Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Fostering Together - for children with disabilities

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The Old Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LL

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The agency registered with Ofsted in August 2020. It offers short- and long-term fostering for children with disabilities and complex, life-limiting medical needs.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this visit, the agency was supporting 35 fostering households, with 36 children placed with foster carers.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out following the death of a child with a life-limiting condition. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate events of this nature, actions taken by the agency in response were considered during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers have received sensitive support from staff at the agency and know how to access the available resources, such as counselling, if they wish to. The other children living in the home have been provided with help to come to terms with the sad events.

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This monitoring visit

Professionals speak highly of the care provided to children and describe ‘close attachments’ between children and their carers. Supervising social workers form close relationships with professionals involved in children’s care to ensure that the care children receive aligns with their plans. The agency’s staff, foster carers and professional networks feel confident to challenge one another. These transparent Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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This monitoring visit

working relationships have generated opportunities to learn from challenges they encounter.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers benefit from supportive and exploratory supervision, as well as varied training that enables them to provide competent care to children with complex needs. Foster carers are encouraged to think critically about their practice and apply their learning. Foster carers ensure that children receive palliative and end-of-life care that is respectful of their wishes.

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This monitoring visit

When there are concerns about the practice of foster carers, leaders and managers ensure that investigations are thorough yet proportionate. The fostering panel reviews the progress of any working agreement, and managers ensure that any learning for the agency’s staff or processes is considered. The registered manager continues to ensure that the relevant learning is embedded.

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This monitoring visit

The requirement and recommendations raised at the last full inspection have not been reviewed as part of this visit and have therefore been restated with the original dates for completion. Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-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 with the given timescales.

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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). (Regulation 25 (2)(a)) 24 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the agency has all records of the recruitment and suitability checks that have been carried out for foster carers and those working, including as volunteers, for the fostering service. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 19.3)  The registered person should ensure that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 25.1)  The registered person should ensure that investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are handled fairly, quickly and consistently in a way that provides effective protection for the child and at the same time supports the person who is the subject of the allegation. The fostering service should follow the framework for managing cases of allegations of abuse against people who work with children as set out in ‘Working together to safeguard children’.

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Recommendations

(‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 22.9)  The registered person should ensure that all social workers and other specialists, such as medical, legal, educationalists, psychologists and therapists, are professionally qualified and, where applicable, registered by the appropriate professional body. They should be appropriately trained to work with children, their families and foster carers and have a good understanding of foster care and the policies and purpose of the fostering service. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 23.4) Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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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: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Fostering Together Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: The Old Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LL

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Inspector

Tash Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agencies - monitoring: Fostering Together - for children with disabilities SENSITIVE-OFSTED USE ONLY

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Inspector

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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