Setting

X10029.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 FOSTERING SERVICE

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FY4 4US

Lead Inspector Susan Winson Announced Inspection 22nd June 2006 09:00 Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 2 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

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FY4 4US

• 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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FY4 4US

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 Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.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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FY4 4US

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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FY4 4US

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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FY4 4US

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. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 4

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Name of service

Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services

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Name of service

Address Progress House Clifton Road Blackpool Lancashire FY4 4US

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Fax number

Email address claire.samuels@blackpool.gov.uk

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manager (if applicable)

Type of registration Local Auth Fostering Service

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of places

Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 5

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Brief Description of the Service:

Blackpool Borough Council is a unitary authority, which provides the full range of fostering services to Looked After Children under the management of the Director of Children and Young People social care, education and leisure department.

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Brief Description of the Service:

These include Long Term (permanent) Placements including friends and family carers; Short Term placements; Emergency placements; Bridging placements; Crisis Intervention for Teenagers; Short break placements; Preparation for Independence; Parent and child placements.

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Brief Description of the Service:

The aim of the service is to provide safe and secure foster care for children. The service had 109 fostering households at the time of the inspection who were providing a total of 209 placements for looked after children. 13 places had been commissioned from Independent Fostering Agencies. In the 12 months to the 31 st March 2005 a total of 22 new fostering households were approved. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.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

This is an announced key inspection and was the first one undertaken in Blackpool using the outcomes for children outlined in Every Child Matters.

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SUMMARY

The inspector spoke with the fostering manager, fostering social workers, the social workers of children who were case tracked, the quality assurance manager (who is responsible for all child protection meetings, and reviews of children and foster carers), the Teacher for children in public care, the team administrator, foster carers and young people in their care.

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SUMMARY

A fostering panel meeting was observed as was a meeting of Blackpool’s Foster Carer forum and a fostering team meeting.

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SUMMARY

Records of the agency and three foster carer files and three young people’s files were inspected.

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SUMMARY

The inspector received completed questionnaires from 9 young people in foster care, 10 foster carers and 18 social workers who have children placed with the fostering service.

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What the service does well:

The senior managers and the manager of the fostering service had identified areas for improvement of the service and a number of developments were in process at the time of the inspection. It is evident that they are striving to monitor their practices and they showed a strong commitment to improving outcomes for young people in their care.

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What the service does well:

General satisfaction with the standards of care in foster homes was expressed by placing social workers, young people and parent whose comments were included in review minutes. Young people said that foster carers listen to them and “If anything is worrying talk about it”.

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What the service does well:

Young people said they were encouraged to eat healthily and take exercise and foster carer’s training raises awareness of health issues and they are supported to meet young people’s health needs.

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What the service does well:

Numerous examples were given where foster carers, Blackpool’s education service and schools are working together to support and encourage young people to enjoy and achieve in education. Young people said they were helped in school and that there is “always someone in the house to help with homework.” They were also satisfied with the range of activities, trips out and holidays that they enjoy. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 7 There is a strong commitment to safeguarding children and young people said they felt safe in their foster homes and told the inspector about the ways in which adults protect them and teach them to keep themselves safe.

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What the service does well:

Encouraging young people to keep in touch with their friends and families is a high priority. Young people said that that their foster carers “always take us” to see their families and examples were given where young people keep in touch by telephone or letters.

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What the service does well:

The authority is committed to valuing diversity, ensuring that young people have equality of opportunities and meeting cultural and religious needs. These themes run through policies and practice.

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What the service does well:

The fostering panel is child focussed and is effective in scrutinising assessments of foster carers.

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What the service does well:

Foster carers and young people have a range of opportunities and are encouraged to contribute to improving services. Their comments or concerns are acted upon.

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What the service does well:

Foster carers were largely complimentary about the support they receive from the fostering service.

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What has improved since the last inspection?

