Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities Fostering Together - for children with disabilities The Old Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LL

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This agency has been registered with Ofsted since August 2020.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency offers short- and long-term fostering for children with disabilities and complex, life-limiting medical needs. There are currently 19 fostering households with 23 children placed with foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

A suitable registered manager is in post.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 20 February 2023

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This monitoring visit was carried out following the very sad, expected death of a child. Ofsted does not investigate incidents of this kind. The focus of this monitoring visit has been the support provided to staff, foster carers and children, training and supervision, alongside actions taken by the agency.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Children living in the same home as the child who died have developed strong, positive, and endearing friendships with each other. They experience plentiful and joyful activities inside the home and in the community to enable these relationships to thrive. For example, they go on day trips, have music lessons, and go swimming together.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency supervising social workers engage with all children when visiting the foster family home. They know the children well and have built trusting relationships with them. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities One child who had spent all their life in hospital has been able to move to a foster family. This is because their skilled, experienced, and committed foster carers can meet their significant health and medical needs. During one visit, the child said to the agency supervising social worker that the fostering household was their ‘home’.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster carers regularly discuss training outcomes and their developmental needs with their supervising social worker. This ensures that foster carers develop their skills in parallel with the child’s changing health and social needs.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster carers are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and committed to providing attentive, nurturing, and safe environments for children who require end-of-life care. Many foster carers have a significant level of additional training. For example, when children are discharged from hospital, they complete specific hospital-led training to enable the child to be discharged back home to the foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster carers receive appropriate and informed bereavement support. The agency has facilitated some foster carers to complete specialist training that enables them to support other foster carers in their time of need. When children experience the loss of a child in the same household, foster carers manage this sensitively with kindness, empathy, and compassion.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency supervising social workers receive informal and comprehensive supervision. This provides the opportunity to discuss the complex needs of children and their own well-being.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager has quarterly supervision from an external source and informal discussions with their line manager. However, they do not receive regular, reflective practice supervision.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The recommendations set at the last inspection were not reviewed as part of this monitoring visit and have therefore been repeated. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

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Recommendations

 Staff have access to support, advice and constructive challenge, and are provided with regular supervision in line with the agency’s supervision policy by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (National Minimum Standards, 24.4)

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Recommendations

 There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. (National Minimum Standards, 25.1)

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Recommendations

 Managers, staff, volunteers, and foster carers have clear roles and responsibilities. The level of delegation and responsibility of the manager, and the lines of accountability, are clearly defined. (National Minimum Standards, 25.4)

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Recommendations

 Suitable arrangements exist for professional supervision of the agency’s registered person or manager of a local authority fostering service. (National Minimum Standards, 24.3)

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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: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fostering Together Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: The Old Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LL

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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities 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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