Supported Fostering Services

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 1 Supported Fostering Services The Supported Fostering Services Charitable Trust Supported Fostering Services, 26–27 The Hill, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent DA11 9EU Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Supported Fostering Services (SFS) was established in 1995 as a non-profit making organisation and then reconstituted as a registered charity in 2001. The Kent branch is one of three carried on by the organisation and as such approves and supports carers that live within Kent and the South East of England. SFS offer and support placements across the range, including short- and long-term placements, respite, permanency, time-limited and emergency placements. During 2016–17, the agency had 48 children in placements, 42 of whom were still with the agency as at 31 March 2017. As at 31 March 2017, the service had 62 fostering households, with 98 approved individual foster carers offering 138 fostering places.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The independent fostering agency provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the independent fostering agency contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This independent fostering agency is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Strong leadership and management ensure that the agency is highly effective at placing children and young people with skilled foster carers who are able to meet children’s and young people’s needs.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There is a well-coordinated response to young people who are at risk of becoming sexually exploited or going missing from care. Effective strategies are in place to minimise the risks to these young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Imaginative practice ensures that children, young people and their foster carers develop the skills and knowledge to keep safe when accessing the internet and social media sites.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people develop strong attachments to their foster carers; this increases their sense of security and stability.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Practice in relation to disabled children and young people is highly developed.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager drives forward innovative, research-based practice. There is a strong emphasis on providing therapeutic foster care placements.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people have access to specialist support from education and therapy professionals.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The physical and mental health needs of children and young people are exceptionally well met.

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Key findings from this inspection

 There is a strong commitment to ensuring continued professional development for both staff and foster carers.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The agency decision maker is highly effective in her role.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Foster carers receive excellent support from the agency; new foster carers are prepared well for taking on the role.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The comprehensive matching process minimises the potential for foster placement breakdowns.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The views and wishes of children and young people are highly valued and are acted upon where it is appropriate to do so.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The majority of children and young people make exceptional progress across all aspects of their lives.

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Key findings from this inspection

The independent fostering agency’s areas for development: Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 3  Ensuring consistency when responding to safeguarding concerns.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Improving foster carers’ safe care policies.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Providing information to Ofsted. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11 (a)) Specifically, ensure that foster carers report safeguarding or welfare concerns immediately to the agency, and that this information is then immediately passed on to the relevant placing authority. Ensure that foster carers’ safe care policies contain effective strategies for protecting all children and young people from harm. 18/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on request, to any local authority. (Regulation 35 (2)) Specifically, ensure that copies of quality of care review reports are submitted to Ofsted. 18/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. 18/05/2018

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Recommendations

 The fostering service works effectively in partnership with other agencies concerned with child protection, e.g. the responsible authority, schools, hospitals, general practitioners, etc., and does not work in isolation from them. (National minimum standards 4.7) Specifically, liaise with the responsible authority to ensure that children and young people are referred to specialist support agencies when appropriate. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 5  There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. This includes the financial viability of the service, any serious incidents, allegations or complaints about the service and ensuring the quality of the service. (National minimum standards 25.1) Specifically, ensure that concerns raised by foster carers are recorded as complaints, when it is appropriate to do so.

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Recommendations

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 6

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outstanding

The vast majority of children and young people placed with this agency form strong, secure relationships with their foster carers. They feel part of the foster carers’ family and develop an enduring sense of security. As a result, most children and young people make exceptional progress in terms of their emotional well-being, addressing unsafe behaviours and in their education and health. Several young people referred to their foster carers as being like a mum and dad, and one young person told the inspector that his foster carers are ‘lovely and supportive’.

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outstanding

Children and young people speak positively about the agency and the staff who work for it. This is attributable to a strong commitment from the staff to listen to the views of children and young people and to take their views seriously. A concerted effort is made to ensure that children and young people who do not communicate verbally have alternative methods to make their views know. Children and young people feel valued by the agency. One young person, who is now living independently but is still receiving support from her former foster carer, said that she wanted to continue her involvement with various activities and events arranged by the agency. She spoke positively about hosting the agency’s recent children’s and young people’s awards event.

