Fusion Fostering South West

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 1 Fusion Fostering South West Fusion Fostering Limited Fusion Fostering, Richmond House, Taunton TA3 6BY Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The South West office of Fusion Fostering undertakes the recruitment, assessment, approval and training of foster carers who care for children aged 0–18 years in the South West region. The agency also operates offices in other regions of England.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of the inspection, the agency had 66 fostering households, who were caring for 78 children and young people.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Since the previous inspection, a new manager has been appointed. The manager has not yet been registered by Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The independent fostering agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy living with their fostering families and, in most cases, they are extremely settled. As a result, these children and young people have developed good attachments and a sense of security and permanence. Typically, unplanned endings to placements are few, but, when they do occur, children and young people are supported well during the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people who have lived with their fostering families for several years achieve good outcomes. They receive safe nurturing care, attend school and college regularly, and enjoy holidays and clubs that enhance their experiences and development. Some young people also contribute to the training of foster carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers understand the need for children and young people to feel safe and secure. Foster carers spoke warmly and with love about the children and young people they care for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers receive regular good-quality support from their supervising social workers. They spoke positively of this support. One foster carer said their supervising social worker was ‘amazing’, and ‘went above and beyond’. Supervising social workers regularly meet with children and young people; they have good relationships with birth children as well as those children who are fostered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Visits to the foster carers’ homes, supervisions and reviews take place regularly and, in the main, records reflect the good work the foster carers are doing. However, it was noted that some safer care plans lacked detail and were often generic in their content. Leaders and managers recognise that improvements are necessary to ensure that they reflect the needs of children and young people accurately, especially following incidents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Assessments of new foster carers, home visits and reports to panel are completed well, in good time and by the same supervising social worker. An organised quality- assurance process helps to ensure that assessments are well-written and identifies any issues at an early stage, so that they can be resolved. Throughout this process, new foster carers, their children and families are fully involved. This means that foster carers are better able to form relationships with their supervising social workers. If difficulties arise and cannot be resolved, another supervising social worker is allocated. In most cases, good matching takes place and all of the necessary information is available, enabling staff to make informed decisions.

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improvement to be good

Children and young people living with foster carers are kept safe because the supervising social workers and the foster carers understand the children’s and young people’s safeguarding needs. The social workers and foster carers take the necessary action to ensure that children and young people are safe in the home and out in the community. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 3 Since the previous inspection, the agency has changed its operational model, and previously independent care partners are now employed by the agency. Recruitment records for these staff were sampled, and showed that safer recruitment procedures are followed. However, it remains that leaders and managers are continuing to address some minor areas of the recruitment process to ensure that all employees are rigorously vetted.

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improvement to be good

Some children and young people go missing from their foster homes. Independent return home interviews do not always take place. However, staff and foster carers provide opportunities for the children and young people to talk with someone they are familiar with on their return, and records are kept detailing these conversations.

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improvement to be good

Local authority professionals spoke positively of the agency. They said that they are kept up to date and have concerns shared with them. For the most part, serious incidents reported to Ofsted are done so in a timely manner. However, the manager failed to report to Ofsted a substantiated allegation and did not carry out an effective risk assessment, in accordance with safeguarding procedures.

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improvement to be good

Issues regarding standards of care have been addressed with foster carers, but follow-up recommendations have not always been clearly set out or followed through. Leaders and managers are reviewing the procedure to ensure the effectiveness of this process.

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improvement to be good

The agency is in the process of rebuilding its website. Due consideration has been given to how this platform further safeguards children and young people from inappropriate adults.

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good

The new manager is in the process of registration with Ofsted. Due to the recent change in the operational model, it has been a challenging period for the agency. Leaders and managers recognise that further work and time are necessary in order to embed the new model. However, all staff continue to work well together and are aspirational for the children and young people.

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good

Leaders and managers have maintained good standards of practice built around a culture of continuous improvement. This is achieved by providing regular supervision, and training from professionals that are skilled and knowledgeable in their field.

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good

Management monitoring and reviewing take place and all the agency’s work is quality assured to achieve consistency. However, despite this, inspectors identified shortfalls in management oversight. Leaders and managers recognise that reporting tools and mechanisms need to improve in order to ensure a consistent approach to the monitoring and effectiveness in the operation of the service. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 4 Leaders and managers are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the agency. A comprehensive development plan contains several actions that are yet to be started, and some that remain in their infancy and therefore are not yet measurable. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 5

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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

If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36(1)) 15/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

Independent fostering agencies – duty to secure welfare

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Requirement Due date

The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular:  ensure that safeguarding process are followed in relation to allegations;  ensure that the agency addresses any actions that are identified that relate to the standards of care. 15/05/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. This includes the financial viability of the service, any serious incidents, allegations or complaints about the service and ensuring the quality of the service. (NMS 25.1)  The manager regularly monitors all records kept by the service to ensure compliance with the service’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. In particular, ensure that safer care plans are of a consistent standard that give guidance to foster carers. (NMS 25.2) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 6  The executive side of the local authority or the independent foster service’s provider/trustees, board members or management committee members: monitor

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Recommendations

the management and outcomes of the services in order to satisfy themselves that the service is effective and is achieving good outcomes for children. (NMS 25.7(b)) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 8

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fusion Fostering Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Old Mill, Maltravers House, Petters Way, Yeovil BA20 1SH

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Inspectors

Linda Bond, Social Care Inspector Sarah Canto, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fusion Fostering South West 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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