United Fostering Services Limited

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 1 United Fostering Services Limited United Fostering Services Ltd 101 Lockhurst Lane, Coventry CV6 5SF Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

Ofsted registered United Fostering Services in June 2022. The agency undertakes recruitment, assessment, approval and support of foster carers. The agency currently has 33 fostering households, with 49 children placed. The agency offers emergency, respite, short-term, long-term and parent and child placements, and placements for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

p.1

Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager was registered with Ofsted in June 2022 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 27 February 2023

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

improvement to be good

Care planning arrangements for children are inconsistent and for some, this has resulted in instability. Decision-making is not sufficiently robust and the agency does not consistently consider how foster carers will meet all aspects of children’s development needs and associated risks. Additionally, the skills, experience and limitations of foster carers are not always fully taken into account. For one child, this led to three placement moves within a three-month period, which did not support them to settle or experience continuity of care.

p.2

improvement to be good

The agency has adopted various therapeutic parenting models to enhance the quality of care provided. However, these are not yet fully embedded in practice, and their impact on children’s experiences remains limited. Not all foster carers have received training in the approaches, resulting in some children being cared for by adults who are not equipped to understand or respond to their lived experiences. This has contributed to avoidable placement disruptions for some children.

p.2

improvement to be good

Efforts have been made to improve the quality of children’s records through the introduction of the ‘language that cares’ approach. However, the approach is not yet consistently applied. During the inspection, language such as ‘defiant’ and ‘stubborn’ was used to describe children who were experiencing emotional distress. This language does not align with the agency’s stated therapeutic ethos.

p.2

improvement to be good

Assessments of prospective foster carers are completed by qualified social workers and overseen by the registered manager or other suitably qualified person. Most assessments are completed in a timely manner and are sufficiently detailed. Some assessments presented at panel lack sufficient detail to enable panel to make informed recommendations regarding applicants’ suitability to foster. On more than one occasion, this has resulted in avoidable delay.

p.2

improvement to be good

Most foster carer reviews are presented at panel at appropriate times to have their circumstances reviewed, however in some cases the information provided to the fostering panel is not consistently robust and this contributes to delay for carers. Most children experience stability in their foster placements and develop positive relationships with their carers and their wider foster families. Many children refer to their carers using affectionate terms and describe feeling part of the family. One child said, ‘My carers are like my aunty and uncle.’

p.2

improvement to be good

The agency supports children’s transition to foster care effectively. Children receive an age-appropriate guide before arriving at their foster home, which provides helpful information to support their understanding. The agency also produces tailored guides to meet individual language and communication needs. When they arrive, children are visited by a support worker who offers additional help to aid their settling-in process. As a result, children build trusting relationships with agency staff. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 3 Children’s educational outcomes are positive. A majority of children attend education settings and make good progress from their starting points. Foster carers value education and actively support children to achieve their potential. For those not currently in education, the agency works closely with the virtual school to ensure

p.2

improvement to be good

that appropriate education provision is identified and accessed. This ensures that children’s educational needs are met in a timely and responsive manner.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are well met. Foster carers ensure that children are registered with local health services and that health plans are implemented effectively. As a result, children access the services they need to support their physical and emotional well-being.

p.3

improvement to be good

The agency has developed strong working relationships with external professionals. Children’s social workers provided consistently positive feedback about the quality of communication with the agency and the standard of care provided to children.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have developed trusting relationships with their foster carers. They say they feel safe in their foster homes and are confident to share any worries or concerns. One child said, ‘I can talk to my carers if I have any worries or concerns.’

p.3

improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in safeguarding incidents. The agency responds appropriately when incidents occur, including working in partnership with children’s social workers and making referrals to the local authority designated officer (LADO). A small number of the agency’s internal investigations and learning reviews do not clearly show professional curiosity and rigorous analysis. As a result, the potential impact on these children is not always fully considered. This represents a missed opportunity to reflect on and improve some foster carers’ practice.

p.3

improvement to be good

The number of allegations is low. When allegations do occur, the agency responds effectively. A full review is undertaken and when necessary, foster carers are returned to panel for a review of their suitability. However, the registered manager does not always ensure that panel recommendations are actioned promptly. On one occasion, there was a four-month delay in completing essential safeguarding training for a household member.

p.3

improvement to be good

Children have safer care plans and risk assessments in place. However, some risk assessments are overly generic and do not provide clear, individualised strategies to support foster carers in keeping children safe. Risk assessments are not always routinely reviewed or updated to reflect children’s current circumstances. For example, expectations around the supervision of family time are not always clearly outlined. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 4 The agency undertakes two unannounced visits to fostering households each year. However, the recording of these visits lacks sufficient detail. Children are not consistently seen or spoken to during these visits, and their bedrooms are not always checked. This limits opportunities for children to speak privately with a trusted professional.

p.3

improvement to be good

There are few incidents of children going missing from home. When they do occur, foster carers understand their roles and responsibilities. They work effectively with the police and other professionals to ensure children are located and returned safely.

