Setting

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Announced 19 th September 2005 09:00 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 Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 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

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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. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 4

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SERVICE INFORMATION

Name of service Fostering Services (Doncaster)

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SERVICE INFORMATION

Address Directorate Of Social Services, P.O. Box 251 The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN1 3DA

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Authority Fostering Service

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of places

Local Authority Fostering Service Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 5

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Brief Description of the Service:

The Doncaster Fostering Service is based in the Council House; the service exists to provide foster care for 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. The fostering team is responsible for meeting the placement needs of the children referred to the service. In order to meet this need the service recruit, assess, train and support foster carers. The service also supports and trains existing carers.The fostering service and foster carers have access to a range of multi - agency projects to assist them in meeting the individual needs of the children in their care. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 6

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SUMMARY

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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SUMMARY

The inspection took 5 days and involved, speaking to fostered children, foster carers, Support Social Workers, and the fostering managers. This inspection carried out six months after the last one was completed.

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SUMMARY

Further information was received about the service and a final meeting was held on 17/10/05 that concluded the inspection.

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SUMMARY

I also attended a team meeting of the fostering team, a training session for prospective foster carers, and partially observed a fostering panel.

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SUMMARY

At the time of the inspection Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council was undergoing a large restructuring of the services, and there was a lot of uncertainty within the fostering service as to how it would be managed in the future and where it would be located.

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What the service does well:

Doncaster has developed a group of foster carers who are very experienced and backed up by training covering different aspects of foster caring and specific issues relating to the health and wellbeing of the children in their care.

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What the service does well:

There is a range of therapeutic services that can be used to meet the needs of specific children. These services come from both within Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and outside agencies.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

A lot of work has been done to ensure that all the statutory reviews of foster carers have been brought up to date.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

There has been a concerted effort to recruit more foster carers and there has been a move towards more specialist carers to meet the different needs of some young people.

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What they could do better:

Closer monitoring of the contents of files giving details of foster carer’s and the placements made with them would pick up areas where information is either missing or needs more detail adding. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 7 When supervising social workers hold supervision sessions with foster carers they should discuss and detail all the young people who have been cared for since the last supervision.

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What they could do better:

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. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 8

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 9

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The intended outcomes these Standards are:

• 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 outcomes for standard(s) 12

The children who are fostered are given a lot of opportunity to develop physically, educationally, emotionally, and healthily.

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EVIDENCE:

Health issues are addressed prior to placement, or as soon a practicable after the child is placed with foster carers. There was evidence of this in the files of the young people inspected.

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EVIDENCE:

Letters indicated that there are close links maintained with the different health providers by the social workers.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers confirmed that the young people in their care are taken to appointments.

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EVIDENCE:

Social workers said that they had a good relationship with foster carers and that they were kept up to date with health issues and any missed appointments.

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EVIDENCE:

The foster carers confirmed that they were told information about health issues for children and sometimes they found things out that were passed on to the social workers.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers said that they had received training on hygiene, safety, and some first aid. They felt able to cope with situations as they arose. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 10

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The intended outcomes 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, and 15 the key

standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 3,6,8,9,15

There are good systems in place to protect fostered children from abuse and/or neglect.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 3,6,8,9,15

The foster homes are a well furnished and offer a homely and welcoming environment for the children placed there.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 3,6,8,9,15

The staff are appropriately qualified and there is ongoing training available within Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 3,6,8,9,15

The foster carers are appropriately assessed at the time of their approval and should any children be placed there that are outside of this exemptions are considered and recorded.

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EVIDENCE:

The individual files for the foster carer’s contained signed agreements that prohibited physical punishment, and detailed what this was defined as. These agreements were worded in clear English.

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EVIDENCE:

Training is offered in a variety of subjects and the training attended is recorded, the foster carers had attended courses that had addressed the issues listed in this section. Foster Carers confirmed that they found the training useful. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 11 Safe Caring guidelines are made available and the foster carers confirmed that they had received them and that they were in a readable format.

