Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

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Hurstwood Court, New Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6HH

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Registered provider: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this independent fostering agency

This independent fostering agency offers long-term, short-term, respite and emergency foster care placements for children aged from birth to 17 years. Children who reach the age of 18 can continue living with their foster carers as young adults.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2021. The agency has notified Ofsted that she will be absent from work for more than 28 days and another manager is covering until her return.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

The responsible individual has recently left her role. The agency has appointed another responsible individual, who is in the process of registering.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

At the time of this inspection, the agency was supporting 107 fostering households.

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Information about this independent fostering agency

Date of previous inspection: 25 November 2024

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to investigate specific concerns or allegations reported to Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers provide effective oversight of fostering practice. Management oversight is regular, purposeful and provides staff with clear direction about their work with foster families and children. Records show that managers routinely review practice and make evidence-based decisions regarding foster carer approval, continued suitability and support arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding practice is well understood and promoted at all levels. Management oversight was particularly effective in one instance. Managers carefully collated Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd information and analysed risks, communicating effectively with external agencies to ensure a prompt response. Children are kept safe.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers benefit from regular, detailed supervision. Records demonstrate clear discussion of children’s needs, foster carers’ performance and areas for development. Action plans are identified and then reviewed. Agency social workers ensure that progress is made and that foster carers receive useful support.

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This monitoring visit

The agency generally maintains effective oversight of foster carers’ training. On occasion, mandatory training has expired and carers have not been sufficiently supported to complete this. Nevertheless, most carers maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills in key areas of practice.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers receive sensitive, regular support from agency staff during periods of investigation or concern. Social workers maintain positive relationships with carers during challenging times.

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This monitoring visit

Foster carers generally receive consistent, high-quality support and guidance. Occasionally, changes in supervising social workers have resulted in cancelled or rearranged supervision visits. While this has not prevented oversight of children’s welfare, it has the potential to affect the quality and consistency of support available to foster carers.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers make good use of information from individual cases to inform decision-making for foster families. They share relevant information effectively with professionals and partner agencies. Strategic communication is strong and contributes to joined-up working. However, managers do not routinely analyse information from allegations and investigations at an agency-wide level to identify patterns, trends or emerging themes. As a result, opportunities to better understand and respond to recurring serious safeguarding concerns may be missed.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers follow clear procedures for responding to concerns, allegations and complaints. Records demonstrate transparency regarding concerns, expectations and next steps. Leaders and managers ensure an open and consistent response to issues raised.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have developed positive relationships with other professionals. Local authority social workers describe the agency as transparent, child focused and responsive in its information-sharing. One social worker said that communication is prompt and that the agency’s package of support has been beneficial for the child.

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This monitoring visit

Placement decisions are usually supported by comprehensive assessments and careful analysis of available information. In most cases, placement planning appropriately considers children’s assessed needs and foster carers’ skills and experience. However, in two fostering households, cultural considerations were not explored sufficiently when identifying suitable placements. In both instances, Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd concerns relating to cultural support were later identified. Most children are supported to live in foster homes that meet their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Standards of care reviews are completed when required and are of good quality. Reviews are detailed, balanced and supported by evidence. The conclusions reached are clear and appropriate. These reviews are scrutinised by both the fostering panel and the agency decision-maker, providing an additional layer of quality assurance and strengthening oversight of foster carers’ performance and suitability.

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This monitoring visit

The recommendation made at the last full inspection was outside the scope of this visit and so will be restated and reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

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Recommendation

 The purpose of the independent chair is to ensure that the panel may be seen to fulfil its quality assurance functions free of undue influence by the fostering service itself. (‘Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, volume 4: fostering services’, Section 5.10)

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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 template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd

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Independent fostering agency details

Registered provider address: 4 Jardine House, Harrovian Business Village, Bessborough Road, Harrow HA1 3EX

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Inspectors

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Sarah Huntbatch, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report template for independent fostering agencies – monitoring: Olive Branch Fostering Ltd 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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