This section cannot be assessed as the last inspection was a follow up visit to ascertain how the service has responded to the requirements and the recommendations of the previous service and the previous inspection did not address the outcomes for children outlined in Every Child Matters.

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What they could do better:

The authority needs to continue with plans to improve foster carer assessments and link them with annual reviews to provide an ongoing continual assessment of each carer’s performance, development and training and support needs.

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What they could do better:

The fostering service could better demonstrate how well foster carers are meeting children’s needs through improved records of fostering social worker visits which link with care plans, foster placement agreements and reviews to provide a more coherent tracking of care planning and outcomes for children.

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What they could do better:

There is a need to develop systems, which would allow for manager’s monitoring as Schedule 7 and record of accidents through reports of social worker’s supervisory and support visits. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 8 There are areas of development identified by the manager, which should be progressed in order to improve outcomes for children. These include the implementation of a range of effective policies and procedures, improvement of the short break service for children with disabilities, recruitment of a panel chairperson and better access for young people to specialist health services.

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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. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 9

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CONTENTS

Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.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:

The fostering service can demonstrate that children’s health and development is promoted.

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JUDGEMENT – we looked at the outcome for Standard:

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

Policies on health promotion and administration of medication are being adapted to make them more usable and effective in monitoring health planning for children and young people.

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EVIDENCE:

Referral forms used by fostering service social workers include information on health and medication. The manager and staff outlined that they try to obtain as much information from placing social workers as possible.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers expressed general satisfaction with the amount of health information they receive whilst acknowledging the difficulties where children previously unknown to the department are admitted in an emergency. Examples were given where foster carers had been active in obtaining dental and health information on their own initiative and are working with health visitors and other professionals to meet children’s needs.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers keep daily diaries, which include medication administered, which are returned to social services when a child leaves. Foster carers do not give non-prescription medication without consulting the fostering service. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 11 From files and discussions it is clear that children and young people are registered with local GP, dental and optical practices as soon as possible after placement and have regular check ups. Statutory review minutes demonstrate that health issues are monitored and needs largely met. The manager reported that the percentage of children looked after whose immunisations were up to date (from March 2005 to March 2006) was 83%. A difficulty in children accessing dental services has arisen and is being addressed in conjunction with the local health authority.

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EVIDENCE:

A healthy eating training course is provided for foster carers and is delivered by the Virtual Schools Team, in conjunction with health visitor service. There are plans to include a unit on Sexual Health and substance misuse in the training award for foster carers. Placing social workers commented that foster carers ensure that young people have a balanced diet and inform young people about healthy eating and lifestyles.

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EVIDENCE:

A worker from the fostering service has been involved with Lancashire PCT in regard to sex education. A Sexual Health and Relationship worker and a Substance Misuse Worker are linked with the fostering team and will take referrals of individuals directly as well as providing an advice to inform the service.

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EVIDENCE:

An Assistant Director, Children and Young People’s Department, Social Care is to be appointed to chair Blackpool’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Partnership Committee, which the manager stated will be effective in giving children looked after a higher priority. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 12

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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):

The practices of the fostering service largely serve to protect young people. The fostering panel is effective.

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

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

The persons managing the fostering service have appropriate qualifications and experience. A comprehensive checklist is now used for all staff recruited by the fostering service, which allows the manager to monitor that all necessary actions have been taken. The personnel files for staff of the fostering service were sampled and found to contain the majority of the required information. Not all files contained information as to why previous employment ended although this was said to be checked out at interview. It is advised that the written records contain this information.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carer assessment reports are largely descriptive and contain little analysis or assessment. The service is moving to use a competence based assessment format for foster carers and social workers have attended a two- day training course. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 13 Medical references are taken up for all prospective foster carers and medical examinations are requested as necessary. Where circumstances change, an addendum to the assessment form is compiled. A system for ensuring that CRB checks are taken up on foster carers every three years is in place which alerts the manager to the need for renewals.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers were positive about the assessment process and clearly understood the needs for checks and references. The children of foster carers are also included in the process. Foster carers described the preparation course as informative and cited the input experienced foster carers as especially useful. The programme for the course is comprehensive.

