New Chapters Fostercare Agency

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: New Chapters Fostercare Agency 1 New Chapters Fostercare Agency

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Blencathra, Upton Magna Business Park, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TT

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

New Chapters Fostercare Agency is an independent fostering agency registered in 2015. There are three directors of the company: one is the registered manager, one is the responsible individual and the other is the head of therapy. The agency undertakes recruitment, assessment, approval and support of foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place to look at the actions taken by leaders and managers to review and develop practice after a serious child protection incident.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding continues to be a priority in this agency. Leaders, managers and staff are using learning from the child protection incident to reflect on and improve their practice. Internal audits have been completed, and an external audit commissioned, to ensure that they are fully aware of all issues that affect the safety and well-being of children. This work is ongoing but, where areas for development have been identified, proactive actions have been taken in response.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers do not have a plan for overseeing this investigation or collating the recommendations being made from audits and learning. This could potentially result in the recommendations not being addressed and timescales for actions to be taken to drift. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: New Chapters Fostercare Agency 2 Records do not evidence the good practice described by leaders, managers, clinicians and staff. Minutes from internal meetings and key partnership meetings are not available. Records of supervisions and reflection meetings with foster carers do not evidence that difficult conversations and resulting learning have taken place. This does not evidence how staff are assessing the ability of foster carers to meet good practice standards or maintain the safety and well-being of children. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: New Chapters Fostercare Agency 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 in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times. (Regulation 11 (a))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that records of supervisions and reflective sessions with foster carers and meetings with staff and partnership agencies contain detailed information that evidences actions are being taken to promote the welfare and safety of children. 30 November 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear and effective action plan for monitoring the actions taken as a result of internal and external audits following a serious child protection incident. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 50, paragraph 25.1)

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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. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: New Chapters Fostercare Agency 4

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: New Chapters Fostercare Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Blencathra, Upton Magna Business Park, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4TT

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Inspectors

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Louise Battersby, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: New Chapters Fostercare Agency 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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