Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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Lead Inspector Paul Taylor Announced Inspection 23rd January 2006 10:00 Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 2 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 Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 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

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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. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 4

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Name of service

Address 253 Preston Road Brighton East Sussex BN1 6SE

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Fax number

Email address fostering.adoption@brighton-hove.gov.uk

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Fax number

Provider Web address www.fosteringinbrightonandhove.org.uk

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Auth Fostering Service

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of places

Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 5

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Conditions of registration:

Date of last inspection 28th February 2005

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Brief Description of the Service:

The Fostering and Adoption Service is expanding as it’s statutory commitments grow and the service recruits more carers. The service comprises a fostering team, a placement support team, a family and friends team, concurrency team and a permanence and adoption team. These are supported by an admin team. The service has two panels. The fostering panel is responsible for making recommendations about the approval of short-term foster carers, family and friends carers and Barnardo’s Link Plus carers. The permanence panel is responsible for recommending the approval of long-term foster carers, concurrency carers and prospective adopters. Both panels are supported by professional advisors. The professional advisors are non-operational managers within the service and play a quality assurance and policy development role. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 6

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SUMMARY

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

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SUMMARY

Three Inspectors from Commission for Social Care Inspection spent four days inspecting the fostering service run by Brighton and Hove City Council. The Inspectors met with the Head of Service, Service Managers, Practice Managers, Social Work staff, Community family worker, Nurse Consultant, Looked After Children Education Co-ordinator, the Recruitment and Publicity Officer for black and minority ethnic carers, the Therapeutic Fostering Consultant and representatives from the Foster Care Association. A number of carers were visited together with young people in their care and questionnaires were received from carers and young people placed with foster carers. A number of records were examined including comprehensive pre-inspection information provided by the Head of Service. The previous inspection concluded in March 2005.This inspection focussed on the key standards as well as Standard 32. Standards not assessed during this

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SUMMARY

inspection were either met or exceeded in the previous inspection and it was not necessary to inspect them on this occasion. The service operates effectively and efficiently and continues to grow in size. The management of the service continues to monitor it’s own performance and is keen to further develop strategies and policies to support carers, young people in foster placements and staff working for the service.

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What the service does well:

‘If you have a problem they will do their utmost to help you.’ This was a comment made by one of the carers who met with the Inspectors. The service offers very good support to carers in the form of direct contact with supervising social workers from the Fostering service, access to specialists such as a Nurse Consultant for Looked After Children, LAC Education Co- ordinator, psychotherapist and a fast track access to the CAMHS team. The Placement Support Team continues to offer both group and individual support to young people. The service values diversity and is working to develop a good cross section of carers reflecting the mix of population of Brighton and Hove. The appointment of a Recruitment and Policy Officer for BME carers has made available further support for carers when it is needed. The opinions of young people in placements are valued and sought in reviews and via the work that the Placement Support Team undertakes.

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What the service does well:

The management of the service continues to be very well organised and not only reviews how the service can be developed on a wider departmental basis Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 7 but how support can be delivered to individual carers, young people and members of staff.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

The service continues to grow and the duty team has been restructured with the imminent arrival of a new manager and new members of staff. The appointment of a Recruitment and Publicity Officer for BME carers and children has made available to carers a good level of support and advice especially in the case of trans racial placements. The Head of Service has reviewed policies and has developed them where needed, for example guidance on photography.

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What they could do better:

There were no statutory requirements made as a result of this inspection. All the standards assessed were met and therefore the issue identified as one that could be improved upon needs to be seen in the context of improving what is already a good service and is not an area of weakness. The Inspectors recommend that the Looked After Children Education Co- ordinator is informed as a matter of course when a child being cared for by the Fostering Service is excluded from their school so that the expertise available from this role can be used if needed. The service is planning risk assessment training for all members of staff and this will help them to supplement the current guidelines in place with regards to managing contact between young people and their natural parents and the role of foster carers in this process.

