New Life Fostering Agency

Inspection report for independent fostering agency - monitoring: New Life Fostering Agency 1 New Life Fostering Agency Charter House, 848 Tyburn Road, Birmingham B24 9NT

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Registered provider: New Life Fostering Agency Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

A private company operates this fostering agency. The agency registered with Ofsted in May 2012.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The fostering service provides short-term, long-term, emergency and parent and child foster homes. It also provides foster carers who support brothers and sisters to remain together.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the fostering agency had 34 approved fostering households providing care for 38 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency has had no registered manager since January 2025. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

From 28 July to 1 August 2025, Ofsted carried out a full inspection of the fostering agency. Serious and widespread concerns were identified in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the agency. As a result, Ofsted judged the agency to be inadequate and issued compliance notices under regulations 8, 11 and 17, along with five additional requirements.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the safety and well-being of children and to assess the provider’s progress in meeting the steps set out in the compliance notices. Inspectors also considered progress against all other requirements raised at the previous inspection. Inspection report for independent fostering agency - monitoring: New Life Fostering Agency 2 Managers have successfully implemented an improvement plan for the agency. Leaders now routinely review children’s case files to ensure that the quality of care remains consistently effective. Actions arising from audits are allocated to designated staff with clear timescales, and progress is monitored to ensure timely completion.

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This monitoring visit

As part of enhanced oversight and auditing measures, health and safety is prioritised. Updates to the foster carer induction programme ensure that all carers receive the necessary guidance and gain the skills to provide safe and effective care. Additional measures include unannounced visits to foster carers’ homes when concerns arise. These actions demonstrate effective oversight and help ensure that foster homes remain safe and stable.

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This monitoring visit

A new assessment tool has been introduced and implemented by managers to support the placement of children. The tool includes a detailed health section that screens for significant conditions. In addition, leaders carry out enhanced health audits once children are living with their foster families, providing an extra layer of oversight.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders also assess children’s vulnerabilities and individual needs against foster carers’ skills and values. Where additional training is required, this is promptly identified and arranged to ensure carers can safely and effectively meet the needs of the children. This approach ensures that children are matched with carers who are well prepared and supported, promoting placement stability and improving outcomes for children.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers are now clear about their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and when a child goes missing from home. Carers have received updated policies and guidance, attended refresher training and taken part in focused support groups where an updated ‘roles and responsibilities’ session was delivered. Children’s plans have also been revised to include specific arrangements should they go missing. These measures have strengthened carers’ confidence and improved the agency’s ability to respond promptly and effectively, reducing risks to children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has a clear understanding of the foster carers’ strengths and areas for development in their skills. All carers have completed self-assessments with support from their supervising social workers. As a result, updated training and development plans have been created to further enhance carers’ skills. Each plan is reviewed regularly during supervision to ensure that training remains current and relevant.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, leaders have implemented systems to track carers’ training more effectively, addressing a gap where no such system previously existed. The revised policy now requires safeguarding and other key training to be refreshed annually, ensuring carers receive ongoing support. The tracker enables leaders to maintain oversight and issue timely prompts to keep training current. Where gaps are identified, leaders and supervising social workers address these through supervision, action plans and development plans. Inspection report for independent fostering agency - monitoring: New Life Fostering Agency 3 As a result of this visit, Ofsted has confirmed that all compliance notices and associated requirements have been met.

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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: New Life Fostering Agency 4

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: New Life Fostering Agency Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Charter House, 848 Tyburn Road, Birmingham B24 9NT

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Inspectors

Kev Brammer, Regulatory Inspection Manager Dean Wilton, Regulatory Inspection Manager Inspection report for independent fostering agency - monitoring: New Life Fostering Agency 5 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

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

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