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outstanding

Arrangements are made for children and young people to receive as much information as possible about the agency and about their prospective foster carers before they are placed. This includes age-appropriate guides and information packs. The quality of family profile booklets that are given to children and young people is variable. Some are excellent in terms of making it explicit why the family wishes to foster the child, but others fail to do this. The registered manager recognises that the quality of some of these profiles could be improved and is committed to doing so.

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outstanding

The agency is committed to ensuring that children and young people are provided with the right educational provision to meet their needs. The agency’s education consultant is a strong advocate for children and young people and provides effective liaison between the agency and education authorities. This has ensured that children’s and young people’s education, care and health plans are completed in a timely way and this prevents delay in children obtaining a school place. The education consultant also provides home tuition as a temporary measure when this is required. Foster carers communicate well with education professionals, and in one case this resulted in bullying behaviour being addressed effectively.

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outstanding

Children’s and young people’s physical and mental health needs are afforded equal priority. Many examples of excellent practice were identified. For example, the commitment shown by a foster carer who is looking after a child with complex health needs has resulted in the child making unexpected and significant progress in terms of mobility and language skills. Foster carers are also skilled in promoting a Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 7 healthy lifestyle with teenagers. As a result, some young people have effectively addressed weight issues and have been persuaded not to take up smoking.

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outstanding

The agency commissions two therapists to undertake therapeutic work with children and young people, where this is in accordance with their care plan. This has resulted in some young people experiencing improved emotional well-being and greater self- esteem. Therapeutic intervention has been particularly effective with young people who experience low self-esteem in relation to their ethnicity and cultural background. The therapists are also available to support and advise staff and foster carers on how to manage challenging situations. The agency engages positively with other professionals who support young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

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outstanding

Highly effective partnership working with placing authority social workers ensures that children’s and young people’s care plans accurately reflect their individual needs and that the care that they receive will enhance their life chances. One social worker said: ‘I love working with this agency; they are always quick to respond to any requests made and they offer a very high level of support to children and foster carers.’

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outstanding

The agency ensures that children and young people are able to access a wide range of activities and new experiences. These range from family days out to leisure attractions and quieter activities like film nights and fishing trips. These have been popular with children and young people who are fostered and with the foster carers’ birth children. Children and young people are consulted regarding future social events and are asked for feedback on the activities that they have taken part in.

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outstanding

The foster carer assessments examined during this inspection were evaluative and well presented. They give a clear indication of the strengths and weaknesses of the foster carer and specify areas for development. However, leaders and managers have identified that in some assessments there is insufficient analysis of the information that has been gathered. There is a clear plan for ensuring continuous improvement in the standard of foster carer assessment reports.