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EVIDENCE:

All foster carer homes are annually inspected against a standard Health and Safety checklist. Safe caring is included in foster carer training and it was evident from interviews with foster carers and from returned questionnaires that strategies are in place to protect young people. Foster carers focus on keeping children and young people safe and talk with them about personal safety issues. The senior quality assurance officer who chairs foster carer’s annual reviews stated that she had never seen any concerns about safe care.

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EVIDENCE:

It is evident that the fostering social workers know their carers well and make well-considered matching decisions within available resources. All aspects of children’s needs were considered in matching discussions at the weekly fostering meeting observed as part of this inspection. Foster carers themselves are part of the matching discussions and placing social workers were positive about the thorough planning when matching. The service does not have a high rate of placement breakdowns.

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EVIDENCE:

Where other children are already in placement, fostering social workers said they would seek the views of their social workers, prior to considering the placement of another child. There have been occasions where placements have not been made due to the needs of children already in the foster home.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster placement agreements do not contain clear expectations of foster carers nor details of how the child’s assessed needs will be met in practice in the foster home. They do not include specific reference to elements of matching which were taken into consideration or identify areas where foster carers need additional support to compensate for any gaps in matching.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering social workers outlined that they share all the information they have with foster carers prior to, or at the time of, placement and they strive to obtain as much written information as possible from placing social workers.

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EVIDENCE:

The service has a system in place for granting exemptions from the usual fostering limit of three children, which serves to consider the needs of all children involved. Nine were in place at the time of this inspection, some of which were for long term placements. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 14 A placing social worker made the observation that better communication between all the workers involved would be useful when there are high numbers of children in one foster home, in order that information which impacts on any of the children is shared. Exemptions are taken to panel with reports, which outline extra support which is in place.

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EVIDENCE:

The requests for exemption are scrutinised by the service manager and are monitored by the fostering manager on a monthly basis. The manager said that she and the service manager try to visit those carers who are over numbers to ensure that enough support is being provided.

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EVIDENCE:

In the last twelve months policies and procedures concerning the protection of children in public care have been updated. A system for the monitoring of complaints, allegations and incidents is in place, which demonstrates that they have been dealt with appropriately and all the relevant people have been notified. Strategy meetings were held in respect of two allegations. An example where a young person said that she was subject to bullying was being addressed.

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EVIDENCE:

There are systems in place which are effective in allowing the manager to monitor child protection issues and the fostering panel is involved in this. The manager outlined the working protocols between Blackpool Council and Lancashire Constabulary that serve to safeguard vulnerable children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Sound arrangements are in place for children absent without authority, which involves the police and other agencies who meet regularly and provide a monitoring role. There are plans to develop policies on behaviour management and bullying.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carers who met with the inspector had reasonable strategies for managing children’s behaviour, which were mainly positive and centred on praise, encouragement and discussion. Young people consistently stated that they felt measures were reasonable and fair and helped them to learn. One young person said that his carer “ Lets us off first time so we learn from it”.

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EVIDENCE:

From records, observation of a panel meeting and an interview with the Deputy Chair of the Fostering Panel it is evident that there is effective scrutiny of foster carer assessments and reviews, and a focus on safety issues. The panel has written policies and procedures which were updated last year. The panel is properly constituted and members have a range of relevant experience. Minutes are comprehensive and detailed. The inspector supports the Fostering Services intention to recruit an Independent Chairperson for the Fostering Panel. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 15

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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):

The fostering service can demonstrate that it values diversity and that young people are supported in education. Short break services for children are improving.

