Chrysalis Consortium Ltd

Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Chrysalis Consortium Ltd 1 Chrysalis Consortium Limited

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48 Wolstenholm Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1LL

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This fostering agency is privately owned and was registered in November 2012. The service provides therapeutic foster placements for children who have experienced trauma and/or abuse and who may have attachment difficulties.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 15 January 2018

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This monitoring visit

This agency was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 15 to 19 January 2018. At that inspection, three of the 10 requirements were escalated to compliance. One compliance notice related to promoting the welfare of children who had been placed with foster carers. The second compliance notice related to the manager having strong and effective systems for monitoring and overseeing all aspects of how the agency operates. The third compliance notice related to the provider sending notifications to the appropriate person or agency without delay. The provider and the manager have put in place an action plan to address the three compliance notices. The monitoring visit identified improvements that demonstrate that all of the three notices have been met. There have been no new placements made by the agency since the last inspection. The manager has completed an audit of all current placements. She has satisfied

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This monitoring visit

herself that children are placed with foster carers who meet their terms of approval. Her review of the foster carer register ensures that the agency holds accurate information. The manager’s review of the agency’s matching policy should improve all future matching decisions of children with foster carers. It also makes the decision-making by the agency regarding matching more explicit before a match is approved. An audit of all the children’s risk assessments and behaviour management plans has resulted in improvements to ensure that individualised information provides clearer guidance to foster carers. Stringent pet risk assessments are suitably detailed and up to date. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Chrysalis Consortium Ltd 2 The agency has implemented an online signature system that prompts all of the people who are involved in a child’s plans to sign to confirm that they understand

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This monitoring visit

and agree to the information in the plan. A new escalation policy for those who fail to sign the documentation ensures that the manager maintains a clear audit trail. These improvements ensure that the manager has better oversight of all foster carers and the welfare of the children who are placed with them. The manager has acknowledged that the monitoring systems that she used previously needed to improve. She has implemented a new system that supports her to be responsive to and act on trends and patterns. For example, physical intervention practices are supported by a review of the policy, restraint documents and better management oversight of physical interventions. The temporary suspension of physical restraint has helped the manager to perform a full audit of physical interventions. It has also allowed her to carry out the external delivery of refresher Team Teach training to foster carers. The training is up to date, with the

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This monitoring visit

exception of foster carers who do not require restraint training due to the stability and longevity of their placements. However, this rationale is not included in the specific child’s risk or behaviour management plan. Although there is no negative impact on children’s safety and welfare, this omission does not clearly record the reasons why some foster carers do not receive the training. Following a management audit of files, the majority of children now have care plans in place. The agency’s escalation policy has identified the care plans that had not been received. All significant event notifications have been sent retrospectively to Ofsted. The manager acknowledges the importance of notifying Ofsted and any other appropriate person or agency without delay. The manager has implemented a system for monitoring all incident reports. This system is helping her to cross-reference incidents with any physical interventions. It

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This monitoring visit

allows for identification of any trends or patterns and allows notifications of significant events to the appropriate authority. The imminent restraint training should ensure that the agency’s staff and foster carers understand the expectations. These are underpinned by the policies and procedures relating to notifiable events and incidents. In addressing these issues, the manager is decreasing the risk of harm to children and increasing Ofsted’s ability to continually monitor incidents and the action taken by the agency. The requirements set at the last inspection have been met by the agency. The agency’s statement of purpose has been sent to Ofsted. A copy of the document is on the agency’s website. The manager and senior management team are keeping the document under review. A full audit of the foster care register has been completed. However, the statutory provision under which a specific child is placed is missing from the records. This

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This monitoring visit

does not secure all of the required information. A range of generic and bespoke training is planned for all those involved in the panel process. This promotes rigorous quality assurance of the work that is presented to Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Chrysalis Consortium Ltd 3 panel for consideration and recommendation. A review of the agency’s policy, procedure and practice ensures that the views of foster carers, children and the responsible authorities are consistently sought and recorded to inform foster carers’ reviews. A formal review of the manager’s time management, workload and role priorities is supporting her to deliver safer and more effective management oversight of the agency. This is enhanced by a range of internal and independent service reviews to ensure that there is transparency and more reliable quality assurance systems. A service development plan is helping the manager and the agency’s directors to focus

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This monitoring visit

on continuing and sustaining improvements. The manager’s response to the recommendations now makes the deputising arrangements in her absence much clearer. Improvements in managing allegations against foster carers ensure that any foster carers who have complaints made about them have access to clearer information, advice and support. A workshop for staff and foster carers on delegated authority has been arranged to ensure that carers know what authority they have to make everyday decisions relating to the children in their care. The manager has made provision during the matching process to consult with the social worker of any existing child placed in the foster carer’s home. This promotes placement stability. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Chrysalis Consortium Ltd 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, the 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 fostering service provider must maintain and keep up to date the records specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 22(1)) This includes the statutory provision under which the child is placed. 31/05/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person takes action to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them. (NMS 25.8) This is with specific reference to recording in children’s records the rationale for foster carers that do not receive refresher restraint training.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the independent fostering agency since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Chrysalis Consortium Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 48 Wostenholm Road, Sheffield S7 1LL

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Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, social care inspector Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Chrysalis Consortium Ltd 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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