F5 Foster Care Limited

Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 1 F5 Foster Care Limited

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First Floor Amington House, 95 Amington Road, Birmingham B25 8EP Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

F5 Foster Care Limited is a private limited company based in Birmingham. The agency offers a range of placements, including long-term, short-term and respite placements. At the time of this inspection, the agency was providing placements for three children, and had three fostering households. The agency does not currently have a registered manager.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 29 July 2019

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This monitoring visit

This independent fostering agency was judged inadequate at its first full inspection, conducted between 29 July and 2 August 2019. The purpose of this monitoring inspection was to review the action taken by managers to meet the three compliance notices and nine requirements raised at the full inspection. Since the full inspection, the previous registered manager has left the agency. Recruitment of a new manager is currently underway. Managers have acted to ensure that the agency has sufficient qualified staff in place. This supports greater oversight of the service and enables the agency to fulfil its core function. Managers have made significant improvements. This has resulted in all three compliance notices and nine requirements being met. Managers have made improvements to the agency arrangements for the safe matching of children’s placements. New processes ensure that children’s needs are matched to foster carers’ skills and experience.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers are now benefiting from regular supervision, provided by suitably qualified staff. This ensures that foster carers receive the necessary support and oversight of their work with children. As a result of this positive change, there have been improvements in the care that children receive. For example, managers have Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 2 greater oversight of children’s health needs and how these are being met. Managers have implemented arrangements for the regular supervision of staff. This provides staff with regular opportunities to reflect on and develop their practice. Foster carers and staff have received a range of training to help them understand their roles and to increase their knowledge of safeguarding. This includes training in caring for children who have a risk of exploitation and/or illegal drugs or alcohol.

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This monitoring visit

When it has not been possible to immediately arrange specific training, managers have been creative in ensuring that foster carers have access to relevant information. Managers have implemented changes to the agency systems for the safe recruitment of staff. Managers now ensure that they confirm the reasons that staff have left their previous posts when they have worked with vulnerable adults or children. Work to carry out these checks for current staff remains ongoing at the time of this inspection. Managers have made improvements to address administrative errors identified at the full inspection. The foster carer’s agreement and the children’s guide to the fostering agency have been updated. This ensures that these documents provide clear and accurate information. Managers have improved the use of the agency’s electronic recording system by providing training for staff and foster carers. This is aimed at improving the standard

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This monitoring visit

and accessibility of case records. At the time of this inspection, this work is ongoing and as a result the effectiveness is unknown. All children now have a personal safe care plan and risk assessments in place that reflect children’s individual needs. However, the risk assessments do not consistently provide foster carers with specific guidance about how they should manage risk- taking behaviour. This leaves foster carers without all the essential information they require to keep children safe. One new requirement has been raised as a result of this inspection. Managers have failed to complete a review of the quality of care provided by the agency. This omission prevents managers from identifying and responding to further areas of improvement in the service. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by the fostering agency, and the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children placed by the fostering agency, carry on or manage the fostering agency (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the agency operates clear and accessible recording systems which are updated in a timely manner. 03/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11(1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments provide foster carers with clear strategies to enable them to manage risk effectively. 03/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must not employ a person to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so, or allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so. For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1. (Regulation 20(1)(a)(b)(3)) 03/01/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in schedule 6 at appropriate intervals and improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. The registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on request, to any local authority. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b)(2)) 03/01/2020 Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 4

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Recommendations

 The fostering service provider’s decision-maker makes a considered decision that takes account of all the information available to them, including the recommendation of the fostering panel and, where applicable, the independent review panel, within seven working days of receipt of the recommendation and final set of panel minutes. (Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards, page 31, paragraph 14.9)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the independent fostering agency since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: F5 Foster Care Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: First Floor Amington House, 95 Amington Road, Birmingham B25 8EP

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Inspector

Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: F5 Foster Care Limited 6 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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