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

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager outlined that Blackpool has a Race Equality Scheme and a Diversity plan. Foster carer training groups raise issues around the range of children’s needs, including gender, religion, language, culture and ethnic origin. The Blackpool area has very few children looked after who are not from a white British background and the social workers acknowledge the consequent need to work harder to meet the needs of children from minority ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. Examples were given where foster carers were supported to help young people make appropriate links and to provide a range of books and toys. The social workers said they would benefit from more training in diversity ethnicity awareness.

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EVIDENCE:

There are plans to introduce a communication passport for all children with disabilities to ensure that young people are better able to communicate their views and wishes. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 16 The presence within the fostering team of the worker with responsibility for the short break scheme for children with disabilities was said by the team to be advantageous in sharing skills and expertise and in ensuring that there is a focus on disability issues.

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EVIDENCE:

Blackpool’s children and young people’s strategic partnership includes key officers in social services and education and meets regularly. In addition a children causing concern group focuses on those children experiencing difficulties and includes representatives from children in public care services, educational psychology, educational diversity and the police. These effective partnerships are in place from senior officer level to individual foster carers working with individual teachers, which is of benefit to looked after children.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service works actively with other services and agencies to improve the educational outcomes for children looked after. The virtual School Service offers high levels of support to foster carers and children and young people in their care.

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EVIDENCE:

The virtual schools team has teachers for children in public care in post and the inspector had the opportunity to speak with one of them. She reported a good level of understanding across all professionals in relation to education issues and promoting education. She has been involved in training of foster carers for over two years and said that they have been enthusiastic and keen to improve their practice. She has also led groups of foster carers in academic sessions, for example, literacy and numeracy (including long division at the request of carers) to increase their skills and confidence in helping children in their homes.

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EVIDENCE:

As well as training she works with foster carers and young people in their homes and at school, for example helping them to devise reward charts, attending school meetings with carers or assisting young people to complete homework tasks or revision for examinations. There is also a direct role in negotiating with schools to ensure young people access appropriate provision and she attends young people’s statutory reviews. She is clear about her role in supporting foster carers to raise young people’s aspirations and motivation from the early years onwards. As a further development she plans to work with the fostering service to write an education policy.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service can demonstrate that the education of children looked after is promoted. 75% of young people who turned 19 between April 2005 and March 2006 and who were looked after at the age of 16 are in education, training or employment.

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EVIDENCE:

Attendance at school is generally good for those young people in foster care and the service is active in discouraging foster carers from taking children on holiday during school terms. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 17 Foster carers visited by the inspector were working in conjunction with schools to support young people in education, including through the transition from primary to secondary schools and in providing support to young people in school.

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EVIDENCE:

The authority’s passport to leisure scheme is available to foster carers and children in their care. Those young people in foster care who the inspector met were enjoying a range of activities and outings geared to their individual interests.

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EVIDENCE:

A placing social worker commented on the positive aspects for a young person enjoying clubs and group activities whilst in foster care which had led to him making friends and an increase in his confidence. A theatre group for children looked after and the sons and daughters of foster carers has been started by two foster carers.

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EVIDENCE:

The Family Link Scheme to provide short breaks for children with disabilities continues to develop. The manager stated that additional carers have been recruited recently and that five children are awaiting placements. No difficulties in obtaining equipment were reported. The children with disabilities team and the fostering team work closely together.

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EVIDENCE:

The managers acknowledged that short break care remains an area for development to provide an improved service and a wider range of resources and options for children and their families. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 18

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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):

The fostering service can demonstrate a high commitment to contact and to including foster carers and young people in decision making through effective consultation.

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

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

From the initial training stage prospective foster carers are informed about the need to promote and support contact arrangements. Foster carers are clear about the fostering service’s expectations, committed to maintaining family links and devote considerable time to enabling contact to take place.

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EVIDENCE:

Contact arrangements are included in matching considerations and the views of children are taken into account through consultation at statutory reviews. Foster carers ensure that young people’s comments or wishes are communicated to their social worker as are the impact of contact on the children.

