Fostering Services (Doncaster)

Fostering Services (Doncaster) Inspection report for la fostering agency

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SC046856 Unique reference number 28 January 2008 Inspection date Jacqueline Malcolm / Sarah Urding Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Address Directorate of Social Services PO Box 251 Doncaster South Yorkshire DN1 3DA 01302 737789 Telephone number

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Email

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Registered person

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Registered manager

Tom Common Responsible individual 29 January 2007 Date of last inspection .

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Registered manager

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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Registered manager

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 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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Brief description of the service

Doncaster fostering service provides foster carers who are recruited, trained, assessed, supervised and reviewed by the service. They form part of a full range of accommodation for looked after children and young people in the area.

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Summary

The purpose of this inspection was to check the progress of the service against all of the five outcome areas under the Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people. Actions and recommendations made at the last inspections were also reviewed. There are a number of strengths in the service. However, a number of significant weakness relating to staying safe and organisation has impacted on overall outcomes for children and young people. The overall quality rating is inadequate. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The organisation was asked to ensure that the Statement of Purpose includes information about complaints and be formally approved by elected members. This has been done. The organisation was also asked to review the staff personnel files to ensure they are meeting the regulations, and safeguard the welfare of children and young people. This has not been done and raises concerns over recruitment practices. This matter has been raised at previous inspections. Most of the good practice recommendations have been met. However, matching considerations are not routinely recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children and young people's health needs are well met and they are thriving. Their foster carers encourage healthy eating and exercise. Most have up to date health plans, completed with health visitors or the 'Looked After Children' (LAC) nurse. Foster carers understand and manage children and young people's health conditions. This is good, given that some foster carers do not always receive full health information. Foster carers ensure that children and young people are registered with the doctor, dentist and optician. They are supported to attend health appointments. Foster carers who look after babies speak positively about health visitor contacts and they say they give lots of health advice. Comments made by children and young people indicate that they get support and advice about being healthy. Typical comments include, 'I am very healthy so I don't always need advice or even have to go to the doctors'. Medication

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Helping children to be healthy

administered to children and young people is recorded, kept up to date and properly locked away. The progress of children and young people's health is monitored at their statutory reviews. Foster carers are trained in first aid, health and hygiene issues. Some foster carers have had specific training from mental health services. This ensures they are properly meeting children and young people's needs. The service discourages smoking. In future, foster carers who smoke will not be allowed to care for children under five years old. The service has developed a clear smoking policy to inform all foster carers about their position. Children and young people who live out of authority experience a lack of co-ordination between the different health authorities. This causes delay in them having access to the health services they need. There are also gaps in health services provided to young people who are 16 and over.

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Helping children to be healthy

4 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. The manager is suitable to run the service and has recently completed further management training. The service carries out its own recruitment of foster carers. This is good, transparent practice. The service also carries out Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks, and some follow up telephone calls of staff and foster carers. This is a safe system. The personnel files of the fostering team are held with the organisations personnel department. These fail to show the checks done to ensure the safe recruitment of staff. The safety and welfare of children and young people is compromised in the absence of robust and safe recruitment practices. Visits to some foster care households indicate that children and young people are cared for in safe, caring and nurturing environments. Foster carers know how to protect the health and safety of children and young people. Health and safety checks, including risk assessments of animals,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are done and reviewed annually. This ensures that any changes to households or placement are taken into account. Children and young people sharing rooms are also risk assessed to ensure their needs are safeguarded. The practice of checking car insurance and MOT details of foster carers is routinely done and reviewed annually. The service uses a number of methods to appropriately match foster carers with children and young people. For example resource meetings. This is good. However, the matching process is not routinely recorded. This would reflect the decision making process and matching criteria used. Although in practice, placements are usually planned and a programme of introduction to the children, young people and their family is completed. Overall, placements are stable as a result of good matches. Foster carers are meeting the needs of children and young people in their care. Most foster carers confirm

