carers who may have concerns about children and young people they are looking after who do not receive a service from the Therapeutic Social Work Team or Adolescent Mental Health Services.

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EVIDENCE:

There are two designated nurses for Looked After Children and link nurses are located in each Primary Care Trust (PCT). The young people who responded to the questionnaires said that their foster carers encourage them to eat a healthy, balanced diet, take regular exercise and take care of their own personal hygiene. They also said that they visited the Doctor and Dentist. A health record was available for foster carers to record medical information related to the children and young people they looked after.

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EVIDENCE:

Some carers responded in questionnaires that placing social workers do not always give them enough background information on children and young people when they are initially placed with them. One carer spoken with said Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 11 that they insist on having the full information prior to agreeing to look after a child or young person in their home. The majority of foster carers said that they receive appropriate medical information about the young people and confirmed that they receive training on health, hygiene and first aid and medication training. A foster carer support group was attended during the inspection and there was a guest speaker who addressed sexual health issues with them and provided useful information that foster carers could take away with them. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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):

Overall, there are sound systems in place that make sure that children and young people are safely cared for. The allegations procedure is not clear to all foster carers. Exemptions need to be properly audited.

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EVIDENCE:

The policy for the recruitment and selection of personnel in the service are properly maintained and the manager has many years experience of working in children’s services and is suitably qualified. A sample of staff files were seen and contained completed application forms, proof of identification, written references and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) clearance and registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC). The managers and fostering officers are qualified within their disciplines and discussions with them indicated that they were professional and committed to making sure that the needs of children and young people were being met in safe and secure placements.

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EVIDENCE:

During the inspection, four foster carer’s homes were visited. The accommodation was found to be well decorated and comfortable, providing a good standard of accommodation to children and young people. Health and safety checks were undertaken and discussed during carer’s reviews. The foster carers were made aware that an inspector would be visiting them to discuss their experience of the service and all of them gave their views on the service. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 13 Discussions took place with members from the fostering service about the matching of carers with children and young people. A high number of foster carers responded in their questionnaires that they have been asked to take a child and young person in an emergency. Placing social workers also commented in questionnaires that there were not enough resources to prevent inappropriate placements being made. The manager reported in their pre-

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EVIDENCE:

inspection questionnaire that a number of exemptions were made as a result of limited resources. The managers spoken with from the different teams said that referral for exemptions are now electronically mailed to the relevant fostering officers to inform them that they have an additional placement. Exemptions and risk assessments were not properly audited. There was no evidence seen that showed how gaps in matches following an exemption would be met.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers spoken with from short break and respite schemes and from their returned questionnaires commented that placements made were well matched and that they had good relationships with their families, who remained fully involved with their children.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service manager, staff and some foster carers said that there are not enough placements within the authority to meet the needs of children and young people from Black and minority ethnic groups. The unit is working to address this shortfall through their ‘Black and Minority Ethnic’ (BME) recruitment plan with a designated BME fostering officers to recruit and support Black and Asian carers. Black and minority ethnic children and young people placed in white carer households are visited by BME workers and an assessment of the additional support that will need to be put in place is made. One white foster carer spoken with said that they received no specific support when caring for two Black children and this matter was raised with the manager at the end of the inspection. This is an area that the service needs to review to make sure that the needs of children and young people from Black

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EVIDENCE:

and minority ethnic communities in transracial placements are being met and is an area for the authority needs to continue to identify ways in which such placements can be properly supported.

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EVIDENCE:

A number of carers confirmed in their questionnaires and in conversation that they have had training in child protection and were clear about their duty to protect children and young people. A large number of placing social workers confirmed in returned questionnaires that they were satisfied that the children and young people placed by them were safe in their foster placements. The fostering service works with the local authority child protection unit, who deal with all child protection matters referred to them, including allegations of abuse by foster carers. Minutes of foster carer strategy meeting were seen and records were kept by the fostering service and the Child Protection Unit. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 14 The authority has clear policies and procedures regarding children and young people missing from home. They also have good links with a number of

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EVIDENCE:

voluntary agencies specialising in countering young people’s involvement in prostitution. Safe caring guidelines are contained in the foster carer handbook, however safe care policies for each household need to be implemented and kept current with respect to all foster care households.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers spoken with about allegations said that they were not aware of the allegation procedure and some had no confidence that they would be supported if they were subject to an allegation made against them. The Leeds Foster Carer Association (LFCA) offers support to carers during the investigation of allegations and foster carers subjected to an allegation can access formal legal support.

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EVIDENCE:

A fostering panel meeting was observed and the documents discussed at the meeting were made available in advance. The panel membership was well represented with the exception of an elected member. The organisation has since recruited three elected members who will be invited to attend future panels.