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EVIDENCE:

The service can demonstrate a commitment to consultation. Young people are encouraged and supported to attend and contribute to their statutory reviews and the reviewing officers are consulting with young people about the process to make it more accessible. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 19 The Senior Quality Assurance officer stated that a high number of young people attend their reviews and outlined their plans to improve on the range and format of consultation documents for children.

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EVIDENCE:

Young people contribute to foster carer’s annual reviews: forms are distributed by the Quality Assurance department and these offer young people the opportunity to indicate if they wish to speak to their staff in confidence about their experience of foster care. As young people did not attend a support group set up for children looked after in Blackpool, there are plans in place to start an activity-based group to encourage inclusion.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager outlined changes which have been made as a result of listening to children and young people; these include, changes of contact arrangements, a foster carer changing the way she interacts with a young person, young people meeting elected members of the council at their request and less people being present at young people’s statutory reviews.

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EVIDENCE:

Further developments in effectively consulting young people and including them in decision-making are planned. The authority is clearly committed to encouraging all children and young people to contribute to the council’s services.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service promotes consultation with foster carers and it is evident that the fostering social workers work to empower them to take part in decision-making. The foster carer forum is well attended and is effective in providing a forum for consultation, discussion, exchanges of ideas and information and is well attended. The inspector observed a meeting during which foster carers were able to contribute ideas and dissatisfactions, as well as share ideas and information. The suggestion that foster carers own children contribute to annual reviews was raised. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 20

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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):

The fostering service can demonstrate that it is effective in preparing young people for independence. Effective and clear systems are in place for foster carer’s allowances and expenses.

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

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service.

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EVIDENCE:

The manger outlined that the fostering service has close working relationships with the After Care service and has the benefit of the experience of two support workers who have previously worked in the After Care team. There are plans to deliver training for foster carers to assist them in supporting young people through transition to independent living.

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EVIDENCE:

Examples were given where foster carers continue to support young people after they have left the care system and where young people were able to remain in placement through to adulthood.

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EVIDENCE:

The quality assurance officer outlined that pathway plans for young people were generally of good quality. Young people are reminded that they can have a statutory review when they are 16plus should they wish to but many of them choose not to. Transition for children with disabilities starts at 14plus because of the need for better forward planning to help young people through change and alleviate anxieties. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 21 From discussions and records it is evident that foster carers are helping and encouraging young people to develop age-appropriate living skills and allowing them appropriate independence in everyday life and in decision making.

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EVIDENCE:

Clear guidelines are available on financial issues and carers receive prompt payments of allowances and fees. Foster carers have a named person in the finance department who they can contact. No foster carers raised any problems with payments. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 22

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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):

The fostering service is well managed and can demonstrate that it largely supports staff to meet young people’s needs.

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

This judgement has been made using available evidence including visits to the fostering service Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 23 .

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering service is well integrated into Blackpool’s services for children and the manager of the fostering service stated that she is kept informed by the service manager and is involved in strategic planning and in decision making. Roles, responsibilities and lines of accountability are clear and the service is efficiently and effectively managed.

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EVIDENCE:

The service has introduced a new system for complaints and incidents recording which allows more effective monitoring in practice. Full records of the actions taken following complaints are kept which demonstrate that they are fully investigated and the outcomes are also reported to the fostering panel for information. Other management systems for the formal monitoring of standards of care have not yet reached the stage where patterns and areas for development or training can be identified.

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EVIDENCE:

The staffing complement consists of 4 qualified social workers, two of whom are part time and two full time. One of these spends half his time on Family Link Scheme for children with disabilities and another undertakes family and friends assessments and acts as a support consultant to mainstream foster carers against whom complaints or allegations are made. Three unqualified social workers are in post, two of whom are part time and one is presently on maternity leave. A newly appointed qualified social worker started in post during the inspection. Only those who are qualified undertake assessments or cover duty tasks.

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EVIDENCE:

There is an experienced and competent staff group in place with the necessary qualifications and skills.

