Inspection on 20/09/05 for Allerton Avenue

This inspection was carried out on 20th September 2005.

CSCI has not published a star rating for this report, though using similar criteria we estimate that the report is (sorry - unknown). The way we rate inspection reports is consistent for all houses, though please be aware that this may be different from an official CSCI judgement.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

Other inspections for this house

Allerton Avenue 21/11/08

Allerton Avenue 29/11/06

Allerton Avenue 21/02/06

Allerton Avenue 07/03/05

Allerton Avenue 24/08/04

Similar services:

Larch Avenue

Alderson Road 12

Cranworth Close Registered Care Home

The Cornerstone

John Street Nursing Home

Pennine Camphill

Muston Road (70)

Grayling

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 08/07/2008.

FOSTERING SERVICE Team Fostering Offices 1 & 3, The Business Centre Bow Bridge Close Templeborough, Rotherham, S60 1BY Lead Inspector Alan Bartrop Announced 18 July 2005 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • • • • Put the people who use social care first Improve services and stamp out bad practice Be an expert voice on social care Practise what we preach in our own organisation Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection Report CSCI General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI www.csci.org.uk Internet address This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Fostering Services. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop Every Child Matters, outlined the government’s vision for children’s services and formed the basis of the Children Act 2004. It provides a framework for inspection so that children’s services should be judged on their contribution to the outcomes considered essential to wellbeing in childhood and later life. Those outcomes are: • Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and achieving • Making a contribution; and • Achieving economic wellbeing. In response, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has re-ordered the national minimum standards for children’s services under the five outcomes, for reporting purposes. A further section has been created under ‘Management’ to cover those issues that will potentially impact on all the outcomes above. Copies of Every Child Matters and The Children Act 2004 are available from The Stationery Office as above This report is a public document. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the prior permission of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 3 SERVICE INFORMATION Name of service Team Fostering Address Offices 1 & 3, The Business Centre, Bow Bridge Close, Templeborough, Rotherham, S60 1BY Telephone number Fax number Email address Name of registered provider(s)/company (if applicable) Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration No. of places registered (if applicable) 01709 782361 Team Fostering Rosemarie Barber Fostering Agencies Not applicable Category(ies) of Not applicable registration, with number of places Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 4 SERVICE INFORMATION Conditions of registration: None Date of last inspection 24-Aug-2004 Brief Description of the Service: Team Fostering is a “not for profit” fostering agency. It is a voluntary agency as defined by The Children Act 1989 and a company limited by guarantee. There are no shareholders and no profits are distributed. The income received is used to provide high quality care and support. Team Fostering North East was originally established in 2001, a sub-office was opened in Rotherham in 2003. Following an inspection in January 2004 it was decided the Rotherham sub office should become a registered office. The Rotherham office undertakes the majority of the key day-to-day activities of a fostering service as defined by the Care Standards Act and CSCI policy on “Fostering Agencies – definition of a Branch” and therefore became a registered service. Team Fostering is a member of BAAF and Fostering Network. The core business of Team Fostering is the recruitment, assessment, approval, training, supervision, support and review of foster carers for children who are looked after by the local authority. Team Fostering exists in order to provide specialist foster care for children where local authorities have difficulty in finding appropriate placements “in house” and provide specialist support including therapeutic services and educational support. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 5 SUMMARY This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. Prior to the inspection Team Fostering provided written information on their organisation and following a pre-inspection meeting they planned a series of interviews with foster carers, a prospective foster carer, and professionals. I observed the Fostering Panel on 29th June and started the office based inspection on 18th July. This involved meeting young people, foster carers, attending a foster carers support meeting, reading of documentation. On 3rd August I attended an activity with a large number of foster carers and young people to conclude the inspection process. What the service does well: What has improved since the last inspection? Foster carers from a wider range of backgrounds have been recruited so that the service to young people with different needs can be broadened. A fostering panel has been started in Rotherham that can bring a more local perspective, and more local ownership to the issues discussed. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 6 What they could do better: Please contact the provider for advice of actions taken in response to this inspection. The report of this inspection is available from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting your local CSCI office. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 7 DETAILS OF INSPECTOR FINDINGS CONTENTS Being Healthy Staying Safe Enjoying and Achieving Making a Positive Contribution Achieving Economic Wellbeing Management Scoring of Standards Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 8 Being Healthy The intended outcomes these Standards are: • The fostering service promotes the health and development of children.