Fostering Solutions Limited South

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 1 Fostering Solutions Limited South Fostering Solutions Ltd Suite 3, Poles Copse, Poles Lane, Otterbourne, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2DZ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Fostering Solutions Limited South is an independent fostering agency that is part of the National Fostering Group. The agency provides a wide range of foster homes, including short- and long-term, emergency placements, parent and child, children with disabilities, short breaks, staying put, and placements for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. At the time of this inspection, there were 56 approved fostering households, and 66 children placed.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The independent fostering agency provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the independent fostering agency contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 2

p.1

outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress because committed, passionate and nurturing carers and staff go above and beyond to ensure that children remain the focus of everything they do.

p.2

outstanding

Relationships between children and their carers are built on love and trust, and this helps children to feel safe and secure. There is an overwhelming belief that children can achieve well in life. For many children, the excellent care has resulted in a positive change to their care planning, for example children who are now securing permanency through adoption.

p.2

outstanding

Children are thriving because they are happy and settled in their placements, with many wanting to remain there once they reach adulthood. Children use words and phrases such as ‘amazing’, ‘they love me’ and ‘they are kind’ when talking about their foster carers. The agency is committed to securing long-term placements, which means children have a sense of belonging and stability.

p.2

outstanding

Children’s health and education are prioritised by the agency. Carers attend all meetings in relation to children’s care planning. Excellent communication skills mean that children receive informed and consistent care from a range of professionals.

p.2

outstanding

Advocacy for children is commendable. Solution-focused and empathic supervising social workers have an unquestionable stance that children should receive a first- class service from professionals. This has led to one child with complex health needs fulfilling a lifelong dream. For another, their voice has been heard through positive advocacy by their foster carer.

p.2

outstanding

Creative and innovative packages of care have prevented placement endings. Excellent, well-targeted and relationship-based interventions by highly skilled supervising social workers empower carers and support placement stability.

p.2

outstanding

Children’s culture and history are recognised as highly important by carers and staff. Equality and diversity are celebrated and valued as part of a child’s identity. Effective and inspirational direct work by the family support worker supports children to ‘know that they have a place in this world’.

p.2

outstanding

Children have a voice that is listened to, heard and acted on. The youth council is an exceptional part of this agency. Children’s participation and the capturing of their views are unprecedented. For example, children discussed how it feels when they move into a carer’s home. As a result, all children now receive a handwritten letter from a child explaining that they are not alone. This has been embraced and appreciated by children. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 3

p.2

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

Children are safe and say that they feel safe. The trusting relationships between children and their carers provide a platform for open, honest and transparent discussions. One child said that even though they may ‘get into trouble’ they talk to their carers and supervising social workers because ‘they care’ and ‘want what is best for me’.

p.3

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

Multi-agency working is excellent. The agency approach to risk management enables proactive strategies to be put in place. This includes regular oversight of risk assessments. Effective communication ensures that there is a collaborative approach to safeguarding children.

p.3

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

Carers and staff do not avoid risk, they embrace it. Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks to learn from them and to explore their surroundings. This helps them to safely understand and discover the world around them.

p.3

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

Training is of an excellent standard. Carers have completed the necessary training to support them to care for children, particularly those who are at risk of child sexual exploitation or gang-related crime. Carers have benefited from additional training opportunities in relation to looking after children who have complex health needs.

p.3

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

Regular and comprehensive management oversight of safeguarding identifies concerns, themes or early indication of carer fatigue. These have been addressed swiftly, with creative and innovative thinking to avoid unnecessary endings.

p.3

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

Consistent and joined-up approaches ensure that carers’ approval is reviewed and challenged effectively. The independent reviewing officers are tenacious in their practice. Every effort is made by the agency to ensure that children are cared for by safe adults.

p.3

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

Allegations against foster carers are managed effectively and in a timely way. Recording is comprehensive and clearly identifies actions and learning to reduce the risk of a recurrence.

p.3

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

Skills and knowledge gained from learning are embedded through practice. This is a continued focus of the agency, which supports the ethos in their approach to keeping children safe.

p.3

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

On one occasion, a carer did not share relevant information with the agency in a timely way, and it was not recognised that the carer had failed to comply with the expectations and agency policies. Nonetheless, effective communication with other professionals ensured that the child was actively safeguarded. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A strength of the agency is the committed, determined registered manager who works tirelessly to continuously improve the agency. The management team, including the team manager, leads by example.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is the driving force in the agency’s strive for excellence. She is supported by an equally committed and dedicated team of highly skilled supervising social workers. One placing authority described the agency as ‘brilliant’, ‘remarkable’ and ‘child-focused’.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Senior leadership oversight provides informed recognition of staff commitment. This supports the retention of staff and positive internal growth. Staff say that they are well supported, enthusiastic and committed to the agency, the children and the carers they support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff receive regular practice-related supervision and appraisals. These are further reviewed as part of their professional development. Continuous investment in staff development is excellent. This provides a sense of stability and accountability in the agency.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are plentiful opportunities for staff to discuss practice and the progress of children and to share ideas and resources through research-based meetings. This includes, for example, regular well-attended team meetings and clinical intervention through joined-up working and information-sharing. This further enriches child-led and exceptional practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and senior leaders use effective monitoring systems to maintain oversight of the agency. When they identify themes or learning that require changes to practice, swift action is taken in response. Additionally, practice is research based and there is a focused learning environment. The ability to self-critique to continually improve is admirable.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The fostering panel consists of an appropriately qualified and experienced membership, including a care-experienced young person. The panel is chaired by an experienced and knowledgeable independent chair who knows the agency well.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The agency decision-maker is knowledgeable and offers clarity to decision-making. Independent reviewing officers provide effective scrutiny. Decision-making is of a timely, informed quality and appropriate recommendations are made in line with the overriding objective to promote the welfare of children in foster care. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that supervising social workers make sure that each foster carer he or she supervises is informed in writing of, and accepts, understands and operates within, all regulations and standards and with policies and guidance agreed by the fostering service. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 21.9)

p.5

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: Fostering Solutions Limited South 6

p.5

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fostering Solutions Ltd

p.6

Independent fostering agency details

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

p.6

Independent fostering agency details

Email address: Sophie.Jack@fosteringsolutions.com

p.6

Inspectors

Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Inspector (lead) Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Solutions Limited South 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7