Flying Colours Foster Care

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Flying Colours Foster Care 1 Flying Colours Foster Care

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Park View Business Centre, Combermere, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4AL

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Registered provider: Flying Colours Foster Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

A small private company had been operating this fostering agency since it was first registered. In July 2025, the agency was recently acquired by a larger company and now has a new management team in place.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The foster carers provide long-term and short-term care. At the time of this inspection, the fostering agency had four fostering households, and there were six children being cared for.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered provider has recently 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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Inspection date: 22 September 2025

Date of previous inspection: 14 October 2024

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This monitoring visit

In October 2024, Ofsted undertook a full inspection at Flying Colours Foster Care. Serious and widespread shortfalls were identified, and the agency was judged as inadequate. Compliance notices were issued in respect of regulations 8, 17 and 20f the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.

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This monitoring visit

In December 2024, Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit to review the steps taken to meet the compliance notices and bring about improvement. Sufficient progress had not been made to meet the compliance notices. Because the shortfalls found were all attributable to poor leadership and management, one compliance notice, in respect of regulation 8, was issued to incorporate several of the shortfalls. Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 2 Further monitoring visits were carried out in April 2025 and July 2025. On both occasions insufficient action had been taken to address the shortfalls, and the actions in the compliance notice remained unmet. The compliance notice was reissued after each inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Flying Colours was acquired by another independent fostering agency on 18 July 2025. The previous registered manager and responsible individual ceased to operate the agency.

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This monitoring visit

On 22 September 2025, Ofsted carried out a further monitoring visit to assess whether the new management team had addressed the actions in the compliance notice. The inspector found that good progress had been made, and the compliance notice had been met.

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This monitoring visit

Children are settled; they are happy where they live and have positive relationships with their foster carers. Of the five fostering households, four have chosen to transfer to the new owner’s larger agency and are in the process of being assessed; one has chosen to resign.

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This monitoring visit

A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted. They have also recently been appointed to manage the acquiring agency, so are currently overseeing both agencies until the transfer process is completed. The manager demonstrated that they understand their role, and they have been proactive in identifying and addressing previous shortfalls.

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This monitoring visit

The new responsible individual has good oversight of the agency. They have been fully involved in the acquisition process and in creating an action plan to make the necessary improvements. They are providing the manager with regular, good-quality supervision and ongoing support. They have a clear understanding of the transfer process and the actions that are needed to ensure that staff, carers and children are not impacted by the changes.

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This monitoring visit

Monitoring of the agency has significantly improved. Thorough audits have been completed of all records, and any gaps have been addressed promptly. Staff are receiving regular, good-quality supervision, which helps the management team to quickly understand the children’s and foster carers’ needs. A new recording system has been introduced so that all staff can access files easily. A tracking system has also been implemented, which is helping managers to monitor required documents and actions.

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This monitoring visit

All policies and procedures have been reviewed and updated. These now provide clear guidance, and the new documents have been shared with staff and foster carers.

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This monitoring visit

Shortfalls in staff training have been recognised, and there is a plan in place to address them. Some training has already been booked, and there are now clear Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 3 expectations about what training should be completed. Staff have also been asked to identify any additional training that would support them in their roles, and this will be provided in due course. The new manager has already enrolled on the required management course and has also completed additional training to assist them in their role.

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This monitoring visit

The agency still does not have a functioning panel. Due to the changes in the agency and the upcoming transfer of all carers, the new owners do not feel it would be appropriate to try to recruit new panel members at this stage. The transfer period is expected to be short, and there are no foster carers that must attend the panel in the coming weeks unless anything unexpected occurs.

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This monitoring visit

The agency are in the process of completing overdue foster carer annual reviews. The required consultation documents have been received, and review meetings have taken place. The paperwork will now be sent to the agency decision-maker to consider the carers’ ongoing approval.

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This monitoring visit

Action has been taken to address shortfalls in safer recruitment. Both the manager and quality assurance manager have completed safer recruitment training. Checks for staff have been reviewed, and due to the lack of documents held, the new management team have decided to update all recruitment checks. This process has been started but not yet completed. Recruitment checks that have been completed were reviewed during the inspection, and a significant gap was found in one person’s employment history, with no evidence that it had been explored further.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the prompt action that has been taken by the new management team, the previous requirements for regulations 8, 21 and 28 have now been met. The remaining requirements were not reviewed as part of this inspection. Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 4

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must not—

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so, or

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Requirement Due date

allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work for the purposes of the fostering service unless that person is fit to do so.

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Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed, other than by the fostering service provider, in a position in which that person may in the course of their duties have regular contact with children placed by the fostering service.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work for the purposes of a fostering service unless that person—

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Requirement Due date

has the qualifications, skills and experience necessary for the work they are to perform,

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Requirement Due date

is physically and mentally fit for the work they are to perform, and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to that person in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must take reasonable steps to ensure that any person working for a fostering service who is not employed by the fostering service, and to whom paragraph (2) does not apply, is appropriately supervised while carrying out their duties. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b)(c) (4))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 5 Subject to paragraph (5), the fostering service provider must constitute one or more fostering panels, as necessary, to perform the functions of a fostering panel under these Regulations, and must appoint panel members including—

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Requirement Due date

one or two persons who may act as chair if the person appointed to chair the panel is absent or that office is vacant ("the vice chairs")

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Requirement Due date

A fostering panel may be constituted jointly by any two or more fostering service providers, in which case the appointment of members must be made by agreement between the fostering service providers.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that the fostering panel has sufficient members, and that individual members have between them the experience and expertise necessary, to effectively discharge the functions of the panel. (Regulation 23 (4)(ii) (5) (7))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

A fostering service provider must, in deciding whether to approve X as a foster parent and as to the terms of any approval, take into account the recommendation of the fostering panel.

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Requirement Due date

No member of the fostering panel may take part in any decision made by a fostering service provider under paragraph (3). (Regulation 27 (3) (4))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 1 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the welfare of children placed or to be placed with foster parents is safeguarded and promoted at all times, and

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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— 1 December 2025 Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 6 wishes and feelings (having regard to the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

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

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the independent fostering agency since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 7

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Flying Colours Foster Care Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Park View Business Centre, Combermere, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4AL

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Inspector

Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency – monitoring visit: Flying Colours Foster Care 8 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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