People Who Foster

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: People Who Foster 1 People Who Foster

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Unit 8, Innovation Studios, Canal Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 4DT

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Registered provider: People Who Foster Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

People Who Foster is a family run independent fostering agency based in Medway, Kent, serving the South East and the North West. The agency registered with Ofsted on 4 October 2017 and provides a range of placements. These include short-term, including bridging and pre-adoption, emergency, long-term, respite, unaccompanied minors, parent and child, and children with disabilities. There are currently 30 approved foster carers with whom 29 children are living.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager has been in post since 2021.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 17 July 2023

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This monitoring visit

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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This monitoring visit

The compassionate and skilled care provided by foster carers enabled the child to live in a safe and nurturing environment. The child experienced plentiful and joyful activities in the home and in the wider community.

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This monitoring visit

Managers ensure that supervision and training for foster carers are a priority. As a result, foster carers are highly skilled and knowledgeable. Foster carers provide attentive, compassionate care to the children they care for. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: People Who Foster 2 Agency social workers regularly discuss foster carers training outcomes and developmental needs as part of their supervision. Foster carers often complete additional health-related training to inform the care they provide. This ensures foster carers develop their skills alongside the child’s ever changing health and social needs.

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This monitoring visit

The high levels of skill the foster carers develop often reduces the time children spend in hospital. This allows for the children, to be cared for in a homely and personalised environment.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are experienced and suitably trained. The senior leadership team actively supports the team through informal discussions and formally through regular, practice-related supervision. Appropriate bereavement support is available to staff and foster carers.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements made at the last full inspection have not been reviewed as part of this monitoring visit. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: People Who Foster 3

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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, The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that, in relation to any child placed or to be placed with a foster parent, the foster parent is given such information, which is kept up to date, as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child, and in particular that each foster parent is provided with a copy of the most recent version of the child’s care plan provided to the fostering service provider under regulation 6(3)(d) of the Care Planning Regulations. (Regulation 17 (3)) 1 September 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 referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for consultation with foster parents, children placed with foster parents, and their placing authority (unless, in the case of a fostering agency which is a voluntary organisation, it is also the placing authority). (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (3)) 1 September 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s safety and welfare are promoted in all fostering placements. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 4.1)  The registered person should ensure that each approved foster carer has regular meetings with a qualified social worker and that this also includes secondary approved foster carers at regular intervals. Meetings should have a clear purpose and provide the opportunity to supervise the foster carer’s work, ensure that the foster carer is meeting the child’s needs, taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings, and offer support and a framework to assess the carer’s performance and develop their competencies and skills. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 21.8) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: People Who Foster 4  The registered person should ensure that, as soon as possible after an investigation into a foster carer is concluded, their approval as suitable to foster is

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Recommendations

reviewed. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 22.8)  The registered person should ensure effective oversight of the service ensures all staff’s work and all fostering activity is consistent with the 2011 regulations and NMS and immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 25.3)  The registered person should ensure good-quality training is made available to foster carers, to assist them to develop the skills required to meet the specific needs of the children. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 20.8)

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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 agency: People Who Foster 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: People Who Foster Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: People Who Foster Ltd, Bank Chambers, Canterbury Road, Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent CT18 8HU

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Inspector

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: People Who Foster 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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