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EVIDENCE:

The Chair is very experienced and has worked at a senior level in children’s services for a number of years. The discussions observed at the panel meeting was thorough and the decision making clear. Some carers and their children attended panel and contributed to the process and the chair addressed them in a person friendly and courteous manner. The Chair makes sure that managers receive information about any issues raised by panel. The Agency decision maker said they were happy with the quality of assessments that were taken to panel and there were systems in place to address any disagreements that may occur. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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 fostering service recognises the need to promote diversity. Children and young people are supported and encouraged to attend school and to reach their full potential. Short-term breaks are flexible and recognise the central role of the parent to the care plan of their children.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has plans in place to address issues of diversity and equal opportunity and some of this was included in foster care training. A large number of placing social workers commented in their returned questionnaires that they were satisfied that the needs of children and young people were being met in foster placement. Carers in the foster care support group talked in detail about how they promote the self-worth and confidence of the young people and described how they engage young people in a variety of activities in the community that reflect their needs.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers looking after children and young people with disabilities were clear about how they would promote their welfare and made appropriate requests for additional equipment as needed and as supported by the fostering policy. Some foster carers, however, commented that they did not always receive the equipment that they needed in a timely manner.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service continues to work closely with ‘Education Leeds’ to make sure that young people receive education that is appropriate to their needs and that they remain in education; specialist workers are available to assist and support this process. Carers spoken with and listened to at the foster care Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 16 support group were positive about the education of the young people and were involved in their educational plans. Personal Educational Plans were seen on young people’s file.

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EVIDENCE:

In their responses to questionnaires, young people said that carers help them with homework and other schooling matters.

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EVIDENCE:

The local authority provides a range of short breaks services to families and these continue to be properly managed, including shared care, support care and assessment schemes. The co-ordinator for the short breaks service explained the assessment, matching and review process with the emphasis on the family maintaining full responsibility for their child and being fully involved in their care planning.

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EVIDENCE:

The authority provides a fostering and long term/shared care scheme for children with disabilities and their families, which is separately managed by the adult resources department. Carers who responded to questionnaires and one carer visited during the inspection on the whole, expressed satisfaction with the support offered to them and indicated that good relationships with families had been formed. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.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):

The fostering service promotes contact between children and their families and friends, with good support provided by foster carers. Carers and young people are given frequent opportunities to express their views about how the service is run.

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EVIDENCE:

There was evidence throughout the inspection that foster carers promote positive family contact and that the fostering service makes sure that these issues were included in the foster care agreement and the fostering policy.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers who were visited also described the ways in which they have helped to support children and young people to keep in contact with their parents and also form good relationships with families. Placing social workers indicated in their questionnaires that they understood the importance to children and young people to maintain contact with parents and families, when this is part of their care plan.

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EVIDENCE:

A large number of foster carers reported in returned questionnaires that they felt consulted about important decisions made about children and young people in their care. Similarly, a large number of children and young people who responded to the questionnaire said that they were asked for their opinions by the fostering service and were also asked for their opinions about how the service could be improved. Children and young people’s files also showed clear evidence of consultation with their families and significant others. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 18

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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 carer payments are made promptly, however, some expenses are not always made on time. The current payment system is said to be overbearing. The authority has devised a new payments scheme that is due to be started later in the year.

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EVIDENCE:

Some carers said that they found the current payment system confusing and unclear and one carer described the system as ‘bureaucratic’ although the majority of carers expressed the view that they received their payments on time. However, a few carers said that they had to wait a while for payment of expenses to be refunded to them and in some instances having to wait months for these payments, for example, car mileage.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service is to implement a new fee structure for carers although at the time of the inspection there was some uncertainty about the exact date when the scheme would be brought in. The payments are based on four levels of competency and will be paid to foster carers in recognition of their skills and training. Foster carers spoken with said that they were aware of this scheme and had been asked to give their views. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 19

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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):

The fostering service is appropriately managed and staff members are supervised at regular intervals. The staff members have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to work with children and young people and to support the foster carers. Some carers do not have an allocated supervising fostering officer. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 20

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EVIDENCE:

Managers and fostering officers are suitably qualified and appropriately experienced. Some of the staff have taken up new posts in the restructured teams or remained in their posts.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering officers spoken with said that they received regular supervision at appropriate intervals by their managers. Some of the fostering officers indicated that they held a caseload of up to 25 to 30, which included support to family network carers. Fostering officers said that they did ‘a bit of everything’ and said that they had more work and were often expected to do many assessments at once. The majority of foster carers who responded to the questionnaires commented that although they felt that fostering officers did a good job, there were not enough of them in the team.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has a worker who is responsible for recruiting carers. This worker uses a number of methods to recruit foster carers such as advertisements in the press, radio and public transport, word of mouth, etc. The worker monitors the feedback of potential carers who contact the fostering service, which helps target advertising campaigns. There is a detailed information pack available and website access for people who wish to know more about fostering. At the time of the inspection, there was a focus on the recruitment of fee paid permanency carers, carers from BME communities and remand carers. It is envisaged that these strategies aim to help the fostering service improve matches for children/young people and therefore improving their experiences of foster care. A small number of foster carers who responded in their questionnaires about the recruitment process said that the service should advertise more and target more people from different

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EVIDENCE:

Assessment of foster carers was completed on the fostering ‘Form F’ document and was skills based. This document provided a clear and detailed picture of potential foster carers and their ability to look after and protect vulnerable children and young people. These included an assessment of their views about diversity and equality issues. Although the majority of foster carer expressed no concerns about the assessment process, some of the questionnaires received from foster carers revealed that they felt the assessment process was ‘slow’, ‘too long’ and ‘erratic’. One foster carer suggested that experienced foster carers should be involved in the final stages of the assessment process and mentor new foster carers.

