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Summary

No overall grade in this framework

Jacqui Malcolm

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  • Inspectors verified

    Jacqui Malcolm

  • Postcode verified

    HX3 5QG

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+69Positivemore positive than 67% of reports of this type

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Praiseexcellentclearpositiveindependentsafecaringeffectivelypositively
Criticismunsafeseriouslynot alwayslownot promptly

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  • Findings4652w+74
  • What needs to improve364w+14

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longer than usual (typical 1049)
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Flesch 46, typical 45
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21 words
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typical 5
Hedged sentences
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Findings 90%What needs to improve 7%About the inspection 3%

Full report text

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

p.1

HX3 5QG

Lead Inspector Jacqui Malcolm Announced Inspection 27th February 2006 09:00 Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 2 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

p.1

HX3 5QG

• 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

p.2

HX3 5QG

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 Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 3 This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Fostering Services. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

p.2

HX3 5QG

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.

p.3

HX3 5QG

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.

p.3

HX3 5QG

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. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 4

p.3

Name of service

Address Ovenden Hall Ovenden Road Halifax HX3 5QG

p.4

Name of service

Email address lynn.radley@calderdale.gov.uk

p.4

manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Auth Fostering Service

p.4

of places

Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 5

p.5

Conditions of registration:

Date of last inspection 24th January 2005

p.5

Brief Description of the Service:

Calderdale fostering service provides a range of fostering services to children and young people. These include a range of carers who can provide short term, long term and “friends and family” placements, along with a number of respite care (short break) and remand placements. The service also supports a small number of foster placements, approved by Calderdale, who reside outside the Calderdale area. The service also provides support carers who offer care for a limited 28-day period. This is designed to prevent admission into long-term care.

p.5

Brief Description of the Service:

The main office for the fostering service was until recently, located close to Halifax city centre and the team has since moved to more suitable premises in Sowerby Bridge. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 6

p.5

SUMMARY

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

p.6

SUMMARY

This inspection was announced and was completed by 2 inspectors over the course of 4 working days. Prior to the inspection, the managers of both parts of the fostering service submitted questionnaires to the Commission. A number of questionnaires were also sent out to foster carers, young people in foster placements and placing social workers. The information from these questionnaires has been used in the preparation of this report.

p.6

SUMMARY

During the inspection, discussions were held with the acting manager, acting operations manager, members’ of the fostering team, the ‘looked after children’ medical advisor and the co-ordinator from the Looked After Children Education Service. Two inspectors attended the Fostering Panel and spoke with the Panel Chair and inspectors were also invited to attend part of a meeting of the main carer group and spoke with carers from Calderdale Foster Carers Association. Visits were made to four foster carer households. In addition, time was spent preparing for the inspection.

p.6

SUMMARY

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

p.6

SUMMARY

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

p.6

What the service does well:

The service is well managed by a manager who is experienced and understands the needs of the service and how staff will be managed. There are clear lines of responsibility and a clear commitment to providing and developing a good service to carers and children.

p.6

What the service does well:

The service has a child-focussed approach to meeting the needs of young people. Most of the foster carers approved by the fostering service are white and the matching of carers with children/young people takes account of their needs. Additional support is found, for example, using independent agencies to make sure that the needs of children and young people from black and minority ethnic groups are being met.

p.6

What the service does well:

Foster carers said they are well supported and some spoken with spoke highly about their link workers and some said they feel valued. Typical comments included

p.6

“The support we have received …has saved our lives. I’ve had

excellent support from my fostering worker”.

p.6

stressful”

Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 7

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

as best they can. All are very friendly”.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

Support is available from the Emergency Duty Team outside of office hours and foster carers have recently set up a telephone support service for carers who may need advice and support on low-level issues.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

The recruitment, assessment, checks and selection of foster carers is thorough and carer’s skill based assessments are particularly thorough and positive comments were made in panel feedback.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

The fostering service has good links with health and education and the work of the Looked After Children Education (LACE) team shows excellent links with the fostering service, school, foster carers and young people and exceeds the standards.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

Foster carers receive 52 weeks payment and carers confirmed they are paid on time.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

