Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd

Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 1 Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd

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Unit N Impact Business Park, 7 Wadsworth Road, Greenford, London UB6 7JD

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This independent fostering agency offers the following types of foster care placements: short term, long term, emergency, respite, bridging, parent and child, sibling, and placements for children with disabilities. At the time of the inspection, the service offered placements to 39 children with 36 approved foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This agency was registered in December 2017. The first carer was approved by the agency in August 2018.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection date: 27 January 2020

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits. The visit consisted of phone conversations with the registered manager, communication with allocated social workers and foster carers. In addition, the agency secured remote access to the case files of children. It was not possible to speak directly to children.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 2 practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children form trusting relationships with their foster carers. This is evidenced by improved placement stability and 16 current placements formally agreed as being long term. The agency is rightly proud of these achievements.

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The care of children

Feedback from placing social workers supports this. One social worker commented, ‘The foster carers are proactive and advocate on the child’s behalf; they are truly excellent foster carers.’ Feedback from foster carers is universally positive. Foster carers spoke of forming close and positive relationships with children, coupled with strong levels of support from supervising social workers.

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The care of children

All the children are engaged in education and make progress. This summer, the agency celebrated several children passing exams. The agency recently supported one child to develop an interest in music by purchasing her a guitar.

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The care of children

Foster carers used creative means to help children stay in touch during the periods of COVID-19 restrictions, including video calling. This helped children to sustain important relationships.

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The care of children

The agency has strived to minimise the impact of the pandemic by increasing the support offered to placements. Foster carers have enjoyed weekly ‘internet drop ins’ offered by the agency and have been encouraged to complete online training courses. The agency has recruited a therapeutic coach to work with foster carers. Initial feedback is positive. A placing social worker commented that the placement would have broken down without this support.

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The care of children

The voice of children is more evident in care plans and risk assessments. However, this practice is not consistent as one risk assessment failed to evidence the wishes and feelings of the child concerned. The registered manager is planning to introduce children’s feedback into staff appraisals.

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The safety of children

The matching process has improved. A matching report is compiled prior to each child being placed. Placements are agreed by the registered manager and supervising social worker together. Where possible, supervising social workers facilitate an introductory visit prior to placement. The agency completes a survey two weeks after the start of each placement to assess suitability. Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 3 The new procedure has resulted in improved placement stability and a reduction in children going missing from their placements. At present, only one child in placement presents with a concerning pattern of missing behaviour.

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The safety of children

The agency has improved its response to children who go missing from placements. The need for an independent return-to-care interview is quickly raised with placing authorities, with suitable escalation if no appropriate response is forthcoming.

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The safety of children

Foster carers reported feeling well prepared by their initial assessment and subsequent training. One carer commented on the good levels of support that they receive from the agency and the availability of extra training, which suits their individual learning needs.

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The safety of children

The agency has drafted a new policy to give foster carers guidance on the use of physical restraint. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted the agency from arranging face-to-face training for the foster carers concerned. Future placements where restraint is identified as a possibility will only be offered to foster carers who have been fully trained in physical restraint and de-escalation techniques.

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The safety of children

Foster carers are supported appropriately when allegations occur, and the agency provides more creative support, such as additional training or support from a mentor. This helps to safely support foster carers at a vulnerable time.

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Leaders and managers

The agency has grown slowly and within its own timescales since the last inspection. Managers have used the findings of the last inspection to make several improvements, most importantly in placement matching. The agency has addressed five recommendations from the last inspection. One additional recommendation relating to case recording is made at this assurance visit. The remaining requirements and recommendations from the full inspection are repeated.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has strived to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. He knows placements well and speaks with children whenever possible to ascertain their wishes and feelings. Key professionals, including placing social workers, said that they value the registered manager’s input and leadership qualities.

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Leaders and managers

Case recording is variable. Despite some improvements, one case file contained information regarding another child, while a risk assessment lacked detail.

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Leaders and managers

The agency is keen to develop and is committed to a clear and achievable improvement action plan. The agency continues to explore new means of supporting children in placement, such as the introduction of a new independence skill development toolkit. Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 4 The agency has diversified its marketing strategy to try and broaden the range and skills of foster carers.

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Leaders and managers

Foster carers’ reviews are more comprehensive. Supervising social workers now seek more holistic feedback from key professionals, including therapists. The agency’s independent reviewing officer considers these results in a more thorough assessment of carers’ needs and their ability to meet the needs of children.

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Leaders and managers

Recruitment practice is safer, and staff have completed the relevant training. One recruitment file was sampled, which evidenced that the necessary checks had been undertaken.

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Leaders and managers

Panel minutes are improved. The agency has provided specialist training to panel members and its positive impact is evidenced in the quality of panel meeting minutes.

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Leaders and managers

It was not possible to assess the quality of staff supervision and appraisal during this inspection.

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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 fostering service provider must ensure that all persons employed by them—

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 21 (4)(a)) 01/04/2021

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Requirement Due date

Support, training and information for foster parents

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide foster parents with such training, advice, information and support. (Regulation 17 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to offering specific training on restraint. 01/04/2021 Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 5

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Recommendations

Ensure the fostering service implements an effective strategy to ensure sufficient foster carers to be responsive to current and predicted future demands on the service. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’ 13.1)

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Recommendations

Ensure children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’ 1.3)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that the wishes and feelings of children are reflected in care plans and risk assessments.

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Recommendations

Ensure the service implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’ 4.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that all risk assessments fully reflect all the current concerns and strategies planned to address the risk concerned.

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Recommendations

Ensure the wishes, feelings and views of children are considered in developing the fostering service. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’ 1.3)

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Recommendations

Ensure that the views of children remain considered for staff appraisals and risk assessments.

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Recommendations

Ensure information about individual children is kept confidential and only shared with those who have a legitimate and current need to know the information, and to those parts of a child’s records or other information they need to know. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’ 26.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, the service to ensure that information stored on case files relates to the relevant young person.

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Independent fostering agency details

Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 6 Unique reference number: 1268883

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 7 to achieve excellence in the care of children and children, 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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Inspector

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