The Fostering Foundation

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 1 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The Fostering Foundation The Fostering Foundation Limited 74a Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8JA Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This is an independent fostering agency based in the south-west region of England. The main branch office is based in Bristol, with smaller offices operating in Exeter and Tavistock.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency provides a range of fostering services, including parent and child placements, short-term, long-term and emergency care for children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted on 5 August 2025.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of the inspection, the agency was supporting 54 fostering households caring for 67 children, and 6 young people living in ‘staying put’ arrangements, these are arrangements that enables care leavers to remain living with their foster carers when they turn 18.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 2 OFSTED USE ONLY

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inadequate

Serious shortfalls were identified in the leadership and management of the service at this inspection. This in turn meant that Ofsted could not be assured that all children are being effectively safeguarded. Because how well children are helped and protected is a limiting judgement, the overall experiences of progress of children are also judged to be inadequate.

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inadequate

Children’s views about their care are generally sought by the agency. Children are mostly positive about the care that they receive and their experiences at their foster home. However, for children where English is not their first language, interpreters are not used outside of multi-agency and formal meetings. This prevents these children from having the opportunity to talk to the supervising social worker or support worker about their day-to-day experiences when they visit them.

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inadequate

When challenges arise, managers take steps to stabilise children’s care, including implementing therapeutic interventions. Despite this additional support, five children left their care arrangements in an unplanned way. Managers do not always review care arrangements that end abruptly. This is a missed opportunity to help them learn to from what has happened and take action, if necessary to improve future experiences and outcomes for children.

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inadequate

Preparation for when children have a planned break to support their full-time care arrangements is not robust. The agency has not assured itself that foster carers providing planned breaks have access to essential information about children’s care needs and associated risks. This shortfall contributed to a child being in a vulnerable situation during a planned break.

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inadequate

For some children, family time is well planned and they are well supported by their foster carers and the agency. However, for other children this is not the case. For example, serious concerns about the negative impact that family time was having on one child’s welfare were not escalated quickly and effectively enough with the child’s placing authority. For some other children, there is a lack of clarity about family time arrangements.

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inadequate

Foster carers provide opportunities for children to develop essential life skills, such as cooking and learning to drive. Some children remain with their foster carers into adulthood through staying put arrangements. This provides them with ongoing stability and a sense of permanence.

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inadequate

Some children remain with their foster carers for many years. They benefit from support to explore their identity and to develop a sense of belonging. This care helps them overcome their difficulties and make progress. Additionally, Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 3 OFSTED USE ONLY

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inadequate

experienced and trained child and parent foster carers have provided tailored care and support to meet the needs of a young parent prior to their baby’s birth.

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inadequate

The agency works collaboratively with other agencies to ensure that children’s learning needs are met. Foster carers support children with homework and help them understand the value of education. When children do not attend their education provision, there is effective liaison with partner agencies to progress education plans.

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inadequate

Children enjoy attending different activities, such as going to the gym and going on holidays with their foster family. Foster carers encourage children to attend community clubs and groups and support friendships to develop. The agency facilitates planned activities for foster carers and children that they enjoy. This includes trips to a theme park, an activity farm and an annual Christmas dinner event.

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inadequate

Children now have access now to a suitable children’s guide. They have been involved in the development of these guides, and their views have been taken into account. As a result, children have access to information about the agency and other services that may help them.

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inadequate

The agency has identified serious concerns about a staff member’s practice, including failures to share information with managers and other relevant professionals about children who are at risk of harm. This includes information about a child who has been inhaling aerosols, a child who was misusing illegal substances, a child who was missing from home and where the police were called to the foster home. In addition, it is not clear whether visits to foster carers and children that are said to have happened have actually taken place.

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inadequate

Despite these concerns, managers have not undertaken urgent action to ensure that these children are being safeguarded, nor have they undertaken a thorough review of all children’s records, as needed, to identify and address any additional concerns that have left children at risk or may still present a risk to children. These shortfalls mean that the agency cannot be assured that all children are effectively safeguarded and this contributes to the inadequate judgement in help and protection.