Foster carer’s files contain the information needed and are easy to follow.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

The fostering service provides safe placements for children and there are ‘safe caring’ policies in place.

p.7

approachable. Although in her absence, others have been very helpful

The recruitment/publicity officer provides a professional face to the service and acts as a good point of contact to people who want to be foster carers.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

There is a clear and comprehensive foster placement agreement in place and children/young people are being placed with approved foster carers.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

The Child Protection policy has been put into practice and there is a clear process regarding complaints, strategy meetings and how this all links in with the fostering service.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

The information needed by the fostering service to inform the review process has been sought by the fostering service.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

There are clear foster placement agreements in place and copies are kept in the files.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

The fostering panel has a new chair and there is a robust panel process in place that had a good attendance of independent members who are encouraged to take part. There are systems in place to check the quality of reports on the items discussed at panel. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 8 The way that emergency placements are made and taken to panel within proper times are now properly managed and proper records are now being made.

p.7

What has improved since the last inspection?

Improvements in the foster care register continue to be addressed.

p.8

What they could do better:

The fostering service needs to make sure that training is sought after to help develop foster carers whose first language is not English.

p.8

What they could do better:

Staff shortages have meant that there are some foster carers without a supervising social worker. Typical comments included

p.8

“Most do an excellent job, but are always under pressure because

Foster carer reviews should be more independent.

p.8

“Most do an excellent job, but are always under pressure because

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. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 9

p.8

CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 10

p.9

The intended outcomes these Standards are:

• The fostering service promotes the health and development of children.(NMS 12)

p.10

The Commission considers Standard 12 the key standard to be

inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

p.10

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

The fostering service actively promotes the health and development needs of children and young people and foster carers and staff have access to good healthcare provisions.

p.10

EVIDENCE:

The fostering handbook contains general written guidance on the importance of promoting health care within a foster placement. In addition, the foster care agreement makes it clear that the foster carers must make sure that children and young people are receiving proper medical attention and plans were in place to make sure that consent is obtained from the placing authority for children/young people to receive medical treatment.

p.10

EVIDENCE:

Foster carers have received training in health, hygiene and first aid. Some carers who had not received first aid training said that it was often fully subscribed, so had to wait. Foster carers were clear about their responsibilities in respect to registering a child with the Doctor and Dentist and taking the children/young people to health appointments as needed, including therapeutic appointments. Information contained in the children/young people’s health records show how the health needs were being met, for example, a foster carer looking after a child with complex health needs attended a course to help them to understand the child’s condition and they took an active role, taking advice and support from the hospital staff. The carers were also fully supported by the fostering service to make sure that they were meeting the child’s needs and were provided with the relevant specialist equipment.

p.10

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service works closely with the ‘Looked After Children’ (LAC) health team, who have the prime responsibility for making sure that young people who are fostered can have access to the full range of services they need. The medical advisor was spoken with and presented as child-focussed and able to give a full account of the work they did, along with the support provided by the designated nurses with all children/young people who are looked after by foster carers. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 11 Of the thirteen questionnaires received by young people, all of them made reference to having a balanced and healthy diet, taking some form of exercise or maintained their personal hygiene. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 12

p.10

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)

p.12

The Commission considers Standards 3, 6, 8, 9, and 15 the key

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

p.12

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

3,6,8,9,30 There are good systems in place to make sure that children and young people are safe.

p.12

EVIDENCE:

The acting manager has many years experience of working in children’s services, including thirteen years as a residential social worker and five years as a manager. He also practiced for twelve years as a social worker in a fostering and adoption team and during this time took the roles of senior practitioner and acting senior care manager. He understands the needs of the service and how staff will be managed.

p.12

EVIDENCE:

