Parallel Parents East

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Parallel Parents East 1 Parallel Parents East Parallel Parents Ltd Hub26.2, Office 003, Lawrence House, Riverside Drive, Cleckheaton BD19 4DH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This private independent fostering agency was registered in October 2023. The agency is a registered regional branch of the organisation, Parallel Parents. The agency provides foster placements for emergency, short term, long term, parent and child, respite and unaccompanied children seeking sanctuary fostering homes.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency had two approved fostering households, caring for a total of three children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Parallel Parents East 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress across different areas of their lives because of the nurturing and warm care that they receive from their carers. Children develop strong and meaningful relationships with their carers, and are embraced as part of the foster carer’s family. This helps them to form and maintain good attachments and to develop a positive view of themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The fostering service’s matching process is effective. Children are appropriately matched with foster carers who can understand and meet their needs. This provides children with security and a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are consistently met. Carers ensure that children have access to local health services and manage the children’s health plans effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in education. Foster carers work closely with schools to support children with their learning. This helps children to see the value of education and develop aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a wide range of physical and social activities of their choice. They have fun and enjoy trips and events arranged by their foster families and the fostering agency. Foster carers take photos and encourage children to collect meaningful memorabilia to support life-story work for when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good-quality assessments of foster carers ensure that they are suitable to foster and are well-matched to children. Foster carers feel well prepared for the challenges that fostering brings. This means that children are cared-for by foster carers who have the knowledge and skills to care for them. This also promotes stability.

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

There are reliable safeguarding practices throughout the fostering service. Children have individual risk assessments that are clear and concise. They are regularly reviewed and provide foster carers with relevant information to support children to keep safe and feel safe.

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

Children experience a sense of safety and protection. Foster carers demonstrate a good understanding of each child’s specific vulnerabilities and collaborate effectively with professionals to implement risk-reduction strategies.

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

Children can identify trusted adults they would approach with any complaints and worries, and are confident that their concerns would be addressed.

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

Foster carers’ homes are checked regularly, in line with regulatory health and safety standards. This extends to risk assessments of foster carers families’ pets to ensure Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Parallel Parents East 3 that they do not pose any risks to children. All these measures help to keep children safer.

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

Staff ensure that they consistently review and monitor each child’s safety and well- being. Children benefit from the agency’s clear and established child protection policies and procedures. This helps to effectively safeguard children.

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

The recruitment of foster carers, staff and panel members is comprehensive and thorough. This helps to ensure that only safe adults make decisions, and provide care and support to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear vision and ambition for the service. The management team demonstrates a commitment to provide and maintain quality fostering households that meet the needs of children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Relationships between supervising social workers, foster carers and children are strong. Foster carers receive effective supervision, and their personal development is seen as important to provide them with all the skills and knowledge they need to provide good care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel valued and supported. They benefit from regular team meetings and supervision of their practice, and the management team ensures that the staff’s well-being is also promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported to develop and benefit from a wide range of training that equips them to provide effective support to foster carers. Staff and foster carers work together as a team and are committed to making a difference to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency’s fostering panel operates effectively and efficiently. The panel provide a quality assurance function that ensures that there is a level of good oversight into the quality of assessments. This is further supported by the agency decision-maker who provides a high level of scrutiny to ensure that decision-making is sound.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from the close partnership working between their foster carers, fostering service staff and other professionals. These collaborations successfully promote a well-coordinated approach to ensuring that children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Parallel Parents East 4

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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: Parallel Parents East 5

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Parallel Parents Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: admin@caretodayparallelparents.net

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Parallel Parents East 6 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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