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EVIDENCE:

There is a form placed in foster carer’s files to record any allegations made about them, and the outcomes of any investigations into allegations. Any entries on these forms would make a chronological list that should enable patterns to be identified.

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EVIDENCE:

There are written recruitment policies and procedures available. These are well presented, and indexed as part of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council’s Human Resources.

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EVIDENCE:

The staff within the fostering service have appropriate qualifications and training to perform their duties.

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EVIDENCE:

The details of the telephone contact following receipt of a reference are not available on the personal files of the people concerned, nor could they be found.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers were able to accommodate the young people in their care, they had adequate space in the home and also felt able to meet their emotional and physical needs.

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EVIDENCE:

Where an unexpected problem is encountered there is a duty system where help can be requested.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers said that transport issues were generally satisfactory, sometimes there can be confusion as to who will do what transporting but these had been resolved.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers were welcoming of Commission for Social Care Inspection inspecting the service and were keen to help with the process.

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EVIDENCE:

Evidence was seen to show that the matching process involves both a resource panel and discussion between the child’s social worker and the fostering team. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 12

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The intended outcomes 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 standard(s) 7,13,31

When respite care is offered by another foster carer, the child is moved with consideration to their needs and the locality of both carers.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 7,13,31

Education achievement for the children who are fostered takes a high priority.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 7,13,31

There are procedures in place to give guidance to foster parents who offer short term care to young people.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers described the respite facilities and how these were provided in practice. They also discussed what the young people had told them about their experiences of using this service.

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EVIDENCE:

Social workers spoke about how young people they had responsibility for had moved into respite care and they had not been informed.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussion with the manager revealed that there was no one person who had the responsibility for informing people of moves, this did not generally cause a problem and it was often the foster carers who passed the information.

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EVIDENCE:

Equality issues were presented at the training session with an exercise about the different feelings about life for different people.

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EVIDENCE:

New foster carers suggested that more supervision by the fostering team would help them settle into the role and get used to the paperwork. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 13 Young people said that they felt that they had achieved a lot since they had been fostered.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers described different schedules to help young people get the most from their education.

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EVIDENCE:

The child’s school is invited to contribute to reviews of progress and these contributions were seen on the child’s file.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster parents said that they had a good liaison with the schools and that should a child not attend they would be contacted and work with the school to get the child back into education.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers said that they attended parent’s evenings unless there were other arrangements for someone to be there instead.

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EVIDENCE:

Each year there is an achievement evening where young people are presented with certificates and prizes for their achievements at The Mansion House.

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EVIDENCE:

Some young people have recently been on a sailing adventure both as a development experience for them personally and recognition of the contribution they have already made to their achievements. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 14

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The intended outcomes 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 standard(s) 10,11

Clear agreements were in place about the type and frequency of contact that young people have with adults who are important to them.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 10,11

Foster carers were aware of contact arrangements between the children and their families.

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EVIDENCE:

The foster carers were able to say what the arrangements were for the children in their care to see family members.

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EVIDENCE:

Evidence was seen where young people had said what contact arrangements they wanted and these had been taken into account.

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EVIDENCE:

Records were seen where ongoing explanations had been given to children who did not agree with decisions about them seeing their families.

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EVIDENCE:

Carers were no always able to say whether or not they had been fully paid for transporting children to see families because of the way the money is lumped together on the ‘wage slips’.

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EVIDENCE:

New foster carers should receive supervision at an increased frequency for an agreed length of time

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EVIDENCE:

Carers keep records of important events in the child’s life. These are fed back at review meetings. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 15

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The intended outcomes 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 standard(s)

Foster carers do receive allowances for different aspects of care, but these are not itemised on the payment information sent with the cheque so it was not possible to ascertain whether or not all allowances claimed had been paid.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers said that they felt they got the allowances that they were due to for looking after the children.

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EVIDENCE:

The ‘pay slips’ that foster parents received did not identify what the payments covered were for so that they could not easily identify whether or not they had received all the money they had claimed.

