Elite Fostering Limited

Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering Limited 1 Elite Fostering Limited

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International House, 963 Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 4RJ

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Ofsted registered Elite Fostering Limited in December 2018. The registered manager is also a director of this agency. The agency undertakes recruitment, assessment, approval and support of foster carers. The agency currently has 28 fostering families and 54 children placed.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency had a monitoring inspection on 6 August 2020.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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.

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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 practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering Limited 2

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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 settle quickly when they move to their foster families. The agency considers carefully how foster carers can meet children’s needs. Matching consideration is child-focused to promote placement stability.

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The care of children

Children keep in touch with people who are important to them. This has continued throughout the pandemic. COVID-19 risk assessments are in place. These include how visits to family and people visiting the home will be managed.

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The care of children

Children have good education attendance. The agency tracks all children’s school attendance and academic achievements. The agency’s education and wellbeing manager is a good support to foster carers and children.

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The care of children

Throughout the pandemic, supervising social workers have kept in touch with children. They have spoken to them on the phone and used video calls if they have been unable to visit the home. This enables the agency to keep in touch with children and understand their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The care of children

Supervising social workers keep up to date and informed about children’s needs. These are discussed in supervisions with foster carers. The agency keeps a record of discussions and regularly reviews children’s behaviour and health and educational needs in partnership with foster carers.

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The care of children

Foster carers help children to make good progress. The agency and foster carers seek additional support for children when needed. The positive liaison with wider agencies is beneficial to children as it ensures that they have access to services they need.

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The safety of children

Children have individualised risk assessments which are reviewed to reflect incidents and provide carers with guidance to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

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The safety of children

On the rare occasions that children go missing, foster carers respond appropriately. The agency ensures that return home interviews are completed to seek children’s views.

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The safety of children

The agency is alert to the potential risks associated with child exploitation. When this is a concern for a child, the agency seeks external support and promotes a partnership agency approach to keep children safe. Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering Limited 3 The agency responds appropriately to safeguarding concerns. Allegations are reported to the designated officer and advice and guidance are followed. On one occasion, the agency took a photograph of a bruise that a child had sustained. It is not in the agency’s remit to investigate and gather such evidence. The impact to the child was minimal as medical advice was sought and safeguarding processes were followed.

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The safety of children

Foster carers feel supported by supervising social workers, the registered manager and the education officer. This support has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Foster carers reported that staff are always available to provide support. This provides stability in placements and helps foster carers cope with challenging situations.

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The safety of children

Foster carers have continued to be safely recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has included arranging for potential foster carers to attend the panel remotely. The panel has continued to run without needing to use the amendments to the regulations. Despite the challenges faced by COVID-19, the panel members have been able to continue to assess potential foster carers.

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The safety of children

A number of new members of staff have been appointed since the monitoring inspection in August 2020. Staff have been recruited in line with safer recruitment practice.

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Leaders and managers

Since the inspection in August 2020, the agency has experienced some unsettlement in the management team. This has resulted in an interim agency decision-maker being appointed and the registered manager taking on more responsibilities, stretching his capacity. The impact of the current instability is that staff are not always receiving timely supervision.

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Leaders and managers

Staff in the agency feel supported by the registered manager. When supervision takes place, it is reflective, and discussions focus on the needs of children, young people and foster carers. This is beneficial to the staff and gives the registered manager a good overview of the agency.

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Leaders and managers

Over half of the fostering families in the agency contacted the inspectors with feedback. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive about the support they receive and the constructive relationships they have with the staff in the agency.

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Leaders and managers

Foster carers reported that the impact of staffing changes has been minimal as the registered manager is a consistent source of support. The registered manager has a strong focus on supporting foster carers and ensures that they receive good training.

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Leaders and managers

Throughout the pandemic, foster carers have continued to receive supervision and annual reviews, and unannounced visits have continued to take place. At times, these have been done virtually. Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering Limited 4 The registered manager has monitoring and review systems in place, including the panel chair’s yearly review. This is informative and acknowledges that the registered manager is open to recommendations and advice.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager ensures that complaints are managed effectively and fairly with impartiality.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has responded appropriately to the previous recommendations and requirements raised at the monitoring inspection in August 2020.

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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 receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal, and are enabled from to time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 21 (4)(a)(b)) 22 January 2021

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Recommendations

 Managers, staff, volunteers and foster carers are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The level of delegation and responsibility of the manager, and the lines of accountability, are clearly defined. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’, page 50, paragraph 25.4). Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering Limited 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Elite Fostering Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 1 Gorsey Way, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 0EQ

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: Elite Fostering 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 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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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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