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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 Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 8 contacting your local CSCI office. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 9

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 10

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The intended outcome for this Standard is:

• 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 the outcome for Standard:

12. The service continues to robustly identify and address health issues for the young people in its care. There is good overall planning and strategic approach to health issues and this filters down to carers thus ensuring that individual needs are met. Advice and support is available to carers as well as young people and this is often promptly delivered. The service performs well in this area.

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EVIDENCE:

The local authority has a Looked After Children and Health Strategy Group which comprises the Nurse Consultant, Assistant Director for Social Care and Heads of Service for Fostering and Adoption and Fieldwork. This group identifies and monitors specific health issues such as mental health, substance misuse and sexual health and explores how the service should plan for and address these. Health needs for young people are known and passed on to carers in planned placements. This information is made available to carers as soon as possible in the case of emergency placements. The Nurse Consultant for Looked After Children completes health plans for young people looked after by the service. She also ensures that referrals to specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists and orthodontists are tracked so that the appointments are achieved. Her role involves liaison with the Primary Care Trust to ensure that Looked After Children’s health needs are met in a

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EVIDENCE:

timely manner. Access to health services such as CAMHS can be ‘fast tracked’ for young people in foster placements. A psychotherapist is also employed by the service to provide additional specialist support and advice to carers. A member of staff who works in the fostering team is developing a ‘Healthy Eating Project’. This will involve group work with fostered children and the development of a vegetable garden in the grounds of the Fostering Office. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 11

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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)

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The Commission considers Standards 3, 6, 8, 9, 15 and 30 the key

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

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following Standard(s):

3,6,8,9 and 15. The service is very well organised and managed. Managers are experienced and qualified and monitor the service closely. Staff members feel that managers are approachable and supportive. Matching is achieved as far as the choice of carers permits and support to carers in filling any shortfalls is readily available. Monitoring of standards of care issues and child protection is thorough. The service human resources department monitors staffing recruitment records. The fostering panel is well organised and thorough.

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EVIDENCE:

The Commission for Social Care Inspection report following the inspection of the Adoption Service in September 2004 was referred to as part of assessing Standard 3. There was also verbal feedback from both foster carers and members of staff employed by the service. All the managers have extensive experience and qualifications and the organisation of the service ensures that it is rigorously monitored. Nine different foster placements were visited and there were twenty-nine questionnaires returned to the Inspectors before the inspection commenced. The assessments and files pertaining to some of the carers were also examined. Records of training attended by carers were also examined. There is ‘safe caring’ training for all carers and there are individual safe caring agreements in all placements. Carers have a handbook to which they can refer. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 12

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EVIDENCE:

Records of visits undertaken by supervising social workers on an announced and unannounced basis were also examined. The large size of the service means that there is a varied mix of carers. Referrals taken by the duty team collate and address matching considerations. When a placement is made additional input can be found if there is a need in the case of a matching shortfall. In some cases placements with independent foster agencies are purchased to ensure support and matching are achieved for the young person. The service provides a rolling programme on child protection training to carers. Carers have ‘safe caring’ guidelines in place, there is an out of hours ‘on call’ advice available staffed by members of the Fostering and Adoption service and there were records seen of unannounced visits to placements by supervising social workers. Additional to these measures of support and monitoring the Inspectors saw evidence of responses to concerns over standards of care and

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EVIDENCE:

how these had been scrutinised and resolved by managers. Child protection concerns had also been clearly recorded together with how carers and young people had been supported through the process. Feedback from carers was very positive with regards to support and advice available from staff in the fostering service. There were consistent comments from a variety of carers that stated support and information from the fostering service was easier to obtain than information and advice from fieldwork teams. Recruitment files for members of staff were not examined during this inspection. However, the Inspectors did refer to comments and correspondence regarding this matter following the Commission for Social Care Inspection of the Adoption Service in September 2004. Whilst the Fostering Panel was not attended as part of this inspection, an Inspector from the Commission for Social Care Inspection did attend the panel