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inadequate

Most foster carers receive regular supervision. However, it is not always clear that supervising social workers show professional curiosity about aspects of children’s care, when needed and provide constructive challenge to foster carers. For those children who are particularly vulnerable this is a missed opportunity for the agency to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard and help the children and support their foster carers. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 4 OFSTED USE ONLY

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inadequate

Some risk management plans, including safer care plans, appropriately cover known vulnerabilities and include specific measures to safeguard children. However, others do not address risks effectively, and plans are not consistently updated following incidents. This leaves some foster carers and children without clear guidance on how to respond to identified risks.

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inadequate

When vulnerabilities and risks are identified for children, some children and foster carers receive a good response from their supervising social worker and managers at the agency. For example, when a child was self-harming, foster carers received clear guidance and felt well supported. However, this good support is not available to all foster carers and children. For example, there is a lack of clear safety planning for a child who is known to misuse aerosols and another child who is at risk due to possible violence towards them when out in the community. While the foster carers of these children acted to safeguard the children, the agency has not assured themselves that there is a coordinated safety plan involving the child, the carers and relevant professionals.

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inadequate

When a complaint is raised about a foster carer, managers respond appropriately to most of them. They review the information, talk to the foster carer as needed and liaise with relevant professionals. On one occasion, managers did not notify Ofsted of this complaint. While there was no impact on children on this occasion, managers need to notify Ofsted when a serious complaint is made about a foster carer and about the actions they have taken. A recommendation is raised in relation to this.

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inadequate

When children go missing from home, foster carers take action to alert the agency and children’s placing authorities. This helps to coordinate responses to locate children and return them safely home.

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inadequate

The agency’s response to allegations against foster carers has improved. The registered manager has implemented a new recording form that provides prompts to ensure that actions are completed. On each occasion, children have been seen by their placing authority’s social worker to inform next steps. The review of the foster carers’ approval as suitable to foster is completed in a timely manner.

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inadequate

Foster carers use de-escalation strategies before using restraint. Incidents involving restraint are rare and are always used as a last resort by foster carers to keep children and others safe. All are reviewed with foster carers to enable them to reflect on and learn from what has happened.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are significant concerns relating to some aspects of leadership and management at this agency. In particular, managers did not respond quickly and effectively enough when serious concerns were raised about a staff member’s practice. This means that they could not be assured that all children’s risks and vulnerabilities are fully understood and their safety and wellbeing is being promoted. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 5 OFSTED USE ONLY

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, managers have introduced a new case auditing tool to help with their monitoring and oversight of the service. Managers recognise this is still being developed and is not yet fully effective. The tool helps managers in part to identify some issues that need to be followed up and addressed by staff. However, it is not always clear if all follow up action is taken and there is insufficient review and analysis by managers relating to the quality of practice, and care of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality of written information provided to the agency’s fostering panel is variable. Assessments of prospective foster carers are clear and of good quality. However, information provided to panel members in respect of foster carer reviews is not always clear. When issues are raised, these are not consistently explored by panel, and this reduces the agency’s ability to assure itself about foster carers’ ongoing suitability. In addition, training identified for panel members has not progressed, which impacts on the panel’s effectiveness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Most staff describe their experience of working for the agency as positive. They say that the registered manager is approachable and supportive and is beginning to make some positive changes. Four staff have left the organisation since the last inspection, and this has caused some instability and has been unsettling for staff and for foster carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff receive regular supervision and for the most part, staff find these discussions helpful. The introduction of peer reflection sessions is also welcome. Staff have training and development opportunities to support their practice. However, there are some shortfalls in the thoroughness of some staff supervision records. As a result, it is not always clear if and how key issues such as safeguarding matters and children’s progress and experiences are routinely discussed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

