Harmony Fostering Services Ltd

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 1 Harmony Fostering Services Ltd Harmony Fostering Services Ltd Phoenix House, Suite 16, Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, HA1 2SP Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Harmony Fostering Services Limited is an independent fostering agency based in Harrow, West London. The fostering service specialises in providing foster care for individual children and sibling groups. They provide emergency, respite and short- term and long-term placements.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency registered with Ofsted in May 2022. The manager registered with Ofsted at the same time. The registered manager is an experienced social worker and holds an appropriate management qualification.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the fostering service was providing care for five children. The agency has seven approved fostering households. The inspector spoke with three of the children.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 2

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improvement to be good

The agency endeavours to provide children with good-quality care. Children have the opportunity to flourish while living with foster carers. Feedback from social workers was varied. The majority said that they would place other children with the agency. However, one social worker expressed their dissatisfaction with some aspects of the care provided. Their concerns related to safeguarding issues and the lack of support from some foster carers.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s education has been disrupted due to transport difficulties in getting them to and from school. When possible, the registered manager has assisted. Although there are generally good matching arrangements, the proximity to a child’s school is not always considered. The agency is able to offer individualised support from sessional support workers. However, the availability of this is limited.

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improvement to be good

Children’s records do not always provide a meaningful record of their daily lives. Photos capture children’s activities. However, these are not routinely uploaded to their files. Staff encourage the writing of daily logs, and foster carers receive relevant training to help them with this task.

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improvement to be good

Children are happier, more confident and have increased self-esteem. Warm and nurturing interactions were observed between children and their foster carers. Children settle quickly into their new homes, which gives them a sense of belonging. Foster carers highlight their wish to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are appropriately met. One child is now gaining weight in an appropriate manner, and children attend all relevant health appointments. The latter is particularly important as some children’s health needs had been previously neglected. Foster carers work well with disabled children. A good example was seen in a child’s increased communication skills that enabled them to thrive both at home and at school.

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improvement to be good

Children receive care from foster carers who have relevant childcare and social care experience. Children live with foster carers who can meet their cultural needs. There are also examples of children learning to appreciate other cultures and enjoying new cuisines.

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improvement to be good

Children enjoy leisure activities, such as going out for meals, movie nights and trips to the park. They also enjoy new experiences, such as going sight-seeing. A sibling group also benefited from their own playroom, where they enjoyed playing with toys and engaging in art and craft sessions. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 3

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers try to ensure that children are effectively safeguarded. Despite appropriate training and guidance, safeguarding arrangements are not always robust. There was an incident when a foster carer had not informed the agency of a change in their family composition. On hearing about this, the registered manager immediately responded to ensure that children were effectively safeguarded.

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improvement to be good

Each child has a risk assessment that outlines potential concerns and the action taken to minimise any risks. On one occasion, a risk assessment was not updated after a child had a seizure. A further medical investigation is in progress to gain a better understanding of this child’s health condition. An appropriate seizure management plan is also in place to protect this child.

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improvement to be good

The agency endeavours to safely recruit all staff working within the fostering service. Most of the safer recruitment checks are undertaken for new staff. However, references are not always verified. The lack of verification of references undermines safer recruitment practice and does not ensure that unsuitable people do not work with children.

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improvement to be good

Efforts are made to ensure that children benefit from consistent and firm boundaries that help them to develop socially acceptable behaviour. This is balanced with the need to understand the impact of trauma on children. It was encouraging to see that children are reassured and have a voice. An example was seen of a child negotiating rewards and having their achievements recognised.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers receive training on how to safeguard children effectively. Safer caring plans also detail how children will be kept protected within their home. Children also receive added protection from unannounced visits to their foster homes. There are currently no issues with children going missing from care. There are also no concerns regarding radicalisation, extremism or child exploitation.

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improvement to be good

There have been unplanned endings when children have left their foster home. Leaders and managers meet regularly to discuss children, their foster carers and the overall functioning of the agency. Leaders and managers do not formally reflect on unplanned endings. However, they can identify their learning from each situation. They aim to use this knowledge to improve future outcomes for children.