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EVIDENCE:

on 4/1/06 as part of the inspection of the Barnardo’s Brighton and Hove Link Plus Fostering Scheme. This panel is shared with the Brighton and Hove Fostering Service. The Inspector found that the… ‘administration for the meeting was thorough. The panel was informed from papers sent out earlier, and the chair engaged with all members to gain the most informed view. Difficult decisions were made with due deliberation and the panel were aware of the experience for prospective foster carers and endeavoured to put them at their ease.’ Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 13

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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)

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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 the following standard(s):

7 and 13. Valuing diversity is another strength of the service. The service works very hard to recruit carers from all minority groups and provides good support to carers and young people with diverse needs. All young people looked after by the service have identified school placements and the service works hard to support them and their carers in maintaining these placements.

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EVIDENCE:

The service is working hard to develop a larger resource of foster carers from varied backgrounds which reflect the cultural diversity of Brighton and Hove. Where young people are placed trans racially there is support in place via the Recruitment Officer for Black and Minority Ethnic Carers. Training has been made available with regards to the issue of Black and Minority Ethnic children in public care and there is a new resource pack for carers caring for black children. The Placement Support Team offer support and activities to help young people enjoy diversity and to value different backgrounds and cultures. The department has a Looked After Children’s Education Co-ordinator. This member of staff provides expertise and advice to carers and members of staff on issues such as inclusion, Personal Education Plans, appeals and school exclusions. Feedback from members of the fostering team about this member

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EVIDENCE:

of staff’s role was very positive. The department also has a part time Education Welfare Officer who provides support to young people who have had attendance problems at school. The EWO collects attendance data on a monthly basis. This role is new to the service and is still developing. The LAC Education Co-ordinator reported that up to 49% of the young people in foster care are placed in schools outside of Brighton and Hove and therefore liaison is Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 14 maintained with the other education authorities. The LAC Education Co- ordinator has attended meetings between schools, carers and foster children to give support and advice. At the time of the inspection there was not a formal system whereby she was being informed automatically if a young person being looked after in a foster placement had been excluded from school. This can

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EVIDENCE:

mean that her expertise and input are not always used. The Inspectors recommend that such a system is introduced. The LAC Education Co-ordinator and Head of Service informed the Inspectors that there is a new strategic group focusing on the needs of Looked After Children within the Department chaired by an assistant director. The Placement Support Team offers morning sessions to young people who are temporarily out of school and Home Tutors had been made available to all Year 11 pupils for two hours a week if they were taking GCSE exams. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 15

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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)

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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 the following standard(s):

10 and 11. The service is committed to ensuring that contact is valued and supported. Young people’s views are valued and they have a number of opportunities to pass comment on all matters that affect them.

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EVIDENCE:

Contact arrangements are discussed with carers as part of a child’s placement plan and they are reviewed on a monthly basis when the supervising social worker visits the placement. The Inspectors were informed that there are plans to introduce risk assessments regarding contact arrangements which will supplement the guidelines which are currently in place. These risk assessments will be completed when the staff team have attended training on the subject. Contact arrangements are often prescribed by court order and carers are sometimes frustrated by this process. The importance of contact is covered in the foster carer preparation training. Life story work is offered to some young people to enable them to make sense of their history and situation and to allow them to identify with whom they would like to have contact. Brighton and Hove City Council has a children’s rights service to which the young people in foster placements have access. The young people also have a

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EVIDENCE:

handbook to which they can refer and this gives them details on how they can complain if they are unhappy about their care and treatment. The young people have an opportunity to speak to supervising social workers when they visit and their views are ascertained in a consultation document compiled before Looked After Children reviews. The Placement Support Team gathers young people views in groups that it runs and the Inspectors learned that a young person had chaired a review run by the team during the week that the inspection was taking place. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 16

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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)

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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 the following standard(s):

