Paramount Foster Care

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Paramount Foster Care 1 Paramount Foster Care

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Sma House, 172 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B70 6QG

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

A private company operates this fostering service. The agency was registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The fostering service provides short-term and long-term foster homes and foster families to support brothers and sisters to remain living together. At the time of this visit, 34 children were living in 16 households.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager.

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Inspection date: 24 January 2024

Dates of previous inspection: 24 to 28 January 2022

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted last visited this fostering agency in January 2022 to conduct a full inspection. The agency was judged as good. The purpose of this monitoring visit is to review the safety and well-being of children following information of concern being received in schedule 7 notifications relating to the agency’s management of allegations of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Allegations made against foster carers are well managed. The records are clear and well written. Managers work with social workers and police to ensure a multi-agency response and that children and their foster carers are appropriately supported during investigations. Information is shared effectively with relevant agencies and action plans are put into place to ensure that children are safe in their home.

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This monitoring visit

The safeguarding practice of staff is responsive. Incidents where children are at risk of harm are rare. When they do occur, there is a good level of management oversight and professional curiosity. Children are seen in their homes on both announced and unannounced visits, providing supervising social workers with a clear Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Paramount Foster Care 2 view of what daily life looks like for the children. During these visits, children are spoken with privately, to allow an opportunity for concerns to be raised. As a result, managers have good oversight of the safeguarding practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and foster carers know and understand individual children’s needs and risks well. Children’s risk assessments are personalised and are focused on the specific needs of the child and the identified risks. When new risks emerge, for example when there is a change in children’s behaviour, plans are updated to reflect new presenting behaviours. This allows for the plans to remain relevant.

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This monitoring visit

Children rarely go missing from foster homes in this agency. Foster carers maintain contact with children when they do go missing and encourage children to return home. Foster carers and the fostering agency follow agreed protocols and procedures regarding the reporting of children going missing. This ensures that appropriate action is taken to ensure children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, managers have worked hard to recruit a suitable number of qualified and experienced staff. The staff have the relevant skills and expertise in fostering and offer a good level of support to carers and children. Staff routinely support carers at professionals meetings relating to the support of children. Therapeutic support is available for carers to help them reflect on their role in children’s lives and to promote emotional well-being. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Paramount Foster Care 3

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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: Paramount Foster Care 4

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Paramount Foster Care

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Sma House, 172 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B70 6QG

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Paramount Foster Care 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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