Child Action North West

Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 1 Child Action North West Child Action North West Buckshaw Parkway 2, Buckshaw Station Approach, Chorley PR7 7NR Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This agency is part of a wider charitable organisation. Its main functions are to recruit, assess, approve, train and support foster carers. The service provides short- and long-term foster placements.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency was supporting 41 approved fostering households, providing care for 58 children.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted on 29 April 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The independent fostering agency is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 2

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Summary of findings

The agency has created and sustained a strong fostering community in which children and their carers feel valued and supported. Children and carers benefit from robust support from staff who know them well.

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Summary of findings

However, weaknesses in safeguarding oversight, risk management, quality assurance and leadership arrangements mean that the agency is not consistently identifying and addressing practice issues. These shortfalls have reduced the effectiveness of the agency to safeguard children and promote their wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

The overall experiences and progress of children are affected by shortfalls identified in the leadership and management and how they are helped and protected.

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improvement to be good

The agency promotes a strong fostering community. Foster carers, children and staff are encouraged to communicate and work together closely. Children and their carers say that they feel involved, valued and well known by the service.

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improvement to be good

The agency operates a well-established ‘Youth Council’, through which children are meaningfully consulted. Foster carers and children are actively involved in key agency decisions, including their participation in the recruitment process for the new chief executive officer. Supervising social workers are viewed as part of the fostering family and sometimes attend important events in children’s lives, such as school awards ceremonies.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers remain with the agency for long periods and develop strong, established relationships with staff. The agency offers monthly carer support groups, which provide opportunities for peer support and learning. Staff provide carers with effective support to help them meet children’s needs and provide the best possible care.

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improvement to be good

The agency offers enhanced levels of support to children and fostering families who require this. This support is usually provided by an experienced support worker and is guided by plans developed with input from all relevant professionals. Managers and leaders closely monitor this work through regular tracking meetings, where children’s needs, plans and progress are reviewed in detail. This support promotes children’s wellbeing and stability in their foster homes.

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improvement to be good

The agency also routinely provides additional support when a child first moves into their new home. Support workers visit regularly, enabling children to build relationships with a familiar adult in the agency. They also share the children’s guide with children and help them understand its contents. However, the guide does not Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 3 provide a summary of the support on offer for children, and the guide for younger children does not contain information on how to access independent advocacy.

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improvement to be good

Foster carer reviews are carried out at appropriate intervals. These reviews evaluate carers’ experiences and development over the preceding year, supported by feedback from relevant stakeholders. However, review outcomes do not consistently include meaningful or measurable actions. This limits their effectiveness as a tool for supporting carers’ ongoing development and strengthening their capacity to promote positive outcomes for children.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views are gathered for foster carer reviews, but they have sometimes been interpreted by professionals rather than presented in the children’s own words. Therefore, there is a risk that their views may be lost or misconstrued.

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improvement to be good

More recently, the agency has introduced new consultation templates to improve the way that children’s views are gathered. As a result, children’s direct views are informing assessments, reviews and wider service developments to a greater degree.

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improvement to be good

Foster carers understand the importance of children’s identity and receive appropriate support to develop positive relationships with children’s birth families. The agency has translated documents for children who speak English as an additional language and takes steps to ensure that children’s cultural needs are understood and supported in their foster homes.

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improvement to be good

Carer recordings are written sensitively and directly to children. Children accessing their records in later life are likely to see a positive account of their childhood and how valued they were in their foster families.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s records do not contain key documents, including statutory documents relating to children’s plans and health. Where these documents are missing, escalation processes are not always effective in obtaining the required documents. Consequently, it is not always clear whether the agency’s plans and interventions align with the wider plans for the child.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff carry out prompt risk assessments once it has been agreed that a foster home is suitable for a child. The assessments identify key risks for children. However, risk assessments are not regularly reviewed or updated following significant incidents. In addition, risk management strategies are not always sufficiently clear, leaving expectations of staff and carers unclear.

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improvement to be good

The agency usually responds promptly and robustly when children make allegations about their carers or their homes. Managers maintain a comprehensive tracker that records the progress and outcomes of allegations, enabling effective monitoring and oversight. However, on one occasion, an allegation made by a child was not Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 4 appropriately managed, which left the child with an unexplored risk of harm. When the acting manager became aware of the allegation, they responded immediately to the concerns.

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing from their foster homes. When they do, carers understand the actions they should take and notify relevant professionals promptly. Foster carers always have access to support and guidance, and managers maintain effective oversight of incidents and emerging concerns.

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improvement to be good

The agency and carers take a balanced and realistic approach to physical intervention. They acknowledge that children should only be physically held in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort. There are rare occasions when this has been necessary to safeguard a child or others around them. Managers and leaders identify carers who may be required to use physical intervention and provide them with appropriate training. When physical intervention is used, it is proportionate, necessary and least restrictive.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding of the challenges and risks presented by the digital world and how it can affect fostering households. Training is provided to staff and foster carers to enhance their awareness and promote safe online practices. The agency also supports households by carrying out periodic digital checks. Any concerns identified are responded to promptly and appropriately.