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

that they have enough information to support placements. They demonstrate that they know the reasons for placements and the support they need to care for children and young people. Some foster carers have experienced placement breakdown due to lack of information, which has lead to inappropriate matches. Workers from the service chase up information from placing social workers to minimise this happening. Foster carer agreements do not make clear to foster carers the child protection responsibility. However, foster carers know how to keep children and young people safe and they are properly supported by the service. For example, regular supervisory visits and training. A chronology of significant events for foster carers is in place. This outlines issues occurring in the household which may impact upon foster carer's ability to provide care at any given time. This is good practice. Safe caring guidelines are not routinely

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

in place in all households. It is therefore not clear how safe practice is promoted. Foster carers are taking appropriate action to report children and young people who go missing. They are supported and advised by the service as appropriate. They are also aware about bullying behaviour and the impact this has on children and young people. Action is taken when this happens. Comments made by children and young people indicates they are not being bullied. Foster carers know that corporal punishment is not an accepted form of behaviour management. This aspect is explored during preparation training. Foster carers also sign the foster carer agreement to this effect. However, foster carers are not properly informed or trained about the action to take when a child or young person needs to be restrained as a last resort. The behaviour management policy is not clear and does not make explicit reference to restraint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This places children and young people at risk of harmful restraint and foster carers at risk of allegations. The fostering panel is properly conducted. It is operated in a robust and democratic manner, and all panel members contribute to good safeguarding mechanisms. The fostering panel has an effective quality assurance role. Recommendations are only made after full exploration of the issues presented, and reasons for recommendation are clearly recorded. 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008 Some fostering panel members recently attended a training workshop. Positive feedback was given. There is a vice chair vacancy that has not been filled.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The diverse needs of children and young people are met by foster carers. Fostering assessments explore with prospective foster carers, their ability to provide for all aspects of children and young people's needs. Assessments are thorough and explore potential obstacles. Children and young people are attending church and scout groups, which meets their religious needs. Foster carers looking after black children and young people are providing lots of positive cultural images around the home and positive role models. Children and young people with disabilities are properly supported and foster carers have had specific training. Foster carers are clearly aware of meeting individual needs in every case. Children and young people are involved in different activities that enhance their confidence and self-worth. For example young people are horse riding, visiting the theatre, taking annual holidays and joining various groups. Positive

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

comments received from placing social workers indicate their satisfaction with the opportunities available to children and young people. Comments include, "I am aware of foster carers that support young people with their talents, encouraging them to attend clubs and participate in appropriate activities". Foster carers recognise the value of a good education. They ensure that children and young people are given the best opportunities to reach their potential. The service works closely with the multi-agency LAC team. There are a number of projects that are up and running to promote children and young people's reintegration into education. For example, part time study programmes, incentive schemes to learn, and work based projects. Positive work is also undertaken by drugs and sexual health workers who link in and introduce themselves to young people not in school when they are engaged in these activity based projects. After

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

school clubs and holiday provisions are also available. Foster carers also have access to free books. Some young people have up to date Personal Education Plans (PEP) and some do not. It is therefore not clear how foster carer's contribute to their delivery. Foster carers are not routinely involved in the planning and implementation of these documents. The fostering service does not always chase up these documents on behalf of foster carers. There is no system for monitoring educational outcomes. This means that educational progress of children and young people in education cannot be monitored. The lack of placement agreements means that the financial responsibility for school equipment is not clear. Foster carers are attending reviews and educational need is highlighted.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Foster carers understand the importance of contact and actively promote it. The assessment process explores prospective foster carers views about contact. Contact arrangements are recorded and known to all. This ensures that children and young people have contact with family, friends and significant others. Some foster carers facilitate contact and provide transport to contact venues. Foster carers record the demeanour of children and young people on their return from contact. This is done thoroughly. Children and young people are consulted about the contact they are having, and this is revisited at their statutory reviews. The service ensures that foster carers understand the importance of listening to children and young people. Young people confirm that they are listened to by their foster carers. Children and young people who cannot express themselves are supported by foster carers who advocate on their behalf. Foster

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Helping children make a positive contribution

