National Fostering Agency North

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency North 1 National Fostering Agency North The National Fostering Agency Limited Elant House Unit A3, Old Power Way, Lowfields Business Park, Elland, Yorkshire HX5 9DE Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This independent fostering agency has been registered since 1 September 2019. The service operates from a registered office in West Yorkshire and covers a large geographical area, which includes Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The agency offers a range of foster placements, including short breaks, permanent, long term, short term, Invictus and Bridge to Foster placements, parent and child arrangements and ‘staying put’ placements. At the time of this visit, the agency has 314 foster carers in 170 fostering households who are caring for 296 children and young people. Eight children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

There is no registered manager. A new manager has recently been appointed and has applied to register 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: National Fostering Agency North 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children have positive experiences and outcomes with their foster families. They receive high-quality care that meets their needs and enables them to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience increased stability in their lives. Several children have been living with their foster families for a long time and enjoy placement stability. Where children had to move for any reason, this has been sensitively considered and appropriately managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and their foster families have built trusting and secure relationships. Children are treated as valued family members. Equally, foster carers understand the importance of children maintaining positive relationships with their parents. The foster carers actively promote and facilitate family time in line with the children’s care plan. This ensures that children remain connected with people who are important in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The importance of education is embraced by all in the agency. Children’s educational needs are actively promoted and tailored to meet children’s individual needs. Effective partnerships between this agency and education providers help children to achieve better educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good support from foster carers, who ensure that their health needs are met. Carers explore the support offered to promote children’s emotional and physical health. Foster carers can access specialist psychological services that help them and their children. They can be given strategies and support to ensure that children make progress with their emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good opportunities to get involved in activities organised by the agency. They are supported to develop a wide variety of essential life skills that promote their future opportunities and equip them for adulthood. Some children have had the opportunity to recently attend a residential trip where they were able to develop new skills such as baking, cooking and looking after farm animals. Other children have had the chance to attend expeditions. This has not only helped children to develop new skills but also develop new friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Assessments of foster carers are thorough and of a good standard. The assessments are analytical and give an accurate reflection of the foster carer’s strengths and areas for development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency recognises and celebrates children’s achievements. In addition, foster carers are also praised for the work that they do. Foster carers report that this makes them feel valued. The monthly supervision, 24-hour support and regular carer support groups ensure that foster carers are supported effectively in their roles. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency North 3

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

Children spoken to said that they feel safe and have a trusted adult in whom they can confide. Children are provided with practical advice and information about risks that they face. This promotes children’s ability to make informed decisions.

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

Children’s risks are understood by foster carers, and overall they are managed well to ensure that children become increasingly safe. Foster carers receive bespoke and targeted training to support them to understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. For example, foster carers are supported to understand children’s risks such as self- harm, bullying and internet safety. There is a constant reminder to foster carers to be vigilant through the bulletins sent by the agency.

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

Risk assessments are of good quality. These clearly describe children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. They are reviewed and updated regularly. Children’s safe care plans are regularly updated following any changes in circumstances.

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

Physical interventions are infrequent and used to keep children and others safe. Very few children go missing from home. On the rare occasions that the children leave the home without permission, the foster carers and the agency respond quickly. The foster carers follow the agency’s missing-from-home policies. This ensures that children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Children are regularly seen by supervising social workers and unannounced visits to foster carers take place at appropriate intervals. Good formal and informal support enables foster carers to continue to offer care in challenging circumstances and maintain stability for children.

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

There are no health and safety concerns. Regular monitoring of foster carers’ homes ensures that children live in homes that are safe and maintained to a good standard. Equally, health and safety is considered to ensure that those who use the offices are kept safe.

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

Allegations of harm are well managed. Decisive action is taken by the agency to ensure that unsuitable foster carers are returned to the fostering panel, and this is progressed appropriately. The agency ensures that Ofsted is notified and, where necessary, referrals are made to disclosure barring services.

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

Recruitment checks demonstrate that carers, staff and panel members are checked prior to appointment. This ensures that children’s safety and well-being are promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been some changes within the organisation and in the management arrangements. There is a new manager who is in the process of registering with Ofsted. She has worked for the agency for some time. The previous Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency North 4 registered manager has been promoted within the organisation and will continue to support the new manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team demonstrates a continued commitment to provide and maintain quality foster care placements that meet the needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Equality and diversity are promoted. Panel members are recruited with a range of relevant experience, including care-experienced adults. The process for recommending prospective foster carers for approval is robust. The fostering panel chair and the agency decision-maker are experienced and have a strong safeguarding background. Panel minutes are clear and decision-making is timely. This, together with the panel’s focus on quality and safeguarding, is a real strength of the agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency fulfils its statement of purpose. Leaders and managers ensure that the foster carers get the right support to undertake their roles effectively. Most foster carers gave overwhelmingly positive feedback about the agency. They enjoy a varied training programme, which also provides them with further opportunities to meet up with other foster carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff say that they enjoy their roles, feel proud of what they do and feel supported by leaders and managers. They value supervision, which is reflective and takes place on a regular basis. Staff also benefit from regular team meetings, which are used as a platform to share knowledge. The training offer to staff is good. However, not all staff have completed training in line with the agency’s policy. This is an area to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring of the service can improve. The agency provides a high- quality service to children and foster carers. However, on occasion, this has been compromised by shortfalls in service monitoring. For example, leaders and managers do not always challenge the local authorities at the right level when children’s key documents are missing. This does not ensure effective joint working in children’s best interests. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency North 5

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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 registered person must maintain a system for— monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and improving the quality of foster care provided by the fostering agency. In particular, this relates to leaders and managers ensuring that all key documents for children are obtained from local authorities in a timely manner. This also relates to leaders and managers ensuring that all staff are compliant with the agency’s required training. (The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 35 (1)(a)(b)) 8 November 2024

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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: National Fostering Agency North 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: The National Fostering Agency Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: National Fostering Agency North 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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