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improvement to be good

The agency operates an effective out-of-hours service for the carers. Foster carers receive timely responses from staff who know them and the children in their care well. They report that concerns are taken seriously and never minimised. The robust support promotes effective responses for children and the stability of their living arrangements.

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good

The service has experienced instability in its leadership arrangements. The registered manager is currently absent, with an acting manager overseeing the home. The responsible individual recently left the agency, and there was a significant period without a chief executive officer. These changes in senior leadership have affected the consistency of practice and contributed to reduced staff morale.

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good

The agency has carried out regular reviews of the service throughout most of the inspection period and submitted these reports to Ofsted. However, more recently, these reviews have not been carried out. In addition, Ofsted has not been notified of significant changes in the organisation. This limits the regulator’s ability to oversee the agency effectively.

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good

Managers and leaders have carried out reviews and produced reports that provide senior leaders with oversight of the agency’s operations. However, these reports are insufficiently evaluative. They lack analysis, context and clear actions to address identified shortfalls. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 5 Leaders and managers have implemented a range of trackers and monitoring systems to monitor compliance in the agency. However, these systems do not consistently identify quality issues in practice records, including outdated or repetitive care plans, risk assessments and safer care plans. As a result, management oversight has not been sufficiently effective in identifying and addressing all areas for improvement.

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good

The acting manager has recently been promoted to the role. They have a strong understanding of the agency and its operations. They are capable and committed to the agency, carers and children. Staff describe the manager as ‘approachable’ and ‘supportive’ and say they are encouraged to share their views about the service.

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good

Managers and leaders have a clear commitment to staff development. Staff benefit from a range of learning, development and progression opportunities. New staff are welcomed into the agency and receive additional support during their induction. Staff report feeling well prepared for their roles and responsibilities.

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good

The fostering panel is led by an experienced and established chair. Panel members possess the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to support effective, child- centred decision-making. Over the last year, the agency has focused on recruiting additional panel members, resulting in greater diversity in professional backgrounds, life experience, gender, ethnicity and age. Panel discussions are thorough, and recommendations are well reasoned and evidenced. As a result, the panel provides a rigorous quality assurance function that supports safe and stable fostering arrangements for children.

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good

The agency has significantly developed its use of the electronic recording system during the inspection period. Staff now benefit from a more efficient information management system that provides comprehensive information in a streamlined and consistent format. Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 6

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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

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that there is continuity of leadership in the organisation, succession planning and handover where possible. Management oversight must be robust and identify strengths and shortfalls in practice and the service. 2 January 2027

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Requirement Due date

The fostering service provider must prepare and implement a written policy which—

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure under paragraph (1)(b) must, subject to paragraph (4), provide in particular for—

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Requirement Due date

liaison and co-operation with any local authority which is, or may be, making child protection enquiries in relation to any child placed by the fostering service provider,

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Requirement Due date

the prompt referral to the area authority of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child placed by the fostering service provider, 2 September 2027 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 7 notification of the instigation and outcome of any child protection enquiries involving a child placed by the fostering service provider, to the Chief Inspector,

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Requirement Due date

written records to be kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response,

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Requirement Due date

consideration to be given to the measures which may be necessary to protect children placed with foster parents following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 12 (1)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that this procedure is followed when children make allegations. The relevant safeguarding professionals should be informed, and arrangements should be made to ensure that allegations are explored thoroughly and that children are not at risk of harm.

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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

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that risk assessments are comprehensive, current and contain clear strategies and expectations of staff and foster carers. 2 September 2027

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain a system for—

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Requirement Due date

monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at appropriate intervals, and

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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 registered person must provide the Chief Inspector with a written report in respect of any review conducted for the purposes of paragraph (1) and, on request, to any local authority. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2)) 31 July 2026

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Requirement Due date

keep under review and, where appropriate, revise the statement of purpose and children’s guide, 31 July 2026 Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 8 notify the Chief Inspector of any such revision within 28 days, and

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Requirement Due date

if the children’s guide is revised, supply a copy to each foster parent approved by the fostering service provider, and to each child placed by them (subject to the child’s age and understanding). (Regulation 4 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the regulator is provided with the required documents relating to the agency and notified of any key changes.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that areas of concern, or need for additional support, that are identified in reviews are addressed through specific and monitored actions. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 13.9)  The registered person should regularly monitor all records kept by the service to ensure compliance with the service’s policies, and that agency plans align with the placing authority plans for children. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 25.2)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide includes a summary of what the fostering service sets out to do for children, and how to secure access to an independent advocate. (‘Fostering services: national minimum standards’, 16.4)

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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: Child Action North West 9

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Child Action North West

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: Buckshaw Parkway 2, Buckshaw Station Approach, Chorley PR7 7NR

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Independent fostering agency details

Responsible individual: Naomi Hollinshead

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Inspectors

Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Inspector Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for independent fostering agency: Child Action North West 10 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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