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outstanding

The foster carers are highly motivated to ensure that children and young people have the best possible outcomes. They treat children and young people with dignity and respect, particularly when it comes to challenging unsafe behaviours. As a result, children and young people feel valued and this maximises their potential to overcome past disruption and trauma in their lives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The need to safeguard and protect children and young people from harm is prioritised across all aspects of practice. A strong safeguarding culture ensures that managers and staff regularly update their knowledge and skills in keeping children and young people safe. Foster carers share this commitment and quickly identify any signs that a child or young person could be at risk of harm. For example, foster carers have responded quickly to indications of bullying, unsafe internet use, possible exploitation and young people potentially being influenced by extremist Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 8 views.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Although foster carers generally take prompt action when a safeguarding concern emerges, there was one occasion when a delay occurred. As a result, the agency, and subsequently other external safeguarding professionals, was not in a position to assess the welfare of a child in a timely way. This was an isolated incident, and the child did not come to any harm as a result of the shortfall.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff and foster carers have a detailed knowledge of each child’s and young person’s needs, vulnerabilities and the associated risks. Individual risk assessments contain clear strategies for foster carers to follow so that the potential for the child or young person to come to harm, or for them to harm others, is minimised. This high standard of risk assessment and management is not consistently reflected in all foster carers’ safe care policies. The purpose of these policies is to ensure that the day-to-day care of children and young people does not compromise their safety in the home. Some of these policies do not identify sufficiently specific routines or measures that would effectively address children’s and young people’s unsafe behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Each foster carer’s safe care policy is contained within their family profile document. The family profile provides children and young people with information about the family, prior to them moving in. As a result, the safe care element of the document is not specific to each child’s or young person’s needs. The family profile and safe care policy serve two different purposes. If they were single documents, the safe care policy could be personalised to meet the needs of each individual child, and would be a more effective tool for promoting safe care at home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a coordinated response to young people who go missing from their foster homes. Agreed procedures for reporting episodes of going missing are followed, and foster carers are proactive in their attempts to locate the young person at the earliest opportunity. This strong practice is partly attributable to the comprehensive training provided to staff and foster carers, which clearly reflects the statutory guidance for children who go missing.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The agency’s response to young people who are identified as at risk of becoming sexually exploited is strong. Staff and foster carers actively participate in multi- agency planning meetings to reduce the risk, and fully implement agreed strategies for protecting the young person. Agency managers effectively challenge professionals when they feel more could be done to reduce the level of risk. For example, placing authorities have been encouraged to take action to disrupt young people’s relationships which are known to be unsafe. Despite this overall good practice, one case was identified where more could have been done to ensure that the young person was referred to support projects, even though the risk of being drawn into an abusive relationship had significantly decreased.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The risks that children and young people can be exposed to when accessing the internet are understood by staff and foster carers. The agency has run workshops designed to raise children’s and young people’s awareness of the potential dangers when using social media sites, and foster carers’ birth children have been included in Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 9 these. Some foster carers have completed internet safety training courses alongside the foster child, and this approach has ensured that an open dialogue has taken place around keeping safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carers receive training and guidance which assists them in developing effective behaviour management strategies. In particularly complex cases, supervising social workers can refer to an external behaviour consultant, who will then advise the foster carers on how to manage challenging situations. During this inspection, foster carers were undertaking therapeutic foster care training, and they spoke positively about how the course is giving them a greater understanding of the underlying reasons for challenging behaviour. They also said that the course was providing them with a range of new de-escalation techniques, which they would be implementing with the children and young people they are looking after. The children and young people spoken to during this inspection were unanimous in the view that any sanctions imposed by their foster carers for poor behaviour are fair.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The recruitment and approval of foster carers is underpinned by a commitment to keeping children and young people safe. Potential foster carers complete a range of training courses, with an emphasis on safeguarding, while going through the assessment process. Their progress on these courses is taken into account in the approval process. As a result, new foster carers have the knowledge and skills to keep children and young people safe when their first placement is made.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All children and young people spoken to during this inspection said that they feel safe in their foster homes, and could speak to their foster carers about any worries that they may have. Children and young people also form positive relationships with the foster carers’ supervising social worker, and many said that they could also speak to the supervising social worker about any concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations against foster carers are rare, and prompt action is taken when an allegation is made. The registered manager works effectively with other professionals to ensure that investigations are effective and undertaken in a timely way. Following the resolution of an allegation, detailed planning takes place to ensure that the foster carer remains suitable and well prepared to continue in the fostering role. In one complex case, this involved a new assessment being presented to the fostering panel and therapeutic work being undertaken with the foster carer.