The Children’s Family Trust

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Children’s Family Trust 1 The Children’s Family Trust

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1A Brindley Way, Wakefield Business Park, Wakefield WF2 0XQ

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The Children’s Family Trust independent fostering agency is a registered charity. This is one of four regional agencies that are currently registered with Ofsted. The agency provides short-term, emergency, long-term and respite placements. The agency also supports children on ‘staying put’ arrangements.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of the inspection, the agency had 23 approved fostering households and 39 children living with foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2020 and is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

This visit followed the tragic death of a child with a life-limiting health condition and who was placed with agency foster carers. This visit was carried out to understand how leaders and managers have responded during this difficult time and to review the training and support foster carers and staff have received.

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This monitoring visit

The agency has sensitively responded to those affected by the bereavement. It has ensured that foster carers and staff are appropriately supported. The agency has carried out an increased number of visits to the foster carers during this time, which has ensured that there is support for their emotional well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers are supported by the agency to develop a good understanding of children’s needs. Foster carers receive a wide range of training, including appropriate safeguarding training and training that is specific to children’s individual needs. Where children have complex health needs and life-limiting conditions, the medical Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Children’s Family Trust 2 staff provide specialist training to the foster carers. This ensures that the foster carers meet the evolving needs of the children.

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This monitoring visit

There is good partnership working between the agency and other professionals, such as social workers and medical professionals. These close relationships ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendations raised at the last full inspection were not considered or reviewed during this visit and will be considered at the next full inspection. No additional requirements or recommendations were raised following this visit. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Children’s Family Trust 3

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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, The 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 fostering service provider must compile a written statement in relation to the fostering service (“the statement of purpose”) which consists of—

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Requirement Due date

a statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service, and

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Requirement Due date

a statement as to the services and facilities (including any parent and child arrangements) provided by the fostering service.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the Chief Inspector, place a copy on their website (if they have one). (Regulation 3 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 5 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide foster parents with such training, advice, information and support, including support outside office hours, as appears necessary in the interests of children placed with them. (Regulation 17 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 5 December 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that 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. Specifically, children’s risk assessments, safe foster carer assessments and outcome trackers should contain accurate and sufficient detail and be regularly reviewed and updated. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 50, paragraph 25.2) Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Children’s Family Trust 4  The registered person should ensure that any information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. Children should be actively encouraged to read

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Recommendations

their files, other than necessarily confidential or third-party information, and to correct errors and add personal statements. Specifically, recordings about the child’s life should be child friendly and provide sufficient detail. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 52, paragraph 26.6)

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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: The Children’s Family Trust 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: The Children’s Family Trust

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Hanbury Court, Harris Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4DJ

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Independent fostering agency details

Responsible individual: Marina Mulholland

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Children’s Family Trust 6 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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