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EVIDENCE:

Discussions with the manager concluded that there was an identified problem with the computerised payment system of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council that means that it cannot cope with itemising the payments made but that special arrangements had been made in respect of one foster carer who had a lot of very short-term placements.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers had been identified as caring for children for a short period but inspection of the file proved that the paperwork that should have been included on the file to identify the placement was missing.

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EVIDENCE:

The placement details in the foster carers file did not contain all the placements identified as being made with the foster carers, this means that there was no record in the file of the child who had been placed there.

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EVIDENCE:

There is a statement giving details of the payments that can be made to foster carers for the children in their care. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 16

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The intended outcomes 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 cares are provided with supervision and support.(NMS 22) • Foster carers are appropriately trained.(NMS 23)

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The intended outcomes 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 standard(s) 17,21,24

There is an appropriate number of staff with a good range of qualifications and experience who are aided by a clear strategy for supporting carers.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 17,21,24

There is concern that the case records were not always accurate and up to date. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 17

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EVIDENCE:

The inspection of staff files proved that the staff are appropriately qualified.

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EVIDENCE:

The records of follow up telephone conversations to references were not available for inspection and it is recommended that these are filed alongside the reference that they correspond to.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carer’s records included training courses and the issues discussed during supervision visits.

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EVIDENCE:

Not all foster carer’s records had details in them to show that supervision visits were carried out at an appropriate frequency or that action had been taken on the issues raised.

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EVIDENCE:

Instances were identified where foster care had been delivered in an inappropriate manner indicating that increased supervision was needed but had not been provided.

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EVIDENCE:

Not all the files contained copies of the “Foster Care Allowance…..” form that triggers payment to the carer when a child is placed with them.

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EVIDENCE:

The annual reviews for foster carers were up to date and had been placed in front of the Fostering Panel.

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EVIDENCE:

One instance was identified where a child had been placed with a foster carer but there was no record of that child in the foster carer’s file.

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EVIDENCE:

Another instance was noted where a child had been mentioned on the annual review form but there were no details of the child’s placement with the foster carer.

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EVIDENCE:

Diaries are kept by foster carers with their notes relating to children placed with them. As these diaries can have details of different children there is a question of how confidentiality is maintained and how the details of their placement are transferred when the child moves on.

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EVIDENCE:

Not all the files inspected had records of the exemptions to the Normal Fostering Limit in them. When this was pointed out the records were found and put into the files during the inspection.

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EVIDENCE:

The considerations leading up to the decision that the foster placement is appropriate were not recorded in the foster carer’s file. Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 18

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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 2 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 3 1 x 9 3 2 x 15 3 4 x 30 x 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 x MAKING A POSITIVE 23 x CONTRIBUTION 24 2 Standard No Score 25 x 10 3 26 x 11 3 27 x 28 x Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 19 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. FS24 22 All placements with foster carers must be recorded on the "Placement Details" and kept in the foster carer's file 1 st january

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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 Standard Good Practice Recommendations

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. FS6 Exemptions to the Normal Fostering Limit should be filed promptly

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RECOMMENDATIONS

2. FS7 A movement notice be produced to inform all parties of respite moves of children in foster care

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RECOMMENDATIONS

3. FS8 Matching considerations be recorded in the foster carer's file

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RECOMMENDATIONS

4. FS10 Ensure new foster carers receive an increased number of supervison visits

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RECOMMENDATIONS

5. FS15 Details of follow up telephone calls to people giving references for staff be kept in the personnel file alongside the reference Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 20 6. FS24 Change the current diary system for foster carers to one where the information on each record relates to one child only so that confidentiality can be maintained and the record can go with the child when they move placement

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RECOMMENDATIONS

7. FS29 Ensure that copies of the "Foster Care Allowance.." forms are filed in the foster carers file

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RECOMMENDATIONS

8. FS29 Money paid to foster carers is itemised on the payment slip so that foster carers can identify what they have been paid for Fostering Services (Doncaster) 20050919 DMBC Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S46856 V215410 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 21

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

First Floor Barclay Court Heavens Walk Doncaster South Yorkshire DN4 5HZ

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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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