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EVIDENCE:

Staff of the fostering service were positive about their support, supervision and training. Individual performance assessments include a consideration of training and development needs, take place annually and are reviewed every six months. The service manager supervises the manager regularly and she commented that she is well supported.

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EVIDENCE:

Communication within the team is effective and every week the manager meets with the social workers to look at progress and necessary actions. These also allow for discussion on any outstanding referrals and pooling of information and ideas as well as planning.

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EVIDENCE:

One full time administrator and a part time assistant administrator provide the administrative support to the fostering team. Together they administer the fostering panel, send out and collate paperwork for foster carer reviews, type assessment reports, keep records to monitor when foster carer’s CRB checks Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 24 are necessary, give information to the finance department for foster carer payments and support the fostering social workers.

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EVIDENCE:

The administrators receive support and supervision from the financial co- ordinator and have access to training. There are plans in place to address administrative support within the office.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager stated that their recruitment strategy is out of date, however she is clear about the need to recruit for older children, larger sibling groups, children with disabilities and those young people who have been in residential care for considerable periods of time.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering team outlined how difficulties in recruitment compromise placement choice at times and although they are recruiting they are also losing short-term foster carers to permanent placements. The authority is in the process of addressing this and the manager stated that radio advertising commissioned in June 2005 has doubled the number of initial enquiries from people interested in fostering.

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EVIDENCE:

As Blackpool covers a relatively small area, many of the fostering service’s foster carers are outside of the boundary but are within easy travelling distance from children’s home areas.

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EVIDENCE:

A senior Service Level Manager has responsibility for the commissioning of external placements. Only accredited IFA’s are used and social workers consult with the fostering team on the appropriateness of placements. There are clear processes for agreeing the need for an external placement which involves senior managers scrutinising the care planning.

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EVIDENCE:

The authority is in the process of developing a permanence strategy and an interim protocol is in place. This remains an area for development.

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EVIDENCE:

Supervising social workers complete a proforma on supervisory visits which then goes to the fostering manager for monitoring. There is an expectation that visits will take place once a month and the manager outlined that at times there is a need to prioritise visits to increase support to those foster carers experiencing difficulties, especially at times of staff shortages.

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EVIDENCE:

The records of fostering social worker’s visits to foster carers are very brief and do not reflect the support and supervision of foster carers which seems to happen in practice. For example, a note on one visit form commented on the need to discuss a particular issue with the foster carer but this was not documented on later visits. Files contain no evidence of unannounced visits although the manager and staff stated that these were taking place, there is no system for the manager to track unannounced visits to ensure they are taking place at the required frequency. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 25 Foster carers were mainly positive about the support available to them from the fostering team, some describing their fostering social workers and the manager as accessible, helpful and available. Some foster carers had been given support to carry out specialist tasks such as moving children on to

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EVIDENCE:

adoption and keeping memorabilia. The service retains a reasonable number of foster carers. Placing social workers and fostering social workers clearly work together to support foster carers to meet young people’s needs.

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EVIDENCE:

An out of hours support service is available to foster carers from the fostering team, via Blackpool’s emergency duty team. One of the fostering social workers is on duty during office hours and is available to take referrals and to go out to foster carers if necessary.

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EVIDENCE:

One of the social workers in the fostering team who is not involved in the assessment or support of the mainstream foster carers acts as a support consultant in the event of any complaints against foster carers. Her role is to support foster carers, through advice and assistance, in representing themselves. She is clear about her role in relation to safeguarding children procedures, has a job description which she considers appropriate and foster carers are informed of her availability.

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EVIDENCE:

The manager stated that the foster carer handbook is out of date and needs to reflect procedures which are now in place. Foster carers all undertake training prior to approval and there is a range of ongoing courses available. There is provision for achieving NVQ3 in the care of children and young people and 15 carers have done so.