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good

This is a new agency that has grown quickly within a short period of time. Leaders and managers are highly experienced social workers, who have worked within the fostering sector. Leaders, managers, foster carers and involved professionals comment on the ‘teething problems’ that have impacted on the quality of care provided to children. Shortfalls relate to record keeping, monitoring and insufficient staffing. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 4 The agency is led by passionate individuals and a very ‘hands-on’ registered manager. The ‘word of mouth’ recruitment strategy is effective, and the agency has a range of enthusiastic foster carers. There have been shortfalls in the levels of support available to meet the needs of children. Therefore, the registered manager has had to take on the role of supervising social worker and support worker, which has impacted on her leadership and management of the agency.

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good

Records do not always capture the important discussions with foster carers or placing authorities. Also, complaints are not maintained in a log that clearly details the action taken and the outcome of the investigation. Registers of children’s placements and each person working for the agency do not detail all of the required information.

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good

The agency does not have a system that individually tracks the progress of children. Although leaders and managers review the quality of care provided, the review of the quality of care report does not include all of the required information. The report does not highlight the plans to improve the quality of care or consultation with children, foster careers or placing authorities.

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good

Staff and foster carers feel supported and valued. There is a good training and development programme to ensure that foster carers are effectively equipped for their role. However, the agency’s supervising social worker did not benefit from a structured induction. This has impacted on their ability to fulfill their role effectively.

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good

Children benefit from a fostering panel that is committed to promoting children’s best interests. Central list members have a range of expertise, which includes social work, health, education and fostering. The fostering panel constructively contributes to improvements within the agency. Good practice was also seen in recommending foster carers return to panel early to ensure there is efficient oversight.

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good

Leaders and managers work in partnership with placing authorities. A team manager praised the ‘good communication’. A social worker described them as a ‘supportive agency in a very difficult situation’. Leaders and managers robustly challenge placing authorities to provide the necessary documentation and resources to fully meet children’s needs.

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good

There is good capacity for the agency to further improve. Leaders and managers are working tirelessly to meet the needs of children. The agency benefits from having a highly experienced panel chair and agency decision maker. These social work professionals positively share their expertise, and they have a good understanding of the areas for improvement. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 5

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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 fostering service provider must take all reasonable steps to ensure that foster parents are familiar with, and act in accordance with the policies established in accordance with regulations 12(1). (Regulation 17 (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, foster carers must inform the agency immediately if there is a change in the persons living in the fostering household. 1 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response to it, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 18 (4)) 31 March 2023

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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—

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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

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of children placed with foster parents. (Regulation 19 (a) (b)) 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must maintain a register (a "register of foster parents") and enter in it the following particulars in relation to each foster parent—

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Requirement Due date

name, address, date of birth and sex of each foster parent and, in the case of a local authority fostering service, of each person with whom it has placed a child under regulation 24 or regulation 25A of the Care Planning Regulations,

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Requirement Due date

the date of approval and of each review of approval (as the case may be), and 31 March 2023 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 6 the current terms of approval (if any). (Regulation 31 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must maintain and keep up to date the records specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 22 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the fostering service must ensure that the register of children placed and the record of each person working for the fostering provider are kept up to date. 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency.

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Requirement Due date

The system must provide for consultation with foster carers, children and their placing authority. (Regulation 35(1)(b) (3)) 31 March 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the service implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment. In particular, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments are updated following incidents. ('Fostering services: national minimum standards', 4.5)  The registered person should ensure that the fostering service can demonstrate, including from written records, that it consistently follows good recruitment practice. In particular, the registered person should ensure that references for new staff are verified. ('Fostering services: national minimum standards', 19.2)  The registered person should ensure that there is a good quality learning and development programme, which includes an induction that staff are supported to undertake. The programme should equip them with the skills required to meet the needs of the children, keeps them up to date with professional, legal and practice

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Recommendations

developments and reflects the policies, legal obligations and business needs of the fostering service. ('Fostering services: national minimum standards', 23.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff and fostering households understand the nature of records maintained and follow the service's policy for the keeping and retention of files. There should be a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record-keeping and action should be taken when needed. ('Fostering services: national minimum standards', 26.2)  The registered person should ensure that management of the service makes sure that all staff's work and all fostering activity are consistent with the 2011 regulations, national minimum standards and with the service's policies and procedures. ('Fostering services: national minimum standards', 25.3) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 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: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 8

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Phoenix House, Suite 16, Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow HA1 2SP

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: susan@harmonyfostering.co.uk

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Harmony Fostering Services Ltd 9 inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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