Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 1 Fostering Together Fostering Together Ltd Unit 7 Haguelands Farm, Burmarsh Road, Burmarsh, Kent TN29 0JR Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

This agency registered with Ofsted in August 2020.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency offers short- and long-term fostering for children, including children with disabilities and complex life-limiting medical needs.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

There are currently six fostering households with 10 children placed.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The independent fostering agency is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 2

p.1

improvement to be good

Children live with committed foster carers who have mainly transferred from another agency. Most children have been with the same carers on a long-term basis. However, there is inconsistency in the quality of individual placement plans for children. Foster carers do not have all relevant guidance to help care for children. This means that children’s needs, wishes and interests are not clearly understood.

p.2

improvement to be good

The complex health needs of some children are not understood by the staff team. As a result, placement plans do not always meet children’s individual needs. Staff lack professional curiosity about children’s experiences of their care. This is important given the complex health needs of a significant number of children. An important change in the health plan for one child and their high level of medical needs were not fully understood by the staff team. However, the plan was reviewed effectively during the inspection.

p.2

improvement to be good

Due to the absence of necessary equipment to enable freedom of movement around the foster carer’s home, one child is having to find alternative ways to access stairs. There has been no review of the alternative strategies, which impacts on the child’s independence. This has been identified as part of the agency improvement plan following this inspection.

p.2

improvement to be good

Children’s communication needs are not fully understood by supervising social workers. This is due to a lack of knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with children who use alternative communication methods. Children are not routinely seen on their own, either virtually or in person when this has been possible. This reflects staff not feeling confident to meaningfully engage with children. Training is being arranged to enable staff to develop the necessary knowledge and skills.

p.2

improvement to be good

Foster carers support children well to communicate their wishes. For example, they help children to engage in their learning and choose activities to take part in. This is important given the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Agency staff have supported children with enjoyable activities to do at home during the pandemic. Children’s achievements and important times in their lives are celebrated by the team. This is appreciated by carers and shows children that they are valued.

p.2

improvement to be good

Social workers meet regularly with foster carers for individual supervision. This provides a dedicated space for foster carers to reflect on their role. Support for carers to access the agency’s online recording system has included the agency providing information technology equipment. This has helped foster carers to provide up-to-date information about children’s progress. This is important in the context of children’s health needs. Foster carers say that they have felt well supported by the staff team during the pandemic. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 3 Foster carers speak up for children. They help children to spend time with family where this is possible. Professionals shared positive feedback about the support and care provided to children. Children’s guides do not include information about independent advocacy and how to access this. This is significant given children’s

p.2

improvement to be good

The quality of assessment of prospective foster carers is good. This enables panel members to make appropriate recommendations on their suitability. The experienced panel chairperson provides effective challenge where needed. There is a good level of scrutiny and oversight by the agency decision-maker. They bring significant experience to the role and make a positive contribution to the quality of practice.

p.3

improvement to be good

Risk management plans for children vary in quality. There is inconsistency in the information held in each child’s plan. This includes relevant information about the complex medical needs of one child, which is needed to ensure safe care. In one case, the information held did not reflect the child’s placement plan. The planned review of this child’s risk assessment, during the inspection, ensured that appropriate guidance is now in place for foster carers and the staff team.

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff team and the registered manager do not routinely sign the risk management plans. This results in a lack of continuing oversight of this important safeguarding tool. Relevant information relating to the risk assessment is not always easily accessible. This was addressed through inspection activity with an action plan in place to ensure effective oversight of identified risks for children.

p.3

improvement to be good

The individual safe care plans for children are not routinely reviewed by the registered manager. This is necessary to ensure that effective oversight of care is provided to meet children’s individual needs. The change in the approach to care to meet the specific medical needs for one child was not adequately assessed. The agency did not have sufficient oversight of the decision-making in relation to this. As a result, the significant impact of these changes on the child’s experiences were not understood.

p.3

improvement to be good

There is appropriate oversight of the administering of medication to children. Through this, the team ensures that children’s health needs are appropriately addressed. This is important due to the individual medical needs of children. Training in relation to specific approaches to care for individual children is not consistently undertaken. This has been identified within the action plan devised during this inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practice is followed in respect of recruitment of foster carers and staff. This helps to ensure that only suitable people provide care for children. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 4

p.3

good

The registered manager does not have sufficient understanding of practice issues in respect of the needs of all the children. This is concerning due to the individual level of vulnerability for each child placed with the agency. However, the registered manager and responsible individual bring significant professional experience to their respective roles. During the inspection, they developed an action plan together, to begin to address the practice issues identified.

p.4

good

The fostering services manager supports the registered manager well in their role. They also bring significant experience in social work practice which they apply in leading supervising social workers. The support from the agency management team is appreciated by staff. However, neither the registered manager nor the fostering services manager is employed by the agency on a permanent basis. This makes it difficult to develop the service based on the identified improvements needed.

p.4

good

The Secure Base Model approach to care is not fully rooted in practice across the agency. This is not in line with the agency’s statement of purpose. Additional training for staff is being arranged to help to further embed this. However, there are no permanent supervising social workers employed by the agency. This means that it is difficult to provide the continuity of care which underpins the agency’s approach.

p.4

good

Staff receive regular supervision, which helps them to reflect on their role. Supervision for the registered manager is provided by the agency decision-maker. Although of good quality, this does not provide enough neutrality, due to the potential conflict of the different roles and responsibilities within the agency. The registered manager and responsible individual have plans to address this.

p.4

good

There is a clear plan for the transition to a newly employed prospective registered manager. This was identified before the inspection. The registered manager and responsible individual have appropriately thought through what is needed to provide a smooth transition. The responsible individual significantly contributes to the work of the agency on a day-to-day basis. Foster carers particularly appreciated their support and that of the senior leadership team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

keep under review and, where appropriate, revise the statement of purpose and children’s guide,

p.5

Requirement Due date

notify the Chief Inspector of any such revision within 28 days, and

p.5

Requirement Due date

if the children’s guide is revised, supply a copy to each foster parent approved by the fostering service provider, and to each child placed by them (subject to the child’s age and understanding). (Regulation 4 (a)(b)(c)) 31 August 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

wishes and feelings (having regard to the child’s age and understanding), and

p.5

Requirement Due date

religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background. (Regulation 11 (a)(b)(i)(ii)) 31 August 2021

p.5

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must promote the health and development of children placed with foster parents.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular the fostering service provider must ensure that each child—

p.5

Requirement Due date

is provided with such individual support, aids and equipment 31 August 2021 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 6 which the child may require as a result of any particular health needs or disability the child may have, and

p.5

Requirement Due date

is provided with guidance, support and advice on health, personal care and health promotion issues appropriate to the child’s needs and wishes. (Regulation 15 (1)(2)(c)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the purposes of the fostering service, having regard to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the size of the fostering service, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by it, and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of children placed with foster parents. (Regulation 19 (a)(b)) 31 August 2021

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal, and

p.6

Requirement Due date

are enabled from to time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 21 (4)(a)(b)) 31 August 2021

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 7

p.6

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fostering Together Ltd

p.7

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Unit 7 Haguelands Farm, Burmarsh Road, Burmarsh, Kent TN29 0JR

p.7

Inspectors

Maria Lonergan, Social Care Inspector Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Together 8 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.7

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 . 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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8