The Fostering Foundation

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 1 The Fostering Foundation 74a Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8JA

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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 service provides a range of fostering services, including parent and child placements and short-term, long-term and emergency care for children and young people who may have complex care needs.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 15 to 19 December 2025. During the inspection, serious concerns were identified in the safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the agency that placed children at risk of harm. Consequently, a compliance notice was issued under Regulation 8. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to determine the progress leaders and managers have made to address concerns outlined in the compliance notice and in promoting children’s welfare. Inspectors found that leaders and managers have taken sufficient action to address the steps outlined in the compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager has reflected on the outcome of the full inspection. They recognise that there were weaknesses in the agency and have begun to consider how these have occurred.

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This monitoring visit

Following the inspection, leaders and managers formulated a comprehensive action plan. The plan sets out the immediate and longer-term steps that they will take to address the shortfalls and safeguarding concerns raised at the full inspection. The process of change has started, with managers and staff beginning to adapt their practice. These changes will need to be embedded into the agency’s culture to Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 2 ensure a permanent shift in safeguarding practice and in the leadership and management of the agency.

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This monitoring visit

A comprehensive audit tool that considers practice has been developed and implemented. Managers have now completed thorough audits of all children’s case files. The use of professional curiosity and a critical mindset has highlighted areas of good practice, as well as shortfalls. Improvements identified include the need to evidence professional curiosity, to visit children and gain their views, to escalate concerns and to request multi-agency meetings when concerns about children come to light. Clear, child-focused and time-specific action plans have been devised to ensure that actions are completed. Staff have begun to address the actions that have been identified.

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This monitoring visit

Responses to ensuring children’s safety, including following the identification of safeguarding concerns, have been increased. The revised safeguarding policy and new escalation policy set out expectations of leaders, managers and staff for raising, exploring and addressing concerns about children. Examples of these policies being used in practice have been seen. These changes aim to prevent drift and delay in responding to children’s needs and escalating concerns with external agencies.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have increased the agency’s focus on supporting foster carers to develop their skills. Leaders and managers are implementing a plan to provide foster carers with more directive guidance on how to meet children’s needs and keep them safe. A new supervision template that encourages reflection of practice and children’s experiences has been introduced. Initial feedback on this template is positive.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are positive about the changes that are taking place. They have received information and guidance from managers in relation to the changes that have been implemented. Staff now know what is expected of them and say that managers are working collaboratively to make progress. One external professional noted the manager’s good levels of communication and their commitment to addressing the concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the nature of this inspection, requirements and recommendations from the full inspection were not considered during this inspection. These remain in place. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 3

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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 Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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). 30 April 2026 Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 4 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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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 agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 5

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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: The Fostering Foundation 6

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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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Inspectors

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: The Fostering Foundation 7 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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