6 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008 carers attending statutory reviews are advocating for children and young people when they are not there. Foster carers are not afraid to act on behalf and support children and young people so that they get services they need. This is a positive reflection on the service as it operates in an open and inclusive way. Children and young people know how to complain. Typical comments include ."I will make sure the complaint doesn't get forgotten or I will complain until something gets sorted out". Children and young people also have access to the Children's Rights Service.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Leaving care services to young people aged 16 plus is delivered by an external agency. They work in partnership with the local authorities leaving care service. This is an effective arrangement and young people are benefiting from proactive services that meet their needs. Young people get referred close to their 16th birthday for pathway planning to take place. The organisation works primarily with the young person to take account of their views. The fostering service and foster carers are fully involved in this process. Foster carers are actively promoting opportunities for young people to develop their life skills. For example, learning budgeting skills. There is a clear commitment from the fostering service to support foster carers with this task. Excellent examples of user involvement and consultation is evident and ensures good outcomes for young people who use this service. Foster carers receive an allowance and agreed

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Achieving economic wellbeing

expenses are made to them. Payments are made, based on four levels of competency in recognition of their skills. This encourages retention. Foster carers said that they are reimbursed for any damage caused to their home by children and young people. Most foster carers say that they are satisfied with the payments that they receive from the service. This ensures that children and young people are properly looked after.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The organisation has been restructured and the fostering team know who they are accountable to. However, the levels of accountability in the local authority are not clearly understood and this impacts on the service. The Statement of Purpose sets out the services provided. It is updated annually and has been approved by elected members. The document does not make clear how many foster carers are supported by the service and how many children and young people are looked after. A young people's guide is available. However, this is not child friendly, which means that they may not understand what fostering is about. The service has reviewed its recruitment strategy for foster carers. It is targeting a diverse range of foster carers to meet the demand for teenagers and babies. The service uses various means to attract foster carers, for example, advertising campaigns, community contacts and internet access. The impact of

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Organisation

the recruitment strategy is monitored. There is also a retention strategy. This encourages foster care households to get involved in activities provided by the service and stay with the service. For example, arts and craft groups, free theatre ticket and football tickets; free access to museums and galleries and recognition events for children, young people and carers. This is positive and enjoyed by a number of foster carers, children and young people. Assessments of prospective foster carers are completed to a very good standard by the fostering team. Positive comments made by foster carers and panel members about assessments indicate a thorough, detailed and valuable process. Children and young people benefit from foster carers who are well supported by the service. Foster carers are regularly supervised by fostering social workers 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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Organisation

who can be contacted when foster carers need them. Foster carers commented positively about the support they receive. For example, "excellent support from our supervising social worker, even out of hours", "they are in regular contact with us to give us support", "they ask if there is anything we need to help us care for the children, for example extra monies or equipment". The fostering service are yet to develop appropriate support mechanisms for carers from minority ethnic backgrounds. Support groups are well attended by foster carers. The service family and friends foster carers are supported in the same way as mainstream foster carers. Most foster carers are accessing training to inform their practice. Some experienced foster carers are involved in the delivery of training to new foster carers. This is viewed as positive. Training has not been delivered to foster carers who have not had training in approved restraint techniques. This

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Organisation

increases the likelihood of unsafe management of challenging behaviour. Team members are qualified, experienced, competent and well retained. They have a positive attitude to their work, feel well supported and motivated. All team members, including the managers are regularly supervised and monitored. There are clear systems to manage and prioritise workloads. For example, family placement management and team meetings ensure that the service operates effectively. However, the levels of accountability are not clear beyond the functions of the fostering service. There is a significant shortfall in the lack of organisational service provision that impact directly on the fostering service. For example, there is a lack of control in decisions over personnel, policy and training resources. It is unclear where the responsibility for driving change and development lies. This is stifling the fostering service’s ability to function and

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Organisation

develop. Foster carers understand the need to manage information about children and young people safely. Foster carers spoken with understand the reasons for placements, and are aware about their responsibilities and what to record about children and young people. However, not all of the files contain all of the information details that would make up a placement agreement. This may not provide foster carers with enough details to enable the needs of children and young people to be met. The lack of other key documents, such as PEP's and health plans may have the same impact on outcomes for children and young people. Records are kept in a secure environment within the organisation and are only accessed by authorised personnel. Separate records are kept for staff, foster carers, children, complaints and allegations. The service does not routinely record outcomes of complaints to ensure a full overview of how they have been

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Organisation

handled. This means that it is difficult to assess accountability in practice and whether children and young people are fully safeguarded.

