Faith Fostering

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 1 Faith Fostering Faith Fostering NE Ltd Preston Technology Centre, Marsh Lane, Preston PR1 8UQ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This privately owned independent fostering agency registered with Ofsted in January 2025.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency provides short-term, long-term, emergency and respite foster care, specialist placements for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and homes for siblings to live together. It is responsible for the assessment, approval, training, supervision and support of foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency was supporting 15 approved fostering households that are providing care to 20 children.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience warm, nurturing care from their foster carers. Many carers transferred into the agency with established arrangements and these have been maintained through support from this agency. As a result, children feel secure in their homes and benefit from predictable, caring relationships that help them to settle and thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted effectively. Carers encourage regular attendance and celebrate children’s achievements. Carers maintain regular communication with schools. When children require additional support, supervising social workers advocate appropriately to ensure that children’s needs are understood and acted upon. This coordinated approach helps children to overcome barriers to learning and maintain positive engagement with education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of activities that support their development and sense of identity. These activities help children to develop new friendships and have positive experiences. These opportunities promote children’s confidence and help them to develop new skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are routinely sought and have influence on day ‑ to ‑ day decisions. Supervising social workers offer children opportunities to speak alone during visits, and children’s feedback is used creatively, including posing questions to the panel and through gathering reflections after activities. This helps children to feel heard and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers report that they feel well supported by the agency. They describe the supervision, advice and training available to them as responsive and accessible. Carers say that they can contact the agency easily and that staff are approachable and knowledgeable. This support helps carers to provide consistent, high ‑ quality care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Case files are generally well organised, and plans are clear and reflective of children’s needs. As the majority of children were already living with their carers when they transferred into this agency, they knew the children’s history. The agency continues to support carers to ensure that planning remains focused on children’s progress and wellbeing.

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

Children report that they feel safe in their foster homes. Supervising social workers visit regularly and provide opportunities for children to speak privately. These visits help workers to understand children’s lived experiences and ensure that concerns can be raised safely. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 3 Children’s care plans are clear and regularly updated. They identify key risks and outline strategies to keep everyone in the household safe. Carers understand these plans and use them to support safe, consistent care. Children are spoken to about them, so that they understand the expectations of living in the foster home.

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

The agency has reassessed all the carers who transferred into them and they have also undertaken assessments of new carers. The assessments are thorough and demonstrate strong social work analysis. They align with relevant principles and are strengthened by robust scrutiny from panel and the agency decision ‑ maker. This ensures that decisions are well considered and grounded in evidence.

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

Carers receive training that is relevant and accessible. They value the balance of online and in ‑ person learning and say that training increases their confidence in meeting children’s needs. When carers request additional learning opportunities, the agency responds promptly and ensures that training is tailored to the needs of the children they care for.

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

When children go missing, responses are prompt and well-coordinated. The agency communicates effectively with carers, local authorities and police. The manager reviews incidents to identify patterns and learning. Supervising social workers visit children after they return home, and they offer support to carers.

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

The agency provides appropriate guidance when carers are unsure about safeguarding processes. Supervising social workers review incidents, offer advice and help carers to reflect on their practice. This supports continuous improvement and helps carers to respond confidently to emerging concerns.

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

Internal investigations into allegations are robust, and a recent internal learning review has highlighted the importance of strengthening carers’ emotional support when an allegation occurs. This review also found that there was inconsistency in the recording of standards. This learning is being embedded through a structured development plan. The quality of recordings is steadily improving as staff apply the guidance with increasing confidence and consistency.

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

The agency is not consistently using its own escalation process when local authorities fail to provide key documents, such as care plans and education plans. Some children have been living with their carers for several months without updated documentation despite repeated requests. This limits the agency’s ability to ensure that carers have the information they need to safeguard and care for children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides clear, child ‑ centred direction. Staff understand expectations around safeguarding and the support to be provided to carers. Leaders are visible, approachable and committed to improving children’s experiences. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 4 Supervision for staff is regular and reflective. They report that they feel listened to and supported. Supervising social workers describe a culture where they can seek advice and discuss concerns openly. This helps to maintain a consistent focus on children’s needs across the agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and weekly safeguarding meetings reflect a team that is knowledgeable, organised and child focused. There is clear evidence of the agency monitoring children’s safety between meetings and a commitment to enhancing children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is relevant and well received by carers and staff. Carers say that it increases their confidence in meeting children’s needs, and the agency responds to requests for additional learning. Staff also benefit from training that supports their professional development and enhances their ability to guide carers effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Quality assurance processes are in place, including management audits, panel scrutiny and oversight from decision ‑ makers. The manager has a good understanding of the agency’s strengths and areas for development. However, audits have not identified that the agency’s statement of purpose is not available on their website, which limits prospective carers gaining an understanding of the agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The fostering panel operates effectively, providing thorough scrutiny, clear challenge and well ‑ reasoned recommendations. Children have a voice in panel through being able to pose questions, which strengthens their participation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is effective. Supervising social workers and managers communicate well with local authorities, schools and health professionals and challenge them appropriately when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment checks for staff are not consistently robust. This was a concern when the agency was registered and has not been appropriately followed up. Leaders have recognised this shortfall and have begun to address the issue. However, further work is required to ensure compliance. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 5

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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, 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

The fostering service provider must compile a written statement in relation to the fostering service (“the statement of purpose”) which consists of—

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Requirement Due date

a statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service; and

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Requirement Due date

a statement as to the services and facilities (including any parent and child arrangements) provided by the fostering service.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to the Chief Inspector, place a copy on their website (if they have one), and make copies available, upon request, to—

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Requirement Due date

any person working for the purposes of the fostering service, any foster parent or prospective foster parent of the fostering service;

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Requirement Due date

any child placed with a foster parent by the fostering service, and the parent of any such child. (Regulation 3 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the statement of purpose is placed onto the provider’s website. 2 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must provide foster parents with such training, advice, information and support, including support outside office hours, as appears necessary in the interests of children placed with them.

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must ensure that, in relation to any child placed or to be placed with a foster parent, the foster parent is given such information, which is kept up to date, as to enable him to provide appropriate care for the child, and in particular that each foster parent is provided 2 April 2026 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 6 with a copy of the most recent version of the child’s care plan provided to the fostering service provider under regulation 6(3)(d) of the Care Planning Regulations. Independent fostering agencies – representations and complaints. (Regulation 17 (1) (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that carers receive the most up-to-date care plan and other legal documents relating to a child’s care and education.

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Recommendation

 All people working in or for the fostering service, and the central list of persons considered suitable to be members of a fostering panel, are interviewed as part of the selection process and have references checked to assess suitability before taking on responsibilities. Telephone enquiries are made to each referee to verify the written references. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 19.1)

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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: Faith Fostering 7

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Faith Fostering NE Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Preston Technology Centre, Marsh Lane, Preston PR1 8UQ

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Inspector

Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Faith Fostering 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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