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Regular health and safety checks of foster carers’ homes are undertaken. These are detailed and are an effective way of identifying potential hazards. Any shortfalls in relation to storing medication are quickly picked up. Supervising social workers ensure that foster carers respond quickly to any recommendations made. This approach ensures that children and young people live a safe environment where their well-being is prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The agency is exceptionally well led by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. She is supported by an operations manager who maintains oversight of the quality assurance and commissioning functions. The agency is Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 10 sufficiently staffed by a stable and committed team of supervising social workers and fostering panel members. There is a good range of expertise among the panel membership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are committed to providing excellent services to children and young people which will meet their varied and complex needs. Staff and foster carers are able to access the support of an education consultant, therapists and a behaviour consultant, and these specialists also undertake individual work with children and young people. Developing the knowledge and skills of staff is also a priority. One supervising social worker has taken on the role of child sexual exploitation adviser and an experienced foster carer has become a trained child exploitation and online protection (CEOP) ambassador.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are strong systems for monitoring the quality of care being provided. These include obtaining feedback from all stakeholders and undertaking frequent file audits. Regular quality of care monitoring takes place, and the associated reports provide a critical analysis of how standards are being met. Detailed action plans are used to address any weaknesses that are identified. However, the agency has not been submitting the quality of care reports to Ofsted. Prompt and effective action is taken when concerns are raised about the performance of staff, including panel members, but on one occasion a concern was not logged as a complaint, when it would have been appropriate to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager demonstrates a commitment to developing innovative practice and to engaging with research projects. The agency now provides a highly developed service for disabled children and young people. Foster carers who are looking after disabled children and young people receive excellent practical support to ensure that the placement is sustainable. A skilled and knowledgeable supervising social worker ensures that disabled children and young people have access to specialist services and that they receive any benefits that they may be entitled to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff and foster carers feel well supported. Staff supervision provides an opportunity for them to reflect on their practice and to evaluate how well children’s and young people’s needs are being met. Safeguarding issues are consistently reviewed during the supervision process. The agency provides a comprehensive training programme for staff, foster carers and fostering panel members. Many foster carers said that any requests for specific training, such as supporting young people with sexually harmful behaviours, is received positively and is acted upon in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager oversees a highly effective system for matching children and young people with foster carers who can meet their needs. Records clearly indicate that all relevant information from the placing authority is analysed at the time that the referral is made, and the rationale for making the placement is explained. Foster carers say that they never feel under pressure to accept a child or young person and that there is a positive response to any requests that they make for additional information before making a decision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The agency fostering panel functions well and carefully scrutinises foster care Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 11 assessments and annual reviews. The panel chairperson ensures that all panel members feel empowered to question the assessing social worker, and the foster carer, when there is a lack of clarity in reports. The agency decision maker has significant experience and is highly effective in her role. The registered manager responds positively to feedback from the panel. As a result, there is a collective understanding of the need to ensure that foster carer assessments always contain a sufficient level of critical analysis of the foster carer’s suitability to look after vulnerable children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s and young people’s case files are well maintained. They provide a detailed account of any concerns for the child’s or young person’s safety and well-being, and the actions that have been taken to address these. The plans for the child’s or young person’s long-term care are clearly defined, and there is an easy to follow chart that demonstrates the progress that the child or young person is making. Foster carers who may struggle to maintain high standards of recording are given excellent support by their supervising social worker. This is indicative of the agency’s commitment to support foster carers and it also ensures that the quality of records is not compromised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers maintain productive working relationships with placing authorities. One local authority commissioning manager said: ‘The agency is highly responsive, and always tries to accommodate our needs.’ The registered manager demonstrates a thorough understanding of the needs of placing authorities, particularly in terms of the demand for foster carers with specific skills. There has been a drop in the number of children and young people placed with the agency over the last year. Leaders and managers have analysed the reasons for this and have a detailed action plan to raise the number of children and young people being looked after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that placing authority social workers are kept fully informed of any concerns for a child’s or young person’s well-being. This was confirmed by the social workers and the independent reviewing officer who was consulted during this inspection. However, two examples were identified where Ofsted was not informed of a notifiable event. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 12

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the independent fostering agency knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 13

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: The Supported Fostering Services Charitable Trust

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Supported Fostering Services, 26–27 The Hill, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent DA11 9EU

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Inspector(s)

Stephen Collett: social care inspector Sophie Wood: regulatory inspection manager Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Supported Fostering Services 14 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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