Visits were made to a random selection of foster carers and the foster carers were aware of these visits and were positive and welcoming. All of the young people visited, with the exception of babies had their own bedrooms and those asked said that they liked their rooms. The carer’s homes seen were clean, comfortable and appropriately furnished. Toys and child-focussed items suitable for children were seen in the homes of foster carers looking after babies. Health and safety issues formed part of the foster carer’s assessment and these details were seen in the foster carers files and were reviewed at the foster carer’s annual reviews that were carried out by the foster carers link worker. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 13 Discussions took place with members from the fostering service about the matching of young people and carers and since the last inspection, written

p.12

EVIDENCE:

matching consideration are now included in the files, there are clear and comprehensive foster placement agreements in place and children/young people are being placed with approved foster carers. The fostering service continues to provide mainly white carers, which generally reflects the ethnic background of children and young people using the service in the Calderdale area. Information seen in the foster care register and in discussions with representatives from the fostering service indicated that there are not enough placements to meet the needs of children and young people from black and minority ethnic groups and this is an issue that the service is aware of and are addressing as part of their recruitment strategy. The fostering service has taken seriously the need to match young people properly with foster carers as opposed to being resource led and they have used the services of independent

p.13

EVIDENCE:

fostering agencies to meet the needs of young people from black and minority ethnic groups.

p.13

EVIDENCE:

There was evidence that some exemptions were made at times, for example, out of their approval range or over their numbers and some carer’s confirmed this happened. Exemption certificates were seen and these were properly signed and documented and provided reasons why exemptions had been made.

p.13

EVIDENCE:

The child protection policy has been implemented and there is a clear process regarding complaints, strategy meetings and how this all links in with the fostering service. Carer’s records and discussions with some of them confirmed that they had received training in child protection during the initial training and approval process and they are aware about their responsibilities to protect children and young people placed with them. Safe caring guidelines are contained in the foster carer handbook and files examined showed that carers complete individual safe caring policies for their households. All of the placing social workers that responded to questionnaires felt that the young people placed with their foster carers were safe. The foster care handbook and good practice guidance contains information about countering bullying behaviour.

p.13

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has clear policies and procedures regarding children and young people missing from home.

p.13

EVIDENCE:

The procedure to deal with allegations made against carers has been followed and evidence of the process was seen in one of the files. All foster carers are members of the Foster Care Network, who give independent support and advice and the local Foster Carers Association also offers general support to carers and during the investigation of allegations.

p.13

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service’s panel system is supported by written policies and procedures and there are clear processes about the action to be taken where panel members do not agree with decisions made. Since May 2005, an Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 14 independent person has been appointed to chair the two fostering panels. The chair is very experienced and has worked at senior levels in children’s services. A meeting of one of the panels was attended and this was properly formed with a good mix of independent members that included health, the fostering service and an elected member. Social workers and Carers are invited to panel and the discussions and decision-making between panel members was clear and all panel members had the chance to ask questions of carers who attended panel and social workers who presented the reports. The panel chair prepared the recommendations following panel and the minutes and paperwork were

p.13

EVIDENCE:

sent to the agency decision maker, who is the Head of Children’s Services for a decision or approval of the recommendations made. The panel has a quality assurance function regarding assessments and the panel chair said the agency decision maker provides feedback from time to time.

p.14

EVIDENCE:

Training for panel members is provided annually. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 15

p.14

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)

p.15

The Commission considers Standards 7, 13, and 31 the key standards

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

p.15

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

7,13,31 The fostering service values the diverse needs of children and young people and make placements to best reflect this.

p.15

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

Young people are achieving educationally with good outcomes.

p.15

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

The short breaks service is well organised.

p.15

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service continues to promote equality and diversity and they are keen to make sure that foster carers are supported to meet the needs of children and young people/children and young people with disabilities in creative and conventional ways, including training and development. There is evidence to show that the fostering service strives towards equal opportunities for all foster carers and they make every effort to make sure that the diverse needs of children/young people are being met in placement as well as recognising and addressing shortfalls, for example, the recruitment of black and minority ethnic carers.

p.15

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service continues to work closely with the Looked After Children Education (LACE) service and time was spent with the service co-ordinator, who talked in detail about their function, and the work that the service does to promote and reward the educational achievements of children and young people who are looked after by the authority. Statistics kept and provided by LACE showed how well young people were doing in terms of school attendance, examination achievements, further education, etc. Foster care families spoke very highly of this service and young people spoken to said that they enjoyed the support of LACE and the fun activities that it also provides. Foster care Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 16 families who were visited showed a great commitment to promoting the educational achievements of the children/young people placed with them and

p.15

EVIDENCE:

in their responses to questionnaires, young people said that carers help them with homework. The children’s files contained educational information, including personal education plans (PEP), education statements and other key documents.