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EVIDENCE:

The majority of carers spoken with or who returned questionnaires said that they felt ‘very satisfied’ with the support they received by the fostering teams and typical comments made suggested that foster carers could contact the fostering teams if they had a problem to discuss any issues. A small number of carers responded in their questionnaires that they had been without a Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 21 supervising social worker for up to a year or were just visited annually, although they also said that they had been able to get support from the team when they needed it. There was evidence that carers are visited regularly and carer’s and fostering officers confirmed this view. Foster carer reviews were taking place annually and these reviews were not independently chaired. The fostering service has recognised the shortfall in their reviewing system and

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EVIDENCE:

some of the comments made by different people in the service supports that there needs to be a greater degree of independence.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has devised new foster placement agreements and foster care agreements and these were being implemented at the time of the inspection. A large number of placing social workers confirmed in returned questionnaires that they were aware of the foster placement agreement, felt fully consulted and agreed with the contents of the agreement and were also of the opinion that foster carers were looking after the children/young people in accordance with the written agreement.

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EVIDENCE:

There is an ‘out of hours’ Emergency Duty Team and a ‘365’ telephone support line created by foster carers for foster carers who need advice and support about issues that they may have, with the exception of child protection matters.

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EVIDENCE:

Overall, the files seen contained the ‘Looked After Children’ (LAC) documents and other relevant paperwork. As previously mentioned, some foster carers commented that information or documents were not always promptly received by some placing social workers and information about risky behaviour was not always shared with them. Other foster carers said that they were generally aware about the circumstances leading up to the placements and they were expected to keep records and these were to be stored securely. Separate foster care records were kept by the fostering service and these were well maintained, and included the foster care assessment and the records gave a clear picture about how foster carers and their placements were progressing and reviewed.

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EVIDENCE:

Managers said that fostering officers have access to computers. It was noted though, that not all files showed evidence of management audits. The fostering service keeps a central record of complaints and allegations against foster carers and staff in the fostering service, although some of these records were difficult to read.

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EVIDENCE:

The computerised data base system for the storage of information needs to be improved so that information can be easily found and is accurate. This is a flaw that the services is aware about and needs to address, which is vital due to the size of the area that the fostering service covers.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering managers are based at the city council headquarter office in the centre of Leeds and the building is kept secure with visible security present Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 22 and card systems to access the various departments. The various fostering teams are located in separate offices in the area, close to the area social work teams.

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EVIDENCE:

There was evidence to show that the authority considers family and friends as first choice carers for children and young people, where this is appropriate and in the overall best interests of children and young people. The manager reported that the Family Network Carer system approves carers through assessment by the child or young person’s social worker and the fostering officer. Family Network Carers are paid the same maintenance rate as mainstream carers and have access to training opportunities. Support is offered by the fostering service but is limited and comments made by Family Network carers during interviews and their returned questionnaires indicate that they have found support from the fostering service when they have needed it. However, the local authority needs to make sure that all Family Network Carers have an allocated fostering officer and that a kinship carers group is pursued as planned by the local authority.

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EVIDENCE:

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

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

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

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

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

BEING HEALTHY ACHIEVING ECONOMIC Standard No Score WELLBEING 12 3 Standard No Score 14 x STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 2 1 x 9 3 2 x 15 3 4 x 30 3 5 x 16 x ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 3 Standard No Score 18 x 7 3 19 x 13 3 20 x 31 3 21 3 22 3 MAKING A POSITIVE 23 X CONTRIBUTION 24 3 Standard No Score 25 2 10 3 26 3 11 3 27 x 28 x 32 2 Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 24 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes

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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 FS8 33 The service must make sure that each child/young person is appropriately placed with the carer. 27/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

2 FS8 33 The service must make sure that the needs of children and young people in trans racial or trans community placements are met and these details must be recorded. 31/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

3 FS25 31 The computerised system for keeping records must be improved to make sure that information is up to date and can be easily found. 27/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

4 FS32 19 The local authority must make sure that each Family Network carer has an allocated fostering worker. 27/10/06

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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 Good Practice Recommendations Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 25 Standard 1 FS9 Safe Caring guidelines should be implemented in all foster carer households. 2 FS9 The allegation procedure should be made known to all foster carers. Leeds City Council Fostering Service DS0000051076.V266111.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 26

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

Aire House Town Street Rodley Leeds LS13 1HP

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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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