Quality Fostering

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 1 Quality Fostering Quality Fostering Limited 1st & 2nd Floor (at the rear of), 45 Russell Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5QB Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The fostering service was registered in April 2007. It is part of a private organisation. The fostering service provides long-term, short-term, respite, emergency, and parent and baby placements. The fostering agency regularly provides care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency had 15 fostering households and 20 children being cared for by foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2013.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The independent fostering agency is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2022

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

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

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improvement to be good

There are significant shortfalls with the agency’s leadership and management. This includes the monitoring and oversight of the service and its regulatory functions. These shortfalls contribute to an overall judgement of requires improvement to be good. The shortfalls have not had a significant impact on children’s safety or experiences.

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improvement to be good

The manager does not always consider children’s needs well, in particular before they move in with their foster carers. This includes the needs of children already living in the fostering household. This has potential to compromise children’s experiences and progress, in particular for asylum-seeking children.

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improvement to be good

Some foster carers do not promote children’s independence. For example, one child, who is 17, is not able to have their own key to their home. This is because the carer does not want them to access their home without the carer being present. Staff have taken some action to help the carer to understand the impact of this. However, this has been unsuccessful.

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improvement to be good

One foster carer gave immediate notice on a child’s placement. This was as a result of a fractured relationship with the child’s family members. Staff tried to support the relationship to avoid an unplanned move for the child. However, due to concerns with the foster carer’s presentation, the child moved quickly. The agency responded immediately to ensure that children were safe. It also liaised with relevant professionals and followed their guidance. However, concerns in relation to the foster carer’s conduct were not thoroughly explored. An annual review was undertaken; this took place almost three months later, which was out of regulatory timescales. There was no record of the manager’s oversight of this review either.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers are committed and passionate about helping children maintain lifelong links. Several children benefit from living with their brothers and sisters. Children receive support to remain living with their foster carers post-18 years old. This has been a natural progression supported by the fostering agency. As a result, children develop strong attachments to their foster carers. This helps children to feel wanted and achieve stability.

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improvement to be good

All but one child attends some form of education, including further education. Several foster carers help to teach children the English language, when English is not their first language. Foster carers consider well children’s ethnic and cultural needs. They advocate for children to attend schools which are culturally diverse, even if this means supporting children with travelling a distance. As a result, children experience inclusive learning environments which reflect their cultural identity.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers form positive relationships with children. Several children spoken to Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 3 referred to their foster carers with terms of endearment. Foster carers also form positive relationships with birth parents. They often plan activities for children and their family members to enjoy. This includes the foster carers’ own family. These positive relationships and experiences help children to relax. Children enjoy seeing their family and feel safe when they do. This also helps them build a positive sense of their identity.

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improvement to be good

The agency recruits foster carers who are diverse in ethnicity, culture and life experience. Some foster carers have similar life experiences of moving to a new country to live. One child said that their foster carer understands them. Children receive care that is rich in their own culture and heritage. This helps them to adapt to new and very different living environments.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls identified in the agency’s leadership and management, children do make progress. This is because of the care and commitment of their foster carers. They ensure that children make progress in all areas of their lives. Children feel part of their foster families and are happy and settled. They enjoy a range of activities and have positive experiences of family life.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there have been two complaints. There is disparity in relation to the management oversight of complaints. The registered manager did not conclude an investigation in response to one complaint. This left a foster carer without an outcome. However, the registered manager responded to the other complaint well. They visited the foster carer with the child’s social worker. The complaint was responded to quickly, with a clear record of actions taken. However, inconsistency could prevent the manager from reviewing and learning from these matters.

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improvement to be good

There is an inconsistent approach to unannounced visits to foster carers’ homes. These visits are not always completed within the required timescales, yet some foster carers receive additional visits. The recording of these visits varies in quality. During most visits, children are seen and spoken to alone. This provides additional scrutiny that promotes children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Risk assessments and safer care plans are not regularly reviewed and updated. This means that staff and foster carers do not always have the most up-to-date information. However, safety planning following any safeguarding incidents is sufficient. The manager, staff and foster carers work closely with partner agencies. This ensures a collaborative approach to keeping children safe. The out-of-hours service is effective and foster carers identify this as being a strength of the service. Action taken after incidents helps to promote and maintain children’s welfare.

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improvement to be good

Some foster carers provide effective records which are child-focused. However, others do not complete them regularly. This hinders the agency’s ability to monitor Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 4 children’s experiences and progress. The agency has recently implemented a new recording policy for foster carers.

