National Fostering Agency

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 1 National Fostering Agency The National Fostering Agency Limited 920 Birchwood Boulevard, Warrington WA3 7QS Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This privately owned independent fostering agency was registered in July 2016. The agency provides the following types of foster placements:

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Information about this independent fostering agency

 emergency  short term  long term  respite  parent and child.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency had 129 approved fostering households. These families were caring for 182 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager has been in post since May 2020.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This inspection involved both on-site and off-site inspection activity. Foster carers and children were enabled to take part by video calls.

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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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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 2 The independent fostering agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress through living with foster carers who can meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers work proactively with schools and colleges. As a result, children have increased their attendance, attained higher than expected exam results and increased their working levels. These achievements are celebrated by both the foster carers and the agency.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Older children are encouraged to think about their futures, aspire to achieve and reach their potential. One social worker commented that a child’s life chances had ‘dramatically improved’ as a result of being with the foster carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living with foster carers who are experienced and well prepared. One child commented: ‘I can’t put into words how much she has done for me.’ Foster carers help children to become emotionally resilient and over time to address previous life traumas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed into their foster families and quickly become part of the family. They establish trusting relationship with their foster carers and develop a sense of belonging. This underpins the progress that children make.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency enables brothers and sisters to remain together. This supports their sense of identity and reduces potential experiences of loss. For one large sibling group, however, assessments regarding the sharing of bedrooms are not individualised and do not specify the sharing arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In line with their plans, foster carers encourage and promote children’s contact with their families. Through periods of national restrictions, foster carers were inventive and embraced new technologies. This helped children remained connected to people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children with highly complex medical needs are being cared for by foster carers who are dedicated to enhancing children’s experiences of life. They work well with other professionals and are highly regarded for the commitment they show.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly consulted about their care and the agency encourages participation in decision-making. For example, the agency has trained two ‘young inspectors’ to help with the scrutiny of the agency and has also appointed two care- experienced young people to the fostering panel, who they have assisted in developing questions to be asked of foster carers at panel. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children become safer as a result of living with their foster families. Foster carers act promptly and take appropriate action when there are concerns about children’s safety. They access additional support and advice and know who to contact.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carers understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. They provide nurturing care that enables children to develop their understanding of risk and how to make safer decisions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carers receive appropriate training and support in safeguarding children. This gives them the confidence to act if there are situations of concern. The support from the agency also enables foster carers to continue caring for children in challenging circumstances. For example, carers are offered counselling, in addition to social work support. Foster carers who access the service describe it as ‘invaluable’.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When children go missing from their homes, foster carers follow plans and share information in a timely way. They demonstrate a good understanding of their responsibilities and make a positive contribution to keeping children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Overall, managers have responded appropriately to allegations and complaints. However, inspectors found one allegation that had not been appropriately referred to the designated officer or notified to Ofsted. This was as a result of the allegation being classified as a complaint. Children were not at risk due to this omission.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Foster carers and children benefit from a stable workforce who are enthusiastic and committed. The management team is knowledgeable and keen to develop the service given to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A particular strength of the agency is the training that is available to social workers and foster carers. Foster carers say they like the variety and flexibility of training. It enables foster carers to complete training online at a time of their convenience and also offers valuable time for discussion through face-to-face events. The agency’s social workers and support workers also value the training offered. They cited this, alongside managerial support, for their long service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Foster carers and staff feel valued by the agency and speak highly of the advice and support they receive. Staff say that the agency listens and acts upon any concerns or ideas they have. Similarly, foster carers say they can share their ideas and have seen the agency improve as a result. However, not all workers have received monthly supervision. This is recognised by managers and has been addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Foster carers have timely annual reviews, and the independence of the reviewing officer provides appropriate scrutiny and challenge. However, on one occasion, managers did not fully explore the reviewing officer’s recommendation regarding placing children on an emergency basis with newly approved carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 5 The fostering panel is established and effective. It provides robust recommendations and when shortfalls are identified there is a clear mechanism for reporting back to the agency. On one occasion, managers did not act on recommendations by the panel to conduct a learning exercise following a safeguarding investigation. Although children were not affected by this, managers have missed an opportunity to explore possible improvements in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Commissioners and social workers spoke highly of the agency, its staff and carers. A commissioner felt the agency offered a good specialist service to children who benefit from opportunities to live in family environments. Children in these placements also benefit from the long-term relationships that the agency’s support workers establish and maintain.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are in place to enable managers to have oversight of the service. Overall, these are effective, however there is currently no evaluation or analysis of police call-outs to foster carers’ homes. There are, therefore, missed opportunities to improve care to children and offer support to foster carers. In addition, there is no discrete means of collating all information relating to allegations or complaints. This frustrates the auditing process and is time consuming. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the procedures under paragraph (1)(b) must, subject to paragraph (4), provide in particular for the prompt referral to the area authority of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child placed by the fostering service provider and notification and outcome of any child protection enquiries involving a child placed by the fostering service provider, to the Chief Inspector. (Regulation 12 (3)(b)(c)) 31 January 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that sharing of bedrooms is agreed by each child’s responsible authority and each child has their own area within the bedroom. This relates to agreements and assessments being specific to each child. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 10.6)  The registered person should ensure that a clear distinction is made between investigation into allegations of harm and over standards of care. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 22.10)  The registered person should ensure that a clear and comprehensive summary of any allegations made against a particular member of the fostering household, or staff member, including details of how the allegation was followed up and resolved, a record of any action taken, and the decisions reached. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 22.7)  The registered person should ensure that they take action to address any issues

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Recommendations

of concern that they identify, or which are raised with them. This relates to actions recommended by the reviewing officer and panel. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 25.8)  The registered person should ensure that the approach to care minimises the need for police involvement to deal with challenging behaviour and avoids criminalising children unnecessarily. This relates to analysis and evaluation of those incidents to improve practice and identify any patterns and trends. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 3.10) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 7

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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: National Fostering Agency 8

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: The National Fostering Agency Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Rosemary Chapman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency 9 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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