29. Carers are paid promptly. Feedback on this issue was very positive.

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EVIDENCE:

There was unanimous feedback from carers that met with the Inspectors that they are paid promptly and efficiently. Fees that carers receive are made clear to them and in their placement agreements. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 17

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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) • 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)

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The intended outcomes for 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 the following standard(s):

17,21,24, 26 and 32. Staff recruitment has reflected the expansion of the service. The staff work very hard to enable good support and monitoring of placements. Support available to carers is very good, not only do they have their own supervising social workers but they also have access to the Placement Support Team and specialist advice if required. Case records are up to date and contain the necessary information, auditing of the records ensures they are appropriately maintained. The expanding service has meant that the working conditions are experienced as cramped by those that work in them. Review of these premises Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 18 will hopefully identify a strategy which will prevent the situation becoming very difficult for those staff. Family and Friends as carers are well supported with good access to specialist guidance and regular training.

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EVIDENCE:

There has been active recruitment of new social worker staff and managers to the fostering service. As the service recruits more foster carers it has identified the need to increase the staff team. Additionally, independent assessors are sometimes used to complete foster care assessments when there is a need. The duty team was awaiting the start of a new manager and additional staff had been recruited to develop this particular area of the service. The service operates a ‘weighting’ system as part of allocating workloads and workers who met with Inspectors had good knowledge of particular cases and the needs of the carers, the foster children and family dynamics. There was very good feedback to the Inspectors from carers with regards to support they receive from the service. Two comments were ‘They can’t do enough to help me’ and ‘If you have a problem they will do their utmost to help you.’ Carers have access to the Placement Support Team, the LAC Education Co-

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EVIDENCE:

ordinator, Nurse Consultant, psychotherapist, support groups and a fast track system to the CAMHS team. The Black and Minority Ethnic Recruitment Officer is available for support and advice and there was evidence to show that training was made available, additional to the mandatory training, if a need was identified. There is also an ‘on call’ system whereby verbal advice can be gleaned from supervising social workers on a twenty-four hour basis, this is additional to support which is offered by the generic Emergency Duty Service. The service maintains individual files for each carer and for each child looked after by them. The fieldwork teams keep the young people’s main files. Files seen by the Inspectors were organised, up to date and contained all the relevant information. The files are audited by managers on an annual basis. Carers who met with Inspectors were very positive about the amount of information they receive from the fostering service. Feedback about

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EVIDENCE:

information received from fieldwork teams was not so positive. The premises used by the fostering service are under review. As the service has expanded so has the staff team. This has led to constraints on space and there was unanimous feedback from one of the teams that met with an Inspector that space was cramped. The Head of service reported that as part of the impending move of the service into a children’s trust in April 2006 the accommodation of the service was being reviewed. The department as a whole is also considering home based working as part of the review. The service has a team specifically set up to support family and friends who are carers. One Inspector visited a ‘Family and Friends’ placement and feedback about support from the supervising social worker was very positive. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 19 Training is available to Family and Friends carers and support offered includes

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EVIDENCE:

training with a child psychotherapist, individual sessions with the child psychotherapist if required, a monthly support group as well as specific pages on the website which relate specifically to Family and Friends carers. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 20

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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 4 Standard No Score 14 X STAYING SAFE 29 4 Standard No Score 3 4 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 4 1 X 9 3 2 X 15 3 4 X 30 4 5 X 16 X ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 4 Standard No Score 18 X 7 4 19 X 13 3 20 X 31 x 21 4 22 X MAKING A POSITIVE 23 X CONTRIBUTION 24 3 Standard No Score 25 X 10 3 26 3 11 4 27 X 28 X 32 3 Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 21 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection?

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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

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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 FS13 That the LAC Education Co-ordinator is informed when a young person is excluded from their school placement. Brighton and Hove Fostering Services DS0000062799.V256085.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 22

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

East Sussex Area Office Ivy House 3 Ivy Terrace Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4QT

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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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