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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

31 March 2008 ensure the foster care agreements contains clear guidance about child protection responsibilities (Regulation 28) 30 May 2008 provide clear written information to foster carers on behaviour management and restraint (Regulation 13) 30 May 2008 provide restraint training for Foster Carers (Regulation 17) 9 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008 31 March 2008 submit and implement an action plan to show how recruitment files will meet Schedule 1 of the Fostering (Regulations 2002 (Schedule 1) 31 March 2008 ensure complaints in relation to children placed with foster carers and their outcomes are maintained (Regulation (42)(1) 30 May 2008 ensure all foster carers are provided with foster placement agreements (Regulation (34) (1) 30 April 2008 ensure all essential records are in place, properly monitored and accounted for (Regulation (42) (1) 30 June 2008 ensure the appointment of a vice chair (Regulation. (24) (4) 30

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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): • maintain links with health agencies to help foster carers secure services for children and young people (NMS 12.7) • ensure a safe care policy is implemented in all foster care households (NMS 9.3) • ensure the matching process is recorded and reflects the decsion making process and matching criteria used (NMS 8.4) • ensure that foster carers are consistently helped to contribute to the delivery of personal education plans (NMS 13.3) • ensure a system for monitoring educational outcomes is developed (NMS 13.6) • ensure that foster placement agreement identifies where financial responsibility lies for all school costs, including school uniform, School trips and school equipment (NMS 13.8) • ensure that the statement of purpose includes the numbers of foster carers and children

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Recommendations

placed (NMS 1.4) • ensure support mechanisms for all foster carers that meet their diverse needs. (NMS 21.1) 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

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

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• any persons carrying on or managing the service are suitable (NMS 3) • the fostering service provides suitable foster carers (NMS 6) • the service matches children to carers appropriately (NMS 8) • the fostering service protects each child or young person from abuse and neglect (NMS 9) • the people who work in or for the fostering service are suitable to work with children and young people (NMS 15) • fostering panels are organised efficiently and effectively (NMS 30) Ofsted considers 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service values diversity (NMS 7) • the fostering service promotes educational achievement (NMS 13) • when foster care is provided as a short-term break for a child, the arrangements recognise that the parents remain the main carers for the child (NMS 31) Ofsted considers 7, 13 and 31 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service promotes contact arrangements for the child or young person (NMS 10) • the fostering service promotes consultation (NMS 11) Ofsted considers 10 and 11 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the fostering service prepares young people for adulthood (NMS 14) • the fostering service pays carers an allowance and agreed expenses as specified (NMS 29) Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• there is a clear statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service and the fostering service ensures that they meet those aims and objectives (NMS 1) • the fostering service is managed by those with the appropriate skills and experience (NMS 2) • the fostering service is monitored and controlled as specified (NMS 4) 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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Annex A

• the fostering service is managed effectively and efficiently (NMS 5) • staff are organised and managed effectively (NMS 16) • the fostering service has an adequate number of sufficiently experienced and qualified staff (NMS 17) • the fostering service is a fair and competent employer (NMS 18) • there is a good quality training programme (NMS 19) • all staff are properly accountable and supported (NMS 20) • the fostering service has a clear strategy for working with and supporting carers (NMS 21) • foster carers are provided with supervision and support (NMS 22) • foster carers are appropriately trained (NMS 23) • case records for children are comprehensive (NMS 24) • the administrative records are maintained as required (NMS 25) • The premises used as offices by the fostering service are suitable for the purpose (NMS 26) • the fostering service is financially viable (NMS 27) • the fostering service has robust financial processes (NMS 28)

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Annex A

• local authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers (NMS 32) Ofsted considers 1, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25 and 32 the key standards to be inspected. 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Fostering Services (Doncaster), 28 January 2008

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