Foster Cares Ltd

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Cares Ltd 1 Foster Cares Ltd

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Foster Cares Ltd, 7 Fern Court, Bracken Hill Business Park, Peterlee, County Durham SR8 2RR

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Foster Cares Ltd is a medium-sized, family-run independent fostering agency. It consists of a main branch based in Durham and an office that operates from Warrington. The agency registered with Ofsted in 2003.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2022

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency provides placements for children from birth to 18 years old. There is a number of ‘staying put’ arrangements for young adults.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The range of services offered includes short-term and long-term placements, parent and child placements and bridging placements. The agency looks after children with disabilities and a small number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency currently provides foster care to 78 children with 48 fostering families.

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Inspection date: 23 March 2026

Date of previous inspection: 2 December 2024

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was completed in response to concerns being raised to Ofsted. The concerns related to the agency’s complaints procedure and the poor arrangements in preparation for fostering panel that could compromise children’s safety. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review procedures in preparation for panel, panel functions and how complaints are managed. As part of this inspection activity, a review of recent safeguarding incidents was also carried out.

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This monitoring visit

Since the previous inspection there has been no changes in the management arrangements of the agency and there continues to be a stable workforce. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Cares Ltd 2 Leaders’ and managers’ monitoring systems are effective. This includes monitoring the timeliness and quality of assessments of prospective foster carers. Leaders and managers are fully aware of the importance and purpose of statutory checks for prospective foster carers to ensure that adults are safe to care for children. Quality assurance checks throughout the assessment monitor progress against statutory checks, and action is taken when required. This helps to ensure that foster carers are appropriately vetted and panel members have all the information to make an informed recommendation.

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This monitoring visit

Overall, the agency’s fostering panel is effective. Minutes of panel meetings are clearly recorded, and discussions reflect recommendations to the agency. There has been one occasion when leaders and managers asked the panel to make a recommendation about a foster carers’ suitability despite Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks not being available to the panel. This decision compromises the function of the panel to make recommendations that keep children safe. Both the manager and responsible individual have reflected on this practice and accept that this was not in line with regulations or good practice.

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This monitoring visit

The agency has a clear complaints procedure in place. The agency has received one complaint from a panel member. On this occasion, the agency did not initially follow their complaints procedure. The manager responded to the first stage of the complaint, despite being involved in the decision making that related to the reason for the complaint. Additionally, the manager appointed an independent person to investigate the complaint despite there being a clear conflict of interest. Leaders and managers did appoint a second independent person. The complaint was satisfactorily resolved.

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This monitoring visit

Prior to this inspection, the responsible individual and manager have reflected on the incidents and implemented changes. This includes recognising that there are occasions that would benefit from impartial oversight. In response, the agency has commissioned an independent social worker to provide bi-monthly support to them and to carry out investigations where there is a potential conflict.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers take thorough action when there are concerns about foster carers’ practice. Supervising social workers discuss their concerns with foster carers and engage with safeguarding professionals to ensure that children are safe, this includes foster carers’ own children. The agency provides advice and support to foster carers; however, when this is not effective, they follow processes to review their suitability to foster.

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This monitoring visit

Three recommendations made at the last full inspection were not reviewed at this visit and will be considered at the next full inspection. Two additional recommendations were made following this monitoring visit. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Cares Ltd 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the wishes, feelings, and views of children and those significant to them are considered in monitoring foster carers and developing the fostering service. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards,’ 1.7)  The registered person should ensure that, subject to the child’s age and understanding, the child receives the children’s guide at the point of placement and that the foster carer explains the contents of the children’s guide in a way that is accessible. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards,’ 16.3)  The registered person should ensure that entries in records, decisions, and reasons for them, are clearly expressed. In particular, ensure that language used is helpful to a child who may wish to access a record of their life story. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards,’ 26.5)  The registered person should ensure that there are clear and effective procedures

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Recommendations

for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. This specifically relates to the agency following their complaints procedure and ensure an independent person reviews the complaint when a conflict of interest is known. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards,’ 25.1)  The registered person should ensure that all necessary information is provided to panel members at least 5working days in advance of the panel meeting to enable full and proper consideration. This specifically relates to DBS checks for prospective foster carers. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards,’ 14.3)

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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 agencies - monitoring: Foster Cares Ltd 4

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: The Old Hall, Byers Green, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 7PS

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Inspector

Cat Makel, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Foster Cares Ltd 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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