p.16

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service continues to provide a support care scheme service to children and young people and these are supported by the services procedures. In one of the files seen, there was information to show how placements were being supported and maintained and support carers visited at home spoke positively about the support they receive from the fostering service. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 17

p.16

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)

p.17

The Commission considers Standards 10 and 11 the key standards to

be inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

p.17

EVIDENCE:

Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 18

p.18

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)

p.18

The Commission considers Standards 29 the key standard to be

inspected at least once during a 12 month period.

p.18

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

Foster carer payments are made on time and equipment is provided as needed.

p.18

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has a written policy on fostering allowances. These allowances, known as ‘payment for skills’ is based on four levels of competency and paid to approved foster carers in recognition of their skills and training and it is worthy to note that payments are made over 52 weeks whether there is a child/young person in placement or not. Staff in the fostering service said they thought that the ‘Skills for Payment’ served to retain a number of foster carers in the service.

p.18

EVIDENCE:

Foster carers said that they also receive expenses for additional items. Overall, foster carers spoken with said they were happy with the system for payment in place and confirmed they received their payments on time. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 19

p.18

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

p.19

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)

p.19

The Commission considers Standards 17, 21, and 24 the key standards

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

p.19

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

17,21,22,23,24,25,26,32 The fostering service is properly managed with a committed staff team, who are qualified, experienced and skilled to support foster carers.

p.19

JUDGEMENT – The intended outcomes for these Standards are

There are good administrative systems in place that supports the demands of the fostering service. Carers are recruited from a range of backgrounds although there is shortage of black and minority ethnic carers. Some carers do not have an allocated supervising social worker. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 20

p.19

EVIDENCE:

All of the supervising social workers in the fostering service have a social work qualification and are appropriately experienced and this includes the acting manager and operations manager. The supervising social workers said that since the acting manager has been in post they have received supervision on a regular and consistent basis and also benefit from an ‘open door’ policy, support within the team and support from the acting operations manager. The manager said that a new appraisal format had been implemented last year for all staff.

p.20

EVIDENCE:

At the time of the inspection, three new staff had been appointed and there was a 1.8 fostering social work vacancy in the team. Some of the staff indicated that they held a large caseload, which has led to increased pressures. This has also meant that there are some unallocated cases and work was being done was by the service to resolve this shortfall. The majority of foster carers who responded to the questionnaires commented that although they felt that supervising social workers did an ‘excellent’ job; there was not enough of them in the team. Carers also commented that support, even if this was not from their own supervising social worker, could always be found at the end of the telephone.

p.20

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has a worker who has responsibility for advertising and marketing in both the fostering and adoption services. This worker has a marketing background and is well respected in the fostering team. Potential carers are able to have one point of contact in the initial stages of their application. This worker uses a number of methods to recruit foster carers such as advertisements in the press and public transport, wage slips, displays, word of mouth, etc and they manage a small budget to make this happen. There is a permanent staff member who responds to applicants who speak Punjabi and Urdu.

p.20

EVIDENCE:

The majority of foster carers who responded to the questionnaires appeared satisfied about the manner in which the service recruits foster carers and positive comments were made about the initial preparatory ‘Skills to Foster’ training that all potential carers must attend. Discussions with a number of workers indicated that the service has recruited a number of carers from a variety of backgrounds, including male and female single carers and gay and lesbian carers and a very small number of black and minority ethnic carers. The recruitment policy seeks to proactively recruit carers from racial, cultural and religious heritages, however, recruitment of Asian and minority ethnic carers remains a challenge that the service continues to look at ways of addressing.

p.20

EVIDENCE:

Assessment of foster carers was completed on the fostering ‘Form F’ document and was skill based. This document was completed thoroughly and provided a Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 21 clear impression of prospective foster carers and their ability to look after children and young people. The panel chair also commented positively about the quality of these assessments. Some of the questionnaires received from foster carers and foster carers spoken to said that although the process was intrusive, it needed to be this way. Other comments by some foster carers indicated that the process took too long, however, on the whole, foster carers were generally happy about this process with comments about the assessments being ‘the right level of depth’ being made by one couple.

p.20

EVIDENCE:

There was training available to help foster carers in their work and the service recognised that further work is needed to make sure that training is available to foster carers whose first language is not English.

p.21

EVIDENCE:

The majority of carers spoken with or who returned questionnaires said that they feel well supported by the fostering team. Two carers said they had been without a supervising social worker for some time, although they said that they were able to get support from the team when they had needed it. The foster care support group is available to all foster carers and coffee mornings have also been established. There is an ‘out of hours’ Emergency Duty Team and more recently, foster carers have set up a support group to help other foster carers who may need low level advice and support out of office hours, in conjunction with the Emergency Duty Team.

p.21

EVIDENCE:

There was evidence that carers are visited regularly and carers spoken to said that support was only a phone call away. There was evidence that carer reviews also take place yearly although as previously mentioned these are not independently chaired. Not all carer files examined showed that unannounced visits take place yearly and supervising social workers also confirmed this.

p.21

EVIDENCE:

The fostering service has written information that includes all of the information that needs to be contained in children and young people and foster care files. Overall, the files seen contained the ‘Looked After Children’ (LAC) documents and other relevant paperwork. Foster carers spoken with said that they had received copies of ‘LAC’ documents although these were not always promptly received by some placing social workers. Foster carers said that they were generally aware about the circumstances leading up to the placements and they kept the information securely. Separate foster care records were kept by the fostering service and these were well maintained, and included the foster care assessment and the records gave a clear picture about how foster carers and their placements were progressing and reviewed. Supervising social workers said that they had access to a computer and a laptop was available for staff working away from the office. It was noted though, that not

p.21

EVIDENCE:

all files showed evidence of management audits. The fostering service keeps a central record of complaints and allegations against foster carers and staff in the fostering service. The children and foster care register needs some adjustment and the manager said that the he was working closely with the administrative worker to continue to improve this system. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 22 The fostering service is based close to the city centre in a listed building and shared with other teams, such as the adoption team and LAC social work team. This building is secure, however, it was not appropriate for its purpose and by the end of the inspection, the building was considered to be unsafe by the organisations health and safety department and the fostering service and the other teams were forced to move to more suitable premises.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service is committed to the needs of family and friends to be assessed and approved as carers and they are offered the same training opportunities as mainstream carers and paid fees relevant to their levels of skill. The manager also reported that family and friend’s carers are seen as equal to other foster carers in the fostering service. Friends and family carers who responded to questionnaires commented positively about the support they received from the service. There is a senior practitioner in the fostering team who amongst other functions gives support and advice to social workers undertaking assessments related to emergency and immediate placements. The panel chair spoken with confirmed that social work assessments that needed to go to the fostering panel were generally arriving within a reasonable timescale. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 23

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

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

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

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

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SCORING OF OUTCOMES

BEING HEALTHY ACHIEVING ECONOMIC Standard No Score WELLBEING 12 3 Standard No Score 14 x STAYING SAFE 29 3 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 3 1 x 9 3 2 x 15 x 4 x 30 3 5 x 16 x ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 2 Standard No Score 18 x 7 3 19 x 13 4 20 x 31 3 21 3 22 3 MAKING A POSITIVE 23 2 CONTRIBUTION 24 3 Standard No Score 25 3 10 x 26 3 11 x 27 x 28 x 32 3 Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 24 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? No.

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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 FS17 19 Sufficient staff must be available to make sure that every carer has an appropriately qualified supervising social worker. 30/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

2 FS23 17(1) The fostering service must make arrangements for training to foster carers whose first language is not English. 30/10/06

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RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1 FS21 Foster carer reviews should be independently chaired. Calderdale Fostering Service DS0000042558.V266508.R01.S.doc Version 5.0 Page 25

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

Brighouse Area Office Park View House Woodvale Office Park Woodvale Road Brighouse HD6 4AB

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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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