Team Fostering

Assurance visit report: Team Fostering 1 Team Fostering

p.1

Unit 6, Hedley Court, Orion Business Park, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE29 7ST

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Team Fostering is a not-for-profit independent fostering agency. The company is limited by guarantee. It has two branches, one of which, Team Fostering North East, is the subject of this report. It was established in 2001 and operates from an office in North Tyneside, with further premises in Middlesbrough. The other, separately registered branches are based in Sheffield, Leeds and Papplewick.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of the off-site visit, the North East branch provided services to 116 children and young people, nine of whom were placed under staying-put arrangements. The branch has 86 approved fostering families. The agency provides short-term, long-term and short-break placements, including parent and child placements and placements for children with complex needs.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted on 29 April 2016.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection date: 29 October 2018

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Previous inspection judgement: Outstanding

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. Assurance visit report: Team Fostering 2 This off-site visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

The care of children

Children develop positive relationships with their foster families. Children said that they feel safe and ‘part of the family’. Carefully matched placements for children consider the skills and experience of foster carers in line with children’s individual needs. Many children have settled in long-term placements, which provides them with stability and consistent care.

p.2

The care of children

Children receive support in line with their individual care plans. Foster families and supervising social workers work well with other professionals and agencies to ensure that children receive the necessary care and support that they require to meet their health, education and emotional needs. This supports children’s progress and development.

p.2

The care of children

Children have opportunities to express their views about their experiences of living with their foster families and the care that they receive. Supervising social workers ensure that they see and speak to children in their foster homes. Consulting with children improves their overall experiences, as they can share their views about the care that they receive.

p.2

The care of children

Children receive support from their foster families to stay in contact with people who are important to them, where it is safe to do so and in line with government guidance. This supports children’s emotional well-being and identity needs.

p.2

The care of children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children continued to access activities of their choice. The agency is creative in how it supports children to access activities. For example, some activities and games delivered remotely via video link enable children to stay connected with friends. This provides children with structure and opportunities to have fun. A child commented, ‘I have loads of fun with [Name]. I have tried so many new things that I have never tried before. I love it here.’

p.2

The safety of children

The agency follows the necessary protocols in relation to safeguarding concerns. These include notifying the relevant agencies, including the designated officer and Assurance visit report: Team Fostering 3 Ofsted. An isolated safeguarding incident managed by the agency’s out-of-hours duty team did not take children’s views into consideration. This means that children are not consulted as part of their planning and safe care arrangements.

p.2

The safety of children

Risk assessments support matching arrangements for children placed with their foster family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency introduced virtual meetings to discuss new referrals. These meetings include the agency, potential carers, placing local authorities and children where appropriate. This has enhanced the matching process and supports stability for children.

p.3

The safety of children

The agency ensured that safeguarding training continued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training provided to foster families includes awareness of exploitation issues, understanding behaviours and the Secure Base model of parenting. This provides foster families with the necessary skills and knowledge that they require to meet the needs of children in their care. This helps to better protect children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and has extensive experience of working in social care. She welcomes feedback from children, foster carers, staff, stakeholders and Ofsted to help drive improvements forward. The registered manager has good insight into the agency’s strengths and areas for development. She has a clear plan in place to develop the service and improve practice. This supports better outcomes for children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Supervising social workers and foster families spoken to are highly complimentary about the support, training and supervisions that they receive from the agency. A foster carer commented, ‘It has been a difficult year for many people in many ways. It is my view that Team Fostering have been outstanding in the care and support they provide to children and their carers… They are simply fantastic.’

p.3

Leaders and managers

An experienced professional chairs the agency’s panel. The minutes from panel meetings show her effectiveness in ensuring that the quality assurance process is met. The fostering panel continued in its role by the use of technology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This supports decision-making to ensure effective help for and protection of children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager has good monitoring and quality assurance processes in place, which include annual reviews and independent case audits of agency records. This enables her to have sufficient scrutiny of supervising social workers’ practice and oversight of foster families. She addresses compliance issues to ensure that practice remains safe and in line with fostering regulations. This improves children’s daily lived experiences. Assurance visit report: Team Fostering 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times, and

p.4

Requirement Due date

before making any decision affecting a child placed or to be placed with a foster parent due consideration is given to the child’s—

p.4

Requirement Due date

wishes and feelings (having regard to the child’s age and understanding). (Regulation 11 (a)(b)(i)) 12 April 2021

p.4

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Team Fostering, 6 Hedley Court, Orion Business Park, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE29 7ST

p.4

Inspectors

Jacqueline Tate, Social Care Inspector Michael Dack, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: Team Fostering 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.

p.4

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspectors

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

p.5