In the main, foster carer feedback is positive about the agency. They report that they value the support provided by the therapeutic team, which helps guide them in responding effectively to children’s individual needs. Additionally, they report a responsive out-of-hours service. Generally, foster carers have access to a varied range of training opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Foster carers have left the agency for different reasons. The registered manager said that they intend to focus on improving the service’s effectiveness before a recruitment drive for new foster carers is implemented. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 6 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The registered provider and the registered manager must, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

the size of the fostering agency, its statement of purpose, and the numbers and needs of the children placed by the fostering agency, and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children placed by the fostering agency,

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Requirement Due date

carry on or manage the fostering agency (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

- complete a thorough review of all children’s files to identify risks posed to children, and to ensure that practice safeguards children.

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Requirement Due date

- ensure that the actions needed to increase children’s safety are set out clearly to staff and implemented without delay. The effectiveness of actions must be measured to ensure that risks identified for children are reduced. 18 January 2026

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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. (Regulation 11 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

- staff who have the necessary experience and skills visit foster carers and children and demonstrate 18 January 2026 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 7 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

professional curiosity to understand risks posed to the child.

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Requirement Due date

- actions to increase children’s safety must be set out in risk assessments and safer care plans and provide clear guidance to foster carers, including those carers who provide planned breaks, about the steps that they should take to keep children safe.

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Requirement Due date

- concerns about children’s welfare must be set out clearly and escalated appropriately and promptly to children’s placing authorities, including to ensure that safe family time arrangements are promoted. The registered person must maintain a system for—

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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 system referred to in paragraph (1) must provide for consultation with foster parents, children placed with foster parents, and their placing authority (unless, in the case of a fostering agency which is a voluntary organisation, it is also the placing authority). (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (3))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

- quality of care monitoring activities result in improved care experiences for children when needed. When gaps, or patterns and trends, are identified, the registered person must take prompt action to improve children’s outcomes.

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Requirement Due date

- when there are instances of unplanned endings for children, the circumstances around the reasons for this are reviewed, any learning recorded and actions taken as needed. 30 April 2026

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Requirement Due date

The functions of the fostering panel in respect of cases referred to it by the fostering service provider are—

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Requirement Due date

to recommend whether or not a person remains suitable to be a foster parent, and whether or not the terms of their approval (if any) remain appropriate—

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Requirement Due date

on the first review carried out in accordance with regulation 28(2), and 30 April 2026 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 8 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Requirement Due date

on the occasion of any other review, if requested to do so by the fostering service provider in accordance with regulation 28(5).

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Requirement Due date

In considering what recommendation to make under paragraph (1), the fostering panel—

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Requirement Due date

must consider and take into account all of the information passed to it in accordance with regulation 26, 27 or 28 (as the case may be),

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Requirement Due date

may request the fostering service provider to obtain any other relevant information or to provide such other assistance as the fostering panel considers necessary. (Regulation 25 (1)(c) (2)(a)(b)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, foster carers’ approval reviews must be thorough to allow the fostering service to properly satisfy itself about their carers’ ongoing suitability to foster.

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have a system in place to notify, within 24 hours, persons and appropriate authorities of the occurrence of significant events in accordance with regulation 36. (NMS 29.1)

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Recommendations

In particular, the registered person should notify Ofsted when a serious complaint is raised about a foster carer.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have access to support and advice and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (NMS 24.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, supervision records for staff should reflect discussions that are had about safeguarding matters and children’s progress and experiences.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s views are sought regularly about their care (NMS 1.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, children where English is not their first language should have the opportunity to access to an interpreter outside of formal review meetings as needed.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each person on the central list is given the opportunity of attending an annual joint training day with the fostering service’s fostering staff. (NMS 23.10) Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 9 OFSTED USE ONLY

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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 Fostering Foundation 10 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: The Fostering Foundation Limited

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 74a Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8JA

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Independent fostering agency details

Email address: glewis@fosteringfoundation.co.uk

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Inspectors

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: The Fostering Foundation 11 OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspectors

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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