Credo Care

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Credo Care 1 Credo Care

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12 High Street, Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9AJ

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency was founded in 2000 and is based in Lydd, Kent. It covers the South, Midlands and East regions of the UK. The agency specialises in providing care for children with physical disabilities and those who have complex medical needs, learning difficulties and/or autism spectrum disorder. The agency offers short-term, long-term, ‘staying put’ and specialised respite care placements. At the time of this inspection, 71 children were placed, and there were 72 fostering households, some of which offer respite care only.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2019.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 6 November 2023

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This monitoring visit

The agency specialises in providing foster care for some children with complex and sometimes life-limiting health needs.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was conducted following the death of a child. Ofsted does not investigate incidents of this kind. This inspection focused on the quality of support provided to children and how staff and foster carers are supported to meet the needs of children in these circumstances.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the limited scope of this inspection, it was not possible to fully evaluate how the agency has met the requirement in relation to improving training for foster carers to meet children’s specific medical needs, or the recommendations in relation to recording complaints and reviewing foster carers’ personal development plans. Therefore, these will remain in place. However, the foster carers seen as part of this inspection were well trained by health services to carry out the health interventions Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Credo Care 2 needed to meet the specific needs of the child in their care. The agency has recently undertaken work with the trained nurses who work with the agency, to ensure that they have a suitable and consistent approach to ensuring that foster cares are trained to meet the specific health needs of each child.

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This monitoring visit

All foster carers and agency staff undertake training to help them prepare and cope with bereavement. They also have access to a range of counselling services and support to help them cope and come to terms with looking after children who may be on an end-of-life care plan and/or receiving palliative care. This support is also available to wider family members and any other children living in the foster family.

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This monitoring visit

The agency has recently produced guidance for foster carers and staff to give them the information they need to support children with life-limiting conditions and to understand what to do in the event of a child death. This is an accessible, informative document that sets out clearly how to collaborate with partner agencies, the legal implications and the importance of parents in making difficult decisions.

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This monitoring visit

A foster family described a careful and well-planned matching process where they were able to visit a child in hospital over a period of several weeks in order to get to know him and learn how to meet his health needs.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers feel well supported by the agency and their supervising social workers. They also have access to additional support workers to help them provide the best possible care. Carers commented that they ‘couldn’t thank the agency enough for the support they provide’. They reported that the agency liaises with the professional network and health services and was always available to support them out of hours. Carers confirmed that their supervising social workers visit regularly, including unannounced visits, and provide good support and guidance to help them care for the child in placement.

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This monitoring visit

A supervising social worker reported there being ‘excellent support’ from her line manager and senior managers in the agency.

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This monitoring visit

A social worker was also very positive about the agency, the carers and the support provided to a child. She felt that the carers had gone ‘above and beyond’ and said that the child ‘got to experience lovely elements of life’, and that the care he received ‘allowed him to thrive beyond the limitations of his disability’. She was particularly impressed with the way that the foster carers had worked with the child’s parents.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager is knowledgeable and understands the needs of the agency, staff, carers and children. He has extensive experience of managing services that provide care for children with disabilities and complex health needs. He is supported by an equally experienced and capable responsible individual.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders undertake their own learning review in response to any child death. This helps them to assess what went well and identify any learning to inform future Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Credo Care 3 practice. They notify all relevant statutory agencies in the event of a child death and cooperate with any investigation or review by external agencies. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Credo Care 4

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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 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

In particular, ensure that foster carers are up to date with mandatory training and child-specific medical training. 29 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that clear records are kept of complaints, how they are dealt with, the outcome and any action taken. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 21.11)  The registered person should ensure that foster carers’ personal development plans are reviewed, and the effectiveness of training and development received is evaluated. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 20.06)

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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: Credo Care 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Credo Care, 12 High Street, Lydd, Romney Marsh TN29 9AJ

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Inspector

Lee Kirwin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Credo Care 6 regulates and 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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