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improvement to be good

Some children are making good progress after adverse experiences. One foster carer is caring for two children who have experienced domestic abuse. One child is now smiling, with a professional stating that they had not seen them smile before. The child is also seeking out their foster carer for their needs to be met. Another child is using physical touch to communicate affection. This is in stark contrast to when the children first moved in with their foster carers.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers receive training which is mainly online. Some foster carers have not completed training for a significant period of time. Systems in place to monitor foster carers’ training are disorganised. Managers have plans to address this. This will ensure that children and foster carers receive the right support. Foster carers spoke positively about the agency support groups.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding notifications are not always submitted within timescales. This compromises the regulator’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Widespread shortfalls have resulted in a judgement of inadequate in leadership and management. The agency has strategy plans in place which reflect the inspection findings. However, leaders and managers have not yet implemented them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The agency has not maintained its central list. The panel chair and vice-chair retired two years ago. Leaders did not have contingency plans. However, they are now recruiting and have identified two suitable candidates. Since the last inspection, there has been no approval or reapproval of foster carers. However, there are three assessments under way with no function to consider approvals or whether approval remains appropriate. Therefore, managers are not able to implement fundamental regulatory systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The agency decision-maker does not have oversight of foster carer annual reviews. Annual review reports detail children’s experiences and outcomes. They reflect well on how carers support children’s needs, in particular children’s identity and cultural needs. However, some annual reviews do not contain feedback from children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The responsible individual’s oversight of the agency and the registered manager is poor. The registered manager does not receive regular formal supervision. The registered manager has some monitoring tools in place in relation to safeguarding. However, they do not carry out internal monitoring in line with regulation. Reports are not sent to Ofsted in a timely way. This impacts on the external monitoring of the agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision. Managers complete file audits prior to this which contribute to discussions. Actions set are then reviewed at each supervision session. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 5 This helps the manager to track children’s progress. However, staff do not always receive a record of their supervision promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive training pertinent to the needs of children and their foster carers. However, there are gaps for some staff, such as training in relation to caring for asylum-seeking children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Case records are disorganised, with documents being uploaded in different places. Case records do not all reflect children’s experiences either. This compromises the manager’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Foster carers and children have provided positive feedback about the agency. Foster carers feel well supported by their supervising social workers and the agency. All foster carers have been registered with the agency for several years. They identify the quality of support as being a reason that they stay. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 6

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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 within 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 of office hours, as appears necessary in the interests of children placed with them. (Regulation 17 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that foster carers receive regular training to maintain their skills in caring for vulnerable children. 9 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that all persons employed by them—

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Requirement Due date

receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal, and

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Requirement Due date

are enabled from to time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform. (Regulation 21 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that the registered manager receives regular formal supervision, in addition to staff receiving regular and appropriate training. 9 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must maintain a list of persons who are considered by them to be suitable to be members of a fostering panel (“the central list”), including one or more social workers who have at least three years’ relevant post- qualifying experience.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (5), the fostering service provider must constitute one or more fostering panels, as necessary, to perform the functions of a fostering panel under these Regulations, and must appoint panel members including— 9 February 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 7 a person to chair the panel who, in the case of any appointment made after 1st October 2011, must be independent of the fostering service provider, and

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Requirement Due date

one or two persons who may act as chair if the person appointed to chair the panel is absent or that office is vacant (“the vice chairs”) from the persons on the central list. (Regulation 23 (1) (4)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are contingency plans in place and that they are executed to ensure that the agency has a fully functional panel to meet its regulatory responsibilities. This is specifically in relation to the panel chair.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must review the approval of each foster parent in accordance with this regulation.

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Requirement Due date

A review must take place not more than a year after approval, and thereafter whenever the fostering service provider consider it necessary, but at intervals of not more than a year.

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Requirement Due date

When undertaking a review, the fostering service provider must—

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Requirement Due date

make such enquiries and obtain such information as they consider necessary in order to review whether the foster parent continues to be suitable to be a foster parent and the foster parent’s household continues to be suitable, and

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Requirement Due date

seek and take into account the views of—

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Requirement Due date

any child placed with the foster parent (subject to the child’s age and understanding), and

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Requirement Due date

any placing authority which has, within the preceding year, placed a child with the foster parent.

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Requirement Due date

At the conclusion of the review, the fostering service provider must prepare a written report, setting out whether—

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Requirement Due date

the foster parent continues to be suitable to be a foster parent and the foster parent’s household continues to be 9 February 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 8 suitable, and

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Requirement Due date

the terms of the foster parent’s approval continue to be appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must on the occasion of the first review under this regulation, and may on any subsequent review, refer their report to the fostering panel for consideration. (Regulation 28 (1) (2) (3)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all reviews of foster carers’ approval are undertaken promptly and within regulatory timescales, in particular when there are concerns about the suitability of foster carers.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals,

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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 registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on request, to any local authority. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to implementing effective systems to monitor the fostering service regularly. This includes seeking the views of children and their foster carers. 9 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

If any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 7 takes place in relation to a fostering agency, the registered person must without delay notify the persons or bodies indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 36 (1))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 9 February 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 9 This refers specifically to ensuring that matters listed under schedule 7 are notified to Ofsted and that, when matters have concluded, an update is also provided to the regulator.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they consider and explore children’s needs and the skills of foster carers prior to children moving into the fostering household. This includes the needs of children already living with the foster carers. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 32, 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that foster carers are supporting children’s independence in line with their age. Foster carers should ensure they do so with a balance of safety, dignity and respect. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 25, 12.1)  The registered person should ensure that risk assessments for each fostering household are updated after any significant event. They should also take prompt action to ensure that foster carers are completing timely and accurate records of children’s day-to-day experiences. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 52, 26.1–26.7)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all foster carers receive an unannounced visit at least annually. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 43, 21.8)  The registered person should ensure that all complaints received in relation to the fostering service are concluded and that the outcomes are shared with the relevant persons. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, page 50, 25.1)  The registered person should ensure that the agency decision-maker has oversight of the annual review of all foster carers’ suitability. (‘The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 4: Fostering Services’, pages 19–20)

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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: Quality Fostering 10

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Quality Fostering Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 15 Warwick Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6YW

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: andrew@qualityfostering.com

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Inspector

Sarah Berry, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Quality Fostering 11 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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Inspector

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