Foster Care Associates South Western

Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 1 Foster Care Associates South Western

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Suite 2, Forresters House, 41 Estover Close, Plymouth PL6 7PL

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This independent fostering agency operates from its main office in Plymouth.

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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 is currently suspended. Significant concerns about the safety of children were found at the assurance visit 1 October 2020. Effective quality monitoring systems and management procedures were not in place to provide scrutiny, challenge and support to foster carers. This monitoring visit was undertaken to check compliance with the suspension notice and to evaluate progress that the agency has made in addressing these concerns.

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This monitoring visit

An action plan that aims to improve the quality of care is in place and work to ensure that children are safe is underway.

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This monitoring visit

Two quality assurance and compliance managers for the agency have been appointed and managerial capacity has been increased. A root cause analysis to help leaders and managers understand how the agency can further implement improvement has been commissioned and is under way. The audits are part of substantial plans to develop practice, systems and culture.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers caring for babies now receive detailed guidance relating to the safer care of babies. For example, all foster carers are now made aware of current safer sleeping guidance prior to a baby or child under three years old being placed in their care. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 2 Individualised risk assessments relating to foster carers taking children on holiday are now in place. An audit process has been introduced to ensure that the information in these risk assessments is up to date and relevant.

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This monitoring visit

Children now benefit from having an improved safer caring plan on file.

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This monitoring visit

The escalation process is now being used effectively to ensure that all relevant documents are obtained from the placing authority.

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This monitoring visit

A new system for ensuring that children receive a return home interview is being implemented following incidents when children go missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

A ‘buddy’ scheme using experienced independent social workers has been implemented to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Safer caring plans and household safer caring plans have been subject to an audit to drive improvement and help to ensure the safety of children.

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This monitoring visit

Standards of practice systems to monitor the quality of foster carers’ practice are now in place and will be monitored through supervision. The standard of recording, frequency and content of foster carer supervision is still being developed.

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This monitoring visit

Learning from serious incidents is under way but is not yet complete.

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This monitoring visit

Sampling of records found that one foster carer had not submitted their recording logs regularly, so that managers have the information that they need to monitor the progress children are making.

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This monitoring visit

Work is now under way to ensure that the voice of the child is heard through participation work and is always captured in all children’s records.

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This monitoring visit

Positive action has been taken by the agency toward making the required improvements. Ofsted will continue to closely monitor developments during this suspension period.

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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

35: Review of quality of care 30/10/2020 Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 3 The registered person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

(a) monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and

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Requirement Due date

(b) improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency.

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Requirement Due date

(2) 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.

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Requirement Due date

(3) The system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for consultation with foster parents, children placed with foster parents, and their placing authority (unless, in the case of a fostering agency which is a voluntary organisation, it is also the placing authority).

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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)  Ensure that children understand how their views have been taken into account and where significant wishes or concerns are not acted upon, they are helped to understand why. (NMS 1.2)

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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.

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Independent fostering agency details

Unique reference number: SC038012 Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 4 Registered provider: Foster Care Associates Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, social care inspector Sarah Canto, social care inspector Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 5 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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