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

Significant concerns about the safety of children were found at an assurance visit on 1 October 2020 and the agency was suspended. Effective quality monitoring systems and management procedures were not in place to provide scrutiny, challenge and support to foster carers.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 4 November 2020 and found that an action plan aiming to improve the quality of care was in place and work to ensure the safety of children was under way. This monitoring visit was undertaken to check compliance with the suspension notice and to monitor any further progress made by the agency.

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This monitoring visit

Supervising social workers have completed a plan of training and support that ensures they have the skills and competence to support foster carers effectively. Supervising social workers comment that following completion of the plan, they feel more able to challenge the standards of practice of foster carers. There has been a change of registered individual. Two new supervising social workers have been appointed and the recruitment of an additional manager for the region is under way.

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This monitoring visit

A comprehensive root cause analysis of the previous dysfunctional culture found in the agency has been completed. Actions identified from this work have been accepted by senior leaders and managers and are being implemented at pace. Learning from serious incidents has been taken seriously and used to inform future practice. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 2 Local authority commissioners are positive about the steps the agency is making to embed improvement. Leaders and managers have implemented protocols and improved systems to ensure that all necessary information is obtained from placing authorities prior to a child being placed with a foster carer. There is a protocol for supervising social workers to use to challenge the placing authority if this information is not received.

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This monitoring visit

The plan to reopen the agency has been carefully considered. The agency is to be split into two registered offices. This will help to improve management oversight and quality of the service. It is recognised by leaders and managers that the previous agency was too large and covered too wide a geographical area.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers recognise the importance of obtaining the views and wishes of children and using these views to inform children’s care plans. These include a plan of children’s activities, individual sessions with a supervising social worker and regular feedback. It is also planned that children’s views and wishes will be documented and monitored in their safer caring plans and risk assessments.

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This monitoring visit

Following a case review, the notice to suspend has been lifted, as it was found at this monitoring visit that sufficient action has been taken by leaders and managers. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 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 person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)) 2 February 2021

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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) Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Care Associates South Western 4

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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

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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Inspectors

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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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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