Asphaleia Ltd

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Asphaleia Ltd 1 Asphaleia Ltd Asphaleia Ltd 22 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1RY Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This private fostering agency is part of a larger organisation, including a charity, which delivers other community-based support projects for children. At the time of this inspection, there were two approved fostering households and two children in placement. Long- and short-term services are provided.

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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

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good

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: Asphaleia Ltd 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is committed to supporting children to make progress and to receive a good standard of care. For example, the registered manager has supported an experienced foster carer to work closely with a mother and her children to enable them to successfully remain together. As a result of the help of the agency, another child has made significant progress with their general appearance and self-care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child-centred ethos of the agency enables children to thrive physically, emotionally and educationally. This attention to care has enabled one child to be ambitious about her future, and she has plans to attend university.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are very positive about the care they receive. One child gave the inspector a ‘thumbs-up’ when asked about their foster family. Another child could not think of anything they would like changed, commenting that everything was good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers and children have access to specialist help through the in-house therapist. This service offers the adults in the children’s lives therapeutic support and training. The quick response offered to children when they are struggling emotionally helps them to cope better with difficult experiences. The recent introduction of the youth voice and participation worker is aimed at enhancing the support available to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The statement of purpose and the children’s guide have been updated. The children’s guide reflects the differing ages of the children and the services offered. However, the revised statement of purpose has not been shared with Ofsted and one of the two children living with carers has not received a copy of the updated children’s guide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children experience unplanned endings, the registered manager and carers do their utmost to ensure that they work with the placing local authority to achieve a positive move.

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

The agency manager has effective links with safeguarding agencies to help support and protect children in their care. Child protection issues are reported by the manager. For example, when a child protection issue was raised, this was reported immediately and all actions taken were clearly documented. The disclosure was shared with professionals involved in the child’s care and the foster carer and child were supported during the investigation. However, one child protection incident was not reported to Ofsted in line with regulation. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate to the regulator the positive and proactive work of the agency in relation to safeguarding children and supporting foster carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Asphaleia Ltd 3 Risk assessments are of good quality and are reviewed and updated regularly. Children’s safe care plans are regularly updated following any changes in

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

The agency does not care for children with a history of behaviours that might require physical intervention. However, not enough consideration has been given to situations that can occur when de-escalation may be required. The documents referring to the use of physical intervention do not give foster carers a consistent message and therefore are open to misinterpretation.

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

The registered manager visits foster carers on an unannounced basis at least once a year and regularly spends time alone with the children. Annual health and safety checks, alongside monthly supervision visits, ensure that foster homes are safe places for children to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual and registered manager are passionate and committed to understanding the experiences of the children and foster carers they work with, to ensure that children experience the best possible support and care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager’s responsibilities include support for the foster carers, due to the small size of the agency. The senior manager’s quality assurance tools ensure that areas such as announced visits and health and safety checks are monitored. Senior managers regularly review progress and the agency’s function. However, the senior managers’ quality assurance processes failed to identify shortfalls such as inconsistent recording in documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency’s panel offers effective scrutiny and challenge. Panel members are guided by an experienced chairperson. Annual reviews of foster carers are completed by the panel. This ensures that foster carers continue to be able to provide child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Annual appraisals and supervisions of foster carers are thorough, exploring relevant issues. The registered manager and foster carers receive practice-related supervision. Foster carers report that the sessions are helpful and supportive. However, the records of the registered manager’s supervision meetings are brief. The responsible individual could not provide evidence of their ongoing professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The national minimum standard relating to providing back-up carers has not been met. The registered manager is creative in providing breaks for carers but has not been able to recruit carers to fulfil this role. At times when carers have needed a short break, the children’s local authority has been able to provide alternative short- term carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Asphaleia Ltd 4

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)) 5 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. (Regulation 21 (4)(a)) 5 October 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.

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Requirement Due date

Any notification made in accordance with this regulation which is given orally must be confirmed in writing. (Regulation 36 (1) (2)) 5 October 2022

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Recommendations

 The fostering service ensures foster carers understand the nature and level of support which will be provided to them by the fostering service. In particular, Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Asphaleia Ltd 5 ensure that foster carers have access to named back-up carers. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 2.2)  All foster carers receive training in positive care and control of children, including training in de-escalating problems and disputes. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 3.8)  The manager regularly monitors all records kept by the service to ensure compliance with the service’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action should be taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 25.2)

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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: Asphaleia Ltd 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Asphaleia, 22 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1RY

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: headoffice@asphaleia.co.uk

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Inspector

Suzy Lemmy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Asphaleia Ltd 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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