Illuminance Fostering Service

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 1 Illuminance Fostering Service Illuminance Fostering Service Ltd 100 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 1FH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Illuminance Fostering Service is an independent fostering agency based in Milton Keynes. It was registered with Ofsted in February 2022 and offers long-term, same- day, short-term, bridging placements and parent and child placements. At the time of this inspection, 45 fostering households were looking after 57 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager has been in post since the agency registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The independent fostering agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and foster carers build positive relationship in a short space of time. Foster carers demonstrate patience and kindness and provide children with positive life experiences. Foster carers celebrate children’s milestones and achievements, showing children that they are valued. Children feel part of the family and carers support them to continually make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers are well supported to parent the children that they care for. They have regular contact with their supervising social worker, monthly support groups with the in-house therapist, or individual sessions when needed. Support workers also provide extensive additional provision to carers and children that supports placement stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their education, health and emotional well-being. Children who have not been in education now attend school. The fostering agency provides additional private tuition to help children catch up on their missed periods of education. Children who have had additional health needs when coming into care are now thriving and have improved outcomes. The nurturing care provided by foster carers provides children with stability, improving their emotional well-being and feeling of safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children views are regularly sought. Supervising social workers meet with children regularly to understand their experiences. The agency has recently appointed a children’s champion to further develop the way that children’s views are captured. Children know who they can complain to or seek support from should they need to. The children’s guide also provides clear guidance on the complaints process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers develop positive relationships with children’s families, ensuring that children maintain positive relationships with them. Foster carers take children to see their families and support children to send gifts and cards on special occasions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers are very well prepared prior to being approved as a foster carer. This ensures that they are equipped and capable in their role. On the rare occasion when a foster carer’s practice falls short, the agency takes appropriate action to ensure the welfare of children. Once approved, foster carers have ongoing training to further develop their skills and knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency accepts children in emergency situations when local authority social workers have struggled to find a home for a child. In most instances, these placements work well and children make progress. When children are struggling in their foster home, the agency provides additional support and works with the child’s placing authority to ensure that there is time to find a suitable alternative placement and any moves are planned. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 3 The registered manager is child-focused and considers the children’s needs in all that she does. Children are placed with foster carers based on their ability to care for the children and additional support is provided if needed. However, matching documents do not always explicitly detail the vulnerabilities of the placements or demonstrate that all risks have been considered. Furthermore, they do not show

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

that the needs of all the children in the household have been taken into account. However, the impact of this shortfall is reduced due to the support packages provided and the knowledge of the supervising social worker, foster carers and registered manager.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are followed up effectively with key partner agencies and notified to Ofsted as required. When learning is identified, this is acted on by managers in consultation with other professionals, such as the local authority designated officer.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Supervising social workers keep in regular contact with foster carers. They visit the home monthly, check in with them weekly and undertake two unannounced visits each year. These visits are completed by two different workers to ensure that there is more independent oversight. The visits are recorded, and capture the findings and observation well.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children do not regularly go missing from home. On the occasions that children do go missing from home, foster carers respond appropriately and work effectively with other professionals to identify potential risks and work proactively to ensure that children are safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Foster carers are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. This is a key focus of discussion in supervision and monthly meetings. Children report feeling safe and happy with their carers and can identify a trusted adult whom they can talk to should they have any worries or concerns.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Therapeutic support is in place to help foster carers consider different strategies to manage children’s behaviours. Foster carers find this support invaluable; this is discussed and followed up in monthly supervision sessions.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The panel meets monthly and the central list has varying members with a range of experience who are safely recruited. The panel minutes capture the discussions that take place and the rationale for recommendations. Reports presented to panel are generally of good quality and the agency’s decision-maker’s decisions are clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is ambitious for children and foster carers. Her expectations are high and she leads by example to ensure that children receive the best possible care. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 4 The registered manager has a clear understanding of the agency’s strengths and areas for development. The agency is in its infancy; however, the registered manager is committed to ensuring that the agency develops and goes from strength to strength.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency decision-maker provides a level of scrutiny and quality assurance to drive continued improvement and ensure that the agency is compliant with regulations. He is experienced and involved in providing training to staff and recently started supervising the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a full understanding of the children’s progress and starting points. She knows each child and foster carer individually. She highlights their succusses and an annual event celebrates these, with awards being given and achievements recognised. Experiences and achievements are captured through photos and videos that children can look back on and access when they are older.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervising social workers have regular good-quality supervision that is focused on foster carers and children to ensure that the right support is being provided to them. Supervising social workers feel supported by the registered manager and their colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training overall is a strength of the agency for staff and foster carers. It is of high quality and includes training from care-experienced adults who deliver impactful messages. Staff and foster carers talk positively about the benefits and quality of the training provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency delivers the aims in the statement of purpose, and these are discussed monthly with the foster carers to ensure that they are fully aware of the quality of care expected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency has positive relationships with external professionals and liaises with them effectively, to share information and provide additional support to children when needed. Social workers and commissioners speak highly of the agency and the quality of care provided. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are carefully matched to a foster placement. In particular, matching risk assessments should consider the needs of all of the children in the household, including the foster carers’ own children. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 11.2)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Illuminance Fostering Service Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 100 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 1FH

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: ama@illuminancefostering.co.uk

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Inspectors

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Lee Kirwin, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Illuminance Fostering Service 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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