Fostering Dimensions

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Dimensions 1 Fostering Dimensions Fostering Dimensions Limited FF23 Foxhall Lodge, Foxhall Road, Nottingham NG7 6LH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Fostering Dimensions is a privately owned, independent fostering agency. It provides short-term, long-term, emergency, bridging and parent and child placements.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of inspection, the agency has nine fostering households who care for 12 children. Inspectors spoke with three of the children during the inspection.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager is registered with Ofsted. The registered provider has appointed a new responsible individual, and we are currently checking this person has the relevant capacity, experience and skills to carry out the role.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency employs one supervising social worker and one social work assistant.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled. They feel valued and cherished by their foster carers and are embraced into family life. Children feel able to talk to their carers if they have any worries. This reflects the positive relationships children have with their foster carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Foster carers are competent in meeting children’s health needs. For one young child who was treated for malnutrition and failure to thrive is now flourishing with their foster carers. For example, the child was being tube fed when first placed and is now thriving on a solid diet. The child is also starting to catch up with their missed developmental milestones such as sitting up and crawling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and foster carers know the importance of education in supporting children’s long-term outcomes. Children regularly attend school and higher education and are ambitious for their future. For one child who was behind age related expectations, they have gone on to excel in recent national exams and is recognised as being one of the highest achievers in the country.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Foster carers feel valued and supported by the agency. They can access help and guidance when needed, including hands-on out of hours support. New foster carers feel well prepared due to the training and encouragement from the agency. One carer highlighted that their experience of fostering has been better than expected and attribute this to the agency’s ‘friendly and caring’ nature.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency works well in collaboration with other professionals such as teachers and social workers. When decisions are not made in the best interest of children, staff are confident in challenging professionals to ensure children’s needs are met. This helps to promote placement stability. One social worker said, ‘without the wrap- around support from the agency, the placement would have broken down’.

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

Foster carers have a good understanding of the risks to children and manage these effectively. For example, one child faced online safety concerns prior to being placed. However, through the foster carer’s guidance and support, the child has learned how to be safe online.

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

Children are routinely seen alone by the agency and additional visits are undertaken following a concern. The social work assistant is skilful in engaging children to creatively gain their views. Visits tend to take place away from the home, giving children a safe place to talk. This helps children to open up and express their thoughts and emotions. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Dimensions 3 Safer caring plans and risk management plans identify relevant risks and tell foster carers how to respond. However, some are too generic and would benefit from being more personalised and child specific.

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

Foster carers respond well to children who go missing from the home. They contact the relevant professionals such as social workers and police. Foster carers try to locate children and remain in contact with them. Children are well supported when they return, and learning is used to help support the child and prevent further incidents.

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

The agency has notified relevant agencies about serious incidents involving children. Some of these were allegations against carers. These were managed and investigated appropriately and taken to early review and panel where necessary. This has led to some foster carers being deregistered. However, the manager has not informed Ofsted or the local authority designated officer about one allegation that a child has raised. This was rectified during the inspection.

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good

The registered manager knows children and foster carers well. Foster carers are well supported to ensure children make progress and enjoy the security of long and stable placements. One foster carer describes the manager as ‘caring and dedicated’. The wrap around support from such a small agency is admirable.

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good

However, there have been several shortfalls identified which suggest a lack of understanding of some of the agency’s weaknesses. There have not always been suitable arrangements for the professional supervision of the manager. This has meant there has been a lack of senior oversight and guidance which has affected the service.

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good

While there are monitoring and assurance systems in place, these have not been effective. For example, not all foster carers have had annual unannounced visits, and not all foster carer annual reviews have taken place within the required timeframes.

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good

The manager has not always followed the correct processes. For example, a foster carer has been allowed to withdraw their resignation on two occasions.

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good

The manager has undertaken regular reviews of the quality of care provided to children. These reviews appropriately evaluate the effectiveness of the service. However, they have not been shared with Ofsted in line with statutory requirements. This limits Ofsted’s ability to effectively regulate the service. This was rectified during the inspection. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Dimensions 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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

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.

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Requirement Due date

Any notification made in accordance with this regulation which is given orally must be confirmed in writing. (Regulation 36 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all allegations of harm towards children are reported to the local authority designated officer and Ofsted. 30 November 2025

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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

A foster parent may give notice in writing to the fostering service provider at any time that the foster parent no longer wishes to be a foster parent, in which case the foster parent’s approval is terminated with effect from 28 days from the date on which the notice is received by the fostering service provider. (Regulation 28 (1) (2) (13))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that annual reviews take place within timeframes and that a foster carers approval is terminated 28 days following receipt of their resignation. 30 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for— 30 November 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Dimensions 5 monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and

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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

The registered person should ensure that any reviews of the quality of care are sent to Ofsted.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with personalised care that meets their needs and promotes all aspects of their individual identity. Household safer-care plans are not yet updated in line with a new child joining the fostering family. Children do not yet have individualised safe care plans. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’, 2.1)

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Each approved foster carer is supervised by a named, appropriately qualified social worker who has meetings with the foster carer, including at least one unannounced visit a year. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’, 21.8)

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Recommendations

 Suitable arrangements exist for professional supervision of the agency’s registered person or manager of a local authority fostering service. (‘Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards’, 24.3)

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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: Fostering Dimensions 6

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fostering Dimensions Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: FF23 Foxhall Lodge, Foxhall Road, Nottingham NG7 6LH

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Responsible individual:

Email address: charmaine@fosteringdimensions.co.uk

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Inspectors

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Jess Baines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Fostering Dimensions 7 and inspects 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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