Fusion Fostering West Midlands

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 1 The Midlands Fusion Fostering Limited The Enterprise Hub, 34 Green Lane, Walsall WS2 8JH Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This fostering agency was registered in August 2017. It is part of a larger, privately run organisation that operates nationwide. This agency supports foster carers mainly across the West Midlands but also a small number of carers in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The placements provided include emergency, short-term, long-term, short-break and parent and child. At the time of the inspection, the agency had 37 fostering households and cared for 47 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has been the registered manager since August 2023.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Five children were spoken with during this inspection. Children spoke about their positive experiences of living with their carers and reflected on happy memories, including family holidays, activities and time spent together as a family. Children are making progress from their starting points. One child said they felt scared when they first moved to the carers, but quickly realised they were safe and well cared for. Another child said they felt a sense of belonging and part of the family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and carers have positive relationships. Children benefit from living in stable homes. Where ‘staying put’ arrangements are an option, these are promoted to provide stability for children into adulthood, and one child has been adopted by their carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers provide children with a range of activities that enrich their learning and development. Many children are part of clubs, attend sporting events and have learned valuable life skills, including riding a bike and swimming. Carers understand what is important to children to ensure their needs are met. This includes supporting children to attend places of worship and providing opportunities to support their cultural needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive a personalised welcome hamper when moving into their new homes. A staff member meets with the child to go through the welcome guide, ensuring they understand their move, have key information and know how to make a complaint. The agency supports smooth and sensitive transitions by working closely with carers. Where possible, children and carers have introductory meetings before the move, and all children receive details about their foster carers in advance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children of school age are attending full-time education. A dedicated education lead completes a biannual review of all children’s education plans. This ensures that any issues can be detected early and a clear plan of action created to guide and support the carer and supervising social worker. The lead advocates for children’s needs and supports carers when there is a need for professional challenge. This ensures children are receiving the educational support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is also a designated health lead who reviews children’s plans in line with their education review, so expert health advice and guidance can be given to carers to support children’s care. Additionally, an in-house therapeutic team offer advice and guidance to carers to support with children’s social and emotional needs. T he agency’s therapeutic model is embedded within the carer’s journey from assessment to support groups once approved with therapeutic training being mandatory. This promotes a consistent care approach which is nurturing and child centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s independence is carefully considered. The agency has created a detailed guide for children in preparation for leaving foster care and living independently. The agency has shared this with other regions within their organisation. Additionally, Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 3 staff offer a range of bespoke sessions to support the preparatory work completed by their carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The agency works with several placing authorities and strives to maintain strong relationships. There has been an increase in unplanned endings. The manager reviewed these cases and challenged when full and accurate information was not shared. However, some children experienced unplanned endings soon after placement because key statutory documents were missing during assessment, leading to missed opportunities to make informed decisions.

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

Children know who to talk to if they are worried and they are provided with clear information from the agency about how to make a complaint. One child said they were able to raise an issue about their foster carer with a member of staff. As a result, the agency, foster carer and placing social worker have worked together to understand the child’s worries and worked with the carer to address these issues holistically. The foster carer has received support from the therapeutic team to support their practice.

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

Carers receive training and support in managing behaviour, including in the agency’s therapeutic approach. There have been few physical interventions since the last inspection and when used, they have been proportionate. When holds are needed, carers receive extra de-escalation training and guidance from the in-house therapist to ensure safety and that all alternatives are explored, making the use of holds a last resort.

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

When a child is missing, carers provide a well-coordinated approach to ensure their prompt safe return. There is a clear policy for carers to follow if a child is missing. Children’s support plans are kept up to date to reflect risk and provide strategies to mitigate further incidents. As a result, incidents of children going missing from home are rare.

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

Allegations and concerns regarding foster carers are managed effectively. When appropriate, carers do not care for children and are referred to the panel for a review of their continued suitability. The agency ensures that carers’ needs are considered throughout the allegation process, with a range of support available to them. When necessary, the agency takes action to deregister carers and conducts learning reviews to evaluate their time with the service.

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

In one case, the deregistration of a household led to the identification of several learning points. Although the review concluded that the risks posed by the carer could not have been foreseen, the agency has since taken steps to strengthen practice and mitigate future risks.

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

Risks are well managed by carers. A recently developed ‘All About Me’ tool includes children in the development of their safe care plans. Children’s risks are appropriately identified and recorded in their support plans which are live Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 4 documents. Consequently, they effectively monitor and understand fluctuations in risk so support to carers and children can be individualised.

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

Unannounced visits are completed twice yearly and more frequently if the agency has not been able to obtain the views of the child. Visits are carried out by the supervising social worker and other members of the team to ensure that a number of professionals visit fostering homes to have greater oversight.

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

Staff are safely recruited. Additional checks are completed when exploring gaps in employment or qualifications, to ensure only those who are suitably experienced and qualified are employed by the agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency has an experienced registered manager, who has high expectations and has made a number of changes to improve practice since joining the agency. These include creating additional support groups and the recent introduction of the foster carers ambassador role to provide greater peer support to carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff team, with many staff having worked for the agency for several years. Staff work well together and feel supported by the managers. They spoke positively about opportunities for development and said they feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from foster carers and professionals is extremely positive. Carers feel supported. They receive monthly supervision and have access to a wide range of training that is delivered both virtually and in person. Additional workshops and briefings covering a range of contextual topics based on current themes are available to carers and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision takes place every month. There is a focus on staff well-being and development, with clear objectives to support their learning. Staff supervision also provides the manager with the opportunity to oversee data held in respect of the carers and children so that any outstanding information or renewing of mandatory checks can be tracked and actioned as a priority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The number of complaints received by the agency is low. When complaints are made, they are thoroughly investigated and a written response is sent to inform those making the complaint of the outcome and action taken.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Panel arrangements are well managed. The agency has sufficient panel members with a wide range of experience, and all panels have been quorate. Recommendations are child focused and underpinned with sound evidence. The agency decision-maker takes account of the fostering panel’s recommendations and makes timely, appropriate decisions to promote the welfare of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems are in place and are reviewed regularly by the manager. Weekly meetings between the manager and deputy manager ensure that Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 5 the needs of the service are discussed and findings are shared with the wider team. This enables prompt action when areas for improvement are identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While monitoring systems are mostly effective, compliance dates are not always accurately recorded. Furthermore, children’s local authority plans and carer supervision agreements are not consistently monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager acts in response to external feedback and since the last inspection, has improved the quality of the agency’s quarterly review reports submitted to Ofsted. This provides inspectors with a greater understanding of how the agency is developing to improve the experiences of foster carers and children in their care. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that before the placement of each child, the foster carer is provided with all the information held by the fostering service that they need to carry out their role effectively. The fostering service should follow up with the responsible authority any gaps in the information provided to them on the child or the child’s family which may hinder the foster carer in providing a safe caring environment that meets the child’s needs and enables them to keep the child, other children in the fostering household and the foster carer him/herself safe. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 15.2)

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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: The Midlands 7

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fusion Fostering Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Old Mill, Maltravers House, Petters Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1SH

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: westmidlands@fusionfostering.co.uk

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Midlands 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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Inspector

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