Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust Bradford Children and Families Trust Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 0QL Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency registered in April 2023 under a trust arrangement. The service operates from offices in Bradford. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency undertakes the assessment, approval and supervision of foster carers who provide a wide range of placements for children and young people. This includes respite care, permanent, short-term and long-term placements, kinship carers, remand fostering and ‘staying put’ arrangements.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, 443 approved foster carers were providing placements for 566 children and young people.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust

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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. Most children are settled and have lived with their foster carers for several years. This provides children with a sense of belonging, stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are part of the extended fostering family and enjoy family celebrations and holidays. This means that support is available to foster carers so that children can enjoy time with other family members, which provides support to the carers, particularly during times of crisis. One carer said, ‘[Name of child] has the family around them. They know that they are loved here and by the family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Everybody at the agency embraces the importance of education. Children’s education is actively promoted and tailored to meet their individual needs. Managers maintain good oversight of the progress children make with their learning. Children’s attendance and educational attainment are good.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency’s recruitment strategy is effective. There is an increase in the recruitment of foster carers. This means that there will be more carers available to look after children so that they can stay locally. The Mockingbird Family Model continues to offer good support to foster carers.

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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. This is an area that has improved since the last inspection. They are now more analytical and provide an accurate reflection of the foster carers’ strengths and areas for development. Good assessments of prospective foster carers ensure that children are suitably matched, offering secure placements that successfully meet their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency arranges a variety of events for the children. These are well organised and enjoyed by all. Children also get to try out new experiences and opportunities that they may not normally have, such as going fishing, swimming or attending sports.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers value and appreciate the various support groups and events available via the agency’s enrichment offer. The foster carers welcome the support to access holidays at the agency’s caravan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, foster carers feel supported by their supervising social workers, whom the children also get to know well. Foster carers say that this support allows them to speak to the team managers, whom they also know well. Foster carers acknowledge that the agency is still on a journey. One foster carer said, ‘Leaders genuinely care. They want to get it right for us, and they want to do well.’ However, there are still some frustrations expressed by foster carers about the lack of consistent support by the agency to escalate their concerns about other professionals. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust

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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 provide practical advice and information about the risks that children face. This promotes children’s ability to make informed decisions. As a result, children experience a sense of safety and protection.

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

There are reliable safeguarding practices throughout the fostering service. Safer carer plans are of good quality. They are regularly reviewed and provide foster carers with relevant information to help children stay and feel safe.

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

Children are regularly seen by supervising social workers, and carers receive unannounced visits at appropriate intervals. Good formal and informal support enable foster carers to continue to offer care in challenging circumstances and maintain stable homes for children.

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

Foster carers’ homes are safe and secure. Staff carry out checks to ensure that homes are well maintained and comfortable and that there are no health and safety concerns.

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

Managers use trackers and spreadsheets to monitor complaints, allegations and issues related to standards of care. This ensures that they are addressed in a timely manner with clear timescales to avoid drift. Foster carers are returned to the fostering panel if required. This ensures that they remain safe to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there is clear evidence of improved management oversight and a grip on the fostering service. Leaders and managers know the service extremely well. Their self-evaluation is honest and detailed, with a clear evaluation of strengths and areas for development. The swift response to the concerns raised at the last inspection demonstrates a continued commitment to provide and maintain high-quality foster care that meets children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working has been strengthened, particularly with education and child and adolescent mental health services. This ensures that foster carers receive the necessary support. Programmes to support pre-school children and their carers have been welcomed by the foster carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by their managers. They benefit from regular training, team meetings and reflective supervision sessions. Staff who may have specific needs said that managers support them to work flexibly if needed. Staff enjoy their roles, and they feel proud of what they do and supported by colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The fostering panel is well organised and effective, offering high-quality support to new and experienced foster carers. Panel members receive comprehensive Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust mandatory training. The panel is thorough in its discussions, which are well documented in the panel minutes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency decision-maker has suitable knowledge and experience for the role. The quality assurance process is demonstrated through the depth of discussions that take place to make clear recommendations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new panel adviser is very enthusiastic about her role and has vast experience in fostering. She works well with the panel chairs to help support panel business and to ensure the smooth running of panels.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a clear focus from the leadership and management team on issues relating to diversity .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managerial monitoring of the service is effective. Leaders and managers understand the agency’s strengths and weaknesses and work to address these. However, further work must be done to ensure that foster carers complete all mandatory training. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that foster carers provide evidence that they have achieved the training, support and development standards in foster care within 12 months of approval, or within 18 months if they are family and friends foster carers. Foster carers who were approved as such before April 2008 should provide evidence that the standards were achieved by April 2011, or by April 2012 for family and friends foster carers. Fostering households may use the same evidence workbook. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 20.3)

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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: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Bradford Children and Families Trust

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 0QL

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: fostering@bradford.gov.uk

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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Julia Hagan, Social Care Inspector Tina Ruffles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Foster for Bradford, Bradford Children and Families Trust 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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