Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 1 Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd Suite 105, Stanmore Business Centre, Howard Road, Stanmore HA7 1FW Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency’s statement of purpose states that it offers the following types of foster care placements: short term, long term, emergency, respite, bridging, parent and child, sibling, and placements for children with disabilities. At the time of the inspection, the service offered placements to 27 children with 32 approved foster households.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager has been in post since January 2019, and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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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Information about this independent fostering agency

We last visited this setting on 3 December 2020, to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

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

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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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. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 2 Date of last inspection: 27 January 2020

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 3

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improvement to be good

A small number of children have experienced unplanned endings to their placements, despite initially making progress and being settled. The inspectors found that some of the foster carers were significantly challenged by the behaviours of some of the children. These behaviours included going missing from care, use of illegal substances, not engaging in education and criminal activity. In two cases, the registered manager did not consider the views of the children at the matching stage. The failure to culturally match these two children with their foster carers played a part in the placement breakdowns.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers spoke warmly of the support from their supervising social workers, while a few commented on the negative impact of supervising social workers leaving. They told the inspectors that they have regular contact with their supervising social workers, including visits from them, and have access to a supervising social worker out of hours. However, the inspectors found that at least one supervising social worker did not visit the foster carers in line with the fostering regulations and the agency’s statement of purpose. Furthermore, some foster carers’ supervision notes had been ‘cut and pasted’ by the supervising social workers. In addition, some notes lacked detail, were not signed or dated and did not include the agreed actions.

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improvement to be good

Since the assurance visit in December 2020, most of the children living with foster carers have remained settled, and placement stability has improved. The agency is rightly proud of these achievements.

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improvement to be good

Most children make progress from their starting points. Children regularly attend school, access health services and take part in activities, clubs and events arranged by the agency. Feedback from placing social workers supports this, and foster carers provided the inspectors with anecdotal evidence of the progress that the children living with them are making.

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improvement to be good

Most children living with foster carers are kept safe because the foster carers and the supervising social workers understand children’s individual safeguarding needs. However, the quality of risk assessments and safer care plans is variable. Some risk assessments and safer care plans do not include clear strategies, or are not comprehensive enough; in others, generic statements are used or there is insufficient management oversight of the records.

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improvement to be good

Since the assurance visit in December 2020, there has been one serious incident that took place in a foster carer’s home. In this case, the inspectors found the foster carers were not up to date with their mandatory training, had left the children with a Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 4 person who was not approved by the agency and failed to promptly report the incident to the agency. The three children living with the foster carer were not harmed. However, inspectors found several shortfalls in relation to the agency not following the approval process for these foster carers, and in relation to record- keeping and the investigation of the incident.

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improvement to be good

The number of times children go missing from care has reduced. When children do go missing, the foster carers know what to do and how to support the children on their return. That said, return home interviews are not routinely taking place with placing authorities, despite requests from the registered manager. As a result, opportunities have been missed to learn how to reduce the number of missing-from- care incidents, and how to prevent children from being at risk when they are missing from care. In some cases, the registered manager failed to report the missing-from- care incidents to Ofsted, in line with the fostering regulations.

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improvement to be good

Complaints and allegations are not a frequent occurrence. However, the registered manager failed to follow safeguarding protocol and report two allegations to the local authority designated officer (LADO). Instead, the registered manager completed his own investigation. This compromises safeguarding practice.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers are up to date with their mandatory safeguarding training. They access face-to-face and online learning opportunities. In addition, they are provided with access to a psychotherapist and mentor, to support them to better understand and respond to the children’s complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has failed to lead and manage the agency effectively, in line with the statement of purpose. Since the assurance visit in December 2020, some staff have left, resulting in the registered manager undertaking operational tasks. All staff and foster carers spoke positively about the registered manager, his visibility and presence in the agency, and the out-of-hours support he provides. Nevertheless, the additional work has directly impacted on the registered manager’s efficiency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers failed to challenge and improve the repeatedly poor practice of one supervising social worker, even though they were aware of this issue. Inspectors found that during this supervising social worker’s period of employment, the supervising social worker failed to undertake an unannounced visit, did not visit the homes of foster carers and did not record the views of the children living with the carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Supervising social workers receive regular supervision from the registered manager. However, some of the supervision records do not record how poor practice is challenged, and do not detail the action required for the poor practice to improve. Furthermore, the inspectors learned that the registered manager does not receive professional supervision. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 5 Leaders and managers complete audits on their electronic recording system. However, these audits fail to identify the shortfalls found by the inspectors. These shortfalls include: inadequate quality and accuracy in some records, such as panel minutes; out-of-date risk assessments; and generic and confusing safer care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers share information and progress updates with the local authority social workers. However, they do not always notify Ofsted and the LADO of all significant incidents of concern. Examples of these incidents include: when police are required to return children who have been reported missing from care; when an allegation is made; and when foster carers and children have tested positive with COVID-19.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Two requirements and seven recommendations are made because of the shortfalls identified at this inspection. Leaders and managers have provided Ofsted with assurances of how they will rectify the shortfalls. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 6

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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; and

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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—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider must ensure that all risk assessments: are updated following serious incidents; fully reflect all the current concerns; and include the strategies planned to address the risks identified.

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that when children are placed with foster carers, the children’s views are considered and recorded. This relates to cross-cultural placements. 7 June 2022

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Requirement Due date

If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36 (1)) 7 June 2022 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should exercise effective leadership of the staff and operation, such that the fostering service is organised, managed, and staffed in a manner that delivers the best possible childcare that meets the individual needs of each fostered child and of foster carers. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 35, paragraph 17.5)  The registered person should ensure that written minutes of panel meetings are accurate and clearly cover the key issues and views expressed by panel members and record the reasons for its recommendation. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 30, paragraph 14.7)  The registered person should ensure that each approved foster carer has at least one unannounced visit a year. Supervision of the foster carer by the supervising social worker has a clear purpose and provides the opportunity to supervise the foster carer’s work, ensure the foster carer is meeting the child’s needs, taking

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Recommendations

into account the child’s wishes and feelings, and offer support and a framework to assess the carer’s performance and develop their competencies and skills. The registered manager must ensure that supervision records are a true reflection of the meeting, they include agreed actions and are signed by all participants. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 43, paragraph 21.8)  The registered person should ensure that allegations against people that work with children or members of the fostering household are reported by the fostering service to the LADO. This includes allegations that on the face of it may appear relatively insignificant or that have also been reported directly to the police or Children and Family Services. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 45, paragraph 22.6)  The registered person should ensure that a clear distinction is made between an investigation into allegations of harm and discussions over standards of care.

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Recommendations

Investigations which find no evidence of harm should not become procedures looking into poor standards of care – these should be treated separately. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 45, paragraph 22.10)  The registered person should have an effective system in place to ensure that all records kept by the service comply with the service’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Ensure that immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 50, paragraph 25.2)  The registered person should ensure that entries in records, decisions, and reasons for them, are legible, clearly expressed, non-stigmatising, distinguish between fact, opinion and third-party information and are signed and dated. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 52, paragraph 26.5)

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Recommendations

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 8

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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: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 9

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Suite 105, Stanmore Business Centre, Howard Road, Stanmore HA7 1FW

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: omar.kadir@caringheartsfostering.co.uk

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Inspectors

Linda Bond, Social Care Inspector Angela Weston, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Caring Hearts Fostering Ltd 10 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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