p.4

improvement to be good

The agency employs an in-house therapist who supports children’s emotional resilience and well-being. The therapist provides one-to-one consultations, ensuring that children receive support tailored to their needs. To further enhance emotional support, the agency has offered dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP) training to all staff and foster carers.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children know how to make a complaint. Their views and wishes are listened to and acted on when appropriate. Children are also involved in the agency’s youth panel, contributing to service development. This helps children feel valued and heard.

p.4

improvement to be good

The agency follows safer recruitment procedures for foster carers, staff and panel members. This ensures that foster homes are safe environments and that only suitable adults work with children.

p.4

good

The registered manager is suitably skilled and experienced. He is dedicated and committed to ensuring that children receive the right care. He is supported by a qualified and experienced responsible individual who shares the agency’s values and ethos.

p.4

good

Since the last inspection, the agency has expanded significantly, growing from four to 33 fostering households. This rapid growth has placed additional demands on the registered manager’s ability to monitor the service effectively. As a result, emerging shortfalls were identified during the inspection. The leadership and management team are reviewing the agency’s structure and plans to recruit a service manager to strengthen oversight.

p.4

good

Internal monitoring and auditing processes do not consistently support the registered manager to maintain clear oversight of the service. Current systems do not effectively identify patterns, trends or gaps in practice, particularly when policies are not followed. While this has not yet impacted the quality of care provided to children, it limits opportunities for learning and service development.

p.4

good

The registered manager has processes in place for exemptions, which have enabled children to be placed with their siblings. However, in some cases, the correct procedures regarding foster carers’ terms of approval have not been followed. This Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 5 has resulted in children being placed outside the usual fostering limit. Although this has not negatively affected children’s care or well-being, these placements were not identified as unregulated by managers.

p.4

good

Staff receive supervision on a regular basis. However, the quality of supervision is inconsistent. There is limited evidence of professional scrutiny or direction, and actions set during supervision are not routinely reviewed. This weakens managerial oversight of staff development and foster carer practice.

p.5

good

Foster carers also receive regular supervision. However, records of these sessions often lack detail, particularly regarding agreed actions. This limits the agency’s ability to monitor children’s progress effectively.

p.5

good

The agency benefits from a stable and consistent staff team. Supervising social workers say they feel well supported by the management team and enjoy working at the agency. Caseloads are manageable, which enables staff to provide a high level of support to foster carers.

p.5

good

Since the last inspection, a new panel chair has been appointed. They are suitably experienced and bring a wealth of knowledge to the role. The fostering panel provides effective independent scrutiny of the agency’s work. Panel minutes clearly document the rationale for recommendations, and the agency decision-maker demonstrates thoughtful reflection in decision-making across all aspects of the application and approval process.

p.5

good

Foster carers feel well supported by their supervising social workers. Some described the agency as feeling ‘like a family’ and said that managers and staff are always available to help. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by the fostering agency, and

p.6

Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children placed by the fostering agency,

p.6

Requirement Due date

carry on or manage the fostering agency (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring they have effective monitoring systems in place to oversee the functions of the agency and the continuity of care for children. 27 June 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person in respect of an independent fostering agency must ensure that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded

p.6

Requirement Due date

before making any decision affecting a child placed or to be placed with a foster parent due consideration is given to the child’s—

p.6

Requirement Due date

wishes and feelings (having regard to the child’s age and understanding), (Regulation 11 (a)(b)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that there is careful care planning when children move to their foster carer’s home. 27 June 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 7 Also, the registered person must ensure that actions identified in safeguarding investigations are carried out to ensure the welfare of children is paramount.

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that foster carers are supervised by a qualified social worker, including receiving at least one unannounced visit a year. Meetings should have a clear purpose and provide the opportunity to supervise the foster carer’s work, ensure the foster carer is meeting the child’s needs, taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings, and offer support and a framework to assess the carer’s performance and develop their competencies and skills. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 21.8)  The registered person should ensure that staff have access to support and advice and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced manager. (Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 24.4)  The registered person should ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files

p.7

Recommendations

now or in the future. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 26.6)  The registered person should ensure that the foster carer’s terms of approval allow number of children (any terms of approval must be compatible with the number of children the foster carer is caring for, even if an exemption to the usual fostering limit has been granted, unless the placement is in an emergency and for less than six days). (‘The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 4’: Fostering services, 5.46)

p.7

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: United Fostering Services Limited 8

p.7

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: United Fostering Services Ltd

p.8

Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 101 Lockhurst Lane, Coventry CV6 5SF

p.8

Independent fostering agency details

Registered manager: Dhirendra Shrivastava

p.8

Independent fostering agency details

Email address: info@unitedfostering.co.uk

p.8

Inspectors

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: United Fostering Services Limited 9 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.8

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.9

Inspectors

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

p.9

Inspectors

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

p.9