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EVIDENCE:

Foster carer reviews have not been held annually due to changes in Quality Assurance personnel who chair the reviews. The manager demonstrated that the service is working to catch up on those which are out of date. Placing social workers are asked to contribute in writing to the review of foster carers and the majority of reviews seen by the inspector contained completed questionnaires.

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EVIDENCE:

The Senior Quality Review Officer outlined that the procedures for reviewing foster carers are still relatively new and are being monitored.

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EVIDENCE:

The fostering social worker’s reports for reviews are brief and do contain an assessment of the foster carer’s development during the preceding year.

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EVIDENCE:

Case records are held within the authority, which are accessible to the fostering service. Not all the required documentation is up to date and some forms are neither signed nor dated.

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EVIDENCE:

The inspector met with one family and friends carer and young person and written information on two further placements were provided. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 26 Young people are being supported to maintain contact with their families, with the exception of one placement where financial arrangements to support contact were not in place. Comments on support from the fostering team were largely positive and the majority of young people who completed questionnaires were satisfied with the care provided.

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EVIDENCE:

The young people receive consultation documents for reviews and attend them. One young person’s major dissatisfaction was with the number of changes of social workers, describing them as “not just someone you say Hi to – have to trust them”. Otherwise he was positive about his placement.

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EVIDENCE:

The agency can demonstrate that alternative legal routes are being explored for friends and family carers so that young people do not remain in the looked after system unnecessarily and the agency is financially supporting residence orders. Delays in decision-making about the financial aspects need to be addressed. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 27

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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 3 STAYING SAFE 29 4 Standard No Score 3 3 MANAGEMENT 6 3 Standard No Score 8 2 1 X 9 3 2 X 15 3 4 2 30 3 5 3 16 2 ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING 17 2 Standard No Score 18 X 7 4 19 X 13 4 20 2 31 3 21 3 22 3 MAKING A POSITIVE 23 X CONTRIBUTION 24 2 Standard No Score 25 X 10 4 26 X 11 4 27 N/A 28 N/A 32 2 Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 28 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 FS4 42(1) and Schedule Blackpool Fostering Service must ensure that systems are in place to monitor the matters outlined in Schedule 7 of regulations. 01/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

2 FS8 34(3) and Schedule Blackpool Fostering Service must ensure that foster placement agreements contain specific reference to additional support needed to compensate for any gaps in matching. 01/10/06

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STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

3 29 Blackpool Fostering Service must ensure that all reviews of foster carers take place at intervals not more than 1 year. 01/10/06 Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 29

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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. FS30 The inspectors support the Fostering Services intention to recruit an Independent Chairperson for the Fostering Panel. 2 FS6 Blackpool Fostering Service should continue with plans to develop foster carer assessments. 3 FS9 Blackpool Fostering Service should ensure that unannounced visits to foster homes are carried out annually. 4 FS15 Blackpool Fostering Service should ensure that all checks are recorded when recruiting staff. 5 FS16 Blackpool Fostering Service should continue with the implementation of policies and procedures for placements with independent fostering agencies 6 FS16 Blackpool Fostering Service should consider the adequacy of administrative support. 7 FS17 Blackpool Fostering Service should continue with plans to increase placement choice. 8 FS20 Blackpool Fostering Service should continue with plans to develop a range of policies and procedures. 9 Blackpool Fostering Service should update their foster

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RECOMMENDATIONS

carer handbook in line with new policies and procedures. 10 Blackpool Fostering Service should improve the recording of supervisory visits to foster carers to include information for management monitoring and to reflect practice. 11 Blackpool Fostering Service should ensure that children’s case records contain full information, which is up to date. 12 Blackpool Fostering Service should continue to develop the short break service. 13 Blackpool Fostering Service should address delays in decision-making. Blackpool Borough Council - Childrens Services DS0000042382.V292356.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 30

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Commission for Social Care Inspection

North Lancashire Area Office 2nd Floor, Unit 1, Tustin Court Port Way Preston PR2 2YQ

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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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