(NMS 12) The Commission considers Standard 12 the key standard to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 12 There is a range of good information passed between the Foster Carers and the office about the health needs of the young people. Children who have complex medical needs when they are fostered must have adequate back up arranged to ensure that the foster carers can be relieved of their care duties for short periods Where a placement is made quickly any information missing is chased and passed on as efficiently as possible. EVIDENCE: Good quality information seen in the files relating to the young people, their health needs and any appointments that they have with outside agencies. The foster carers complete a weekly sheet of events for each young person in their care and those inspected also indicated that appointments had been attended along with any information given to the carer. Clear guidelines were seen which state the involvement of foster carers in supporting young people attending appointments. Foster carers took the young people to medical appointments and were present during the consultation if this was appropriate considering the child’s age and level of understanding. Foster carers said that there was a good level of support from Team Fostering with attending medical examinations and general practitioner appointments. Appropriate support from specialist professionals is recorded and appropriate to meet the needs of the child. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 9 Foster carers said that they were given good information to make sure that the children in their care had their health needs met. Foster carers had did not have anyone close to them who were trained to care for a child with complex medical needs. This meant that they had not had a break together since January 2005. There was evidence in the files to confirm that there were good links with professional agencies who are involved in the child’s welfare. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 10 Staying Safe The intended outcomes these Standards are: • • • • • • Any persons carrying on or managing the service are suitable. (NMS 3) The fostering service provides suitable foster carers.(NMS 6) The service matches children to carers appropriately.(NMS 8) The fostering service protects each child or young person from abuse and neglect.(NMS 9) The people who work in or for the fostering service are suitable to work with children and young people.(NMS 15) Fostering panels are organised efficiently and effectively.(NMS 30) The Commission considers Standards 3, 6, 8, 9, and 15 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 3,6,8,9,15,30 The foster carers provide a warm and friendly environment where young people are encouraged to grow and maximise their potential. References are received but telephone conversations about these are not recorded in detail. The children are matched with the foster carers according to their identified needs and through discussion with the prospective foster carer’s. There are comprehensive procedures to protect young people from abuse and neglect; these subjects are also covered in the training of supervising social workers and foster carers. The Fostering panel was of a very high standard, where important issues were identified, discussed, and resolved. EVIDENCE: The referrals were comprehensive and covered a wide range of aspects of the child and these were compared to the information about the foster carers and the type of care they could offer. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 11 Foster carers confirmed that they were med an active part of the assessment process and that there was very good support from the supervising social worker should any difficulties arise. Records made by the supervising social workers were detailed and showed that issues were addressed quickly when they arose. Observation of the Fostering Panel in operation on 29/6/05, inspection of paperwork put before Panel, and the questions asked by the panel members. The members of the Fostering Panel were from a wide variety of backgrounds and brought a range of different perspectives to the discussions. This was the second Fostering Panel to be held in Rotherham, reflecting the increase in the workload in this area. The personnel files contained information that personal and professional references had been followed up by telephone calls but there were no details of what was said during these conversations. All the personnel files had Criminal Records Bureau Checks that were less than three years old, and were satisfactory. Foster carers said that the training they received covered issues of abuse and neglect; this was also discussed by the supervising social workers when they visited. Where issues of abuse or neglect are raised by the young people in care these are recorded on the weekly diary sheets that are then sent into the office. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 12 Enjoying and Achieving The intended outcomes these Standards are: • • • The fostering service values diversity.(NMS 7) The fostering service promotes educational achievement.(NMS 13) When foster care is provided as a short-term break for a child, the arrangements recognise that the parents remain the main carers for the child.(NMS 31) The Commission considers Standards 7, 13, and 31 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 7,13,31 Children with disabilities are considered alongside the qualifications of the foster carer and specialist training is offered to meet specific needs as they are identified. The young people are encouraged to make the most of their education and the foster carers hold the same values and assist in any way they can to ensure that education is made the most of. Where foster placements are made for short periods other significant people in the child’s life remain prominent. EVIDENCE: Foster carers had a lot of information about the different medical agencies that were involved with the young people in their care. The foster carers had records to show that they had taken young people to medical appointments. Young people said that they trusted their foster parents to take them to the doctor and to explain what had been said. Foster carers and children confirmed that they went to parent’s evenings to represent the young people. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 13 A lot of effort is put into building and maintaining a good relationship with the teachers at the local schools and special plans are put in place to help the young people integrate into the school at a pace they can cope with. The achievements of young people are celebrated and rewarded. The schools are asked to contribute to the reviews of young people and there was evidence on the files that these contributions were included in the decisions about future care. Should young people not attend school the foster parents report this to Team Fostering and support social workers who then work to re-integrate the young people as soon as possible. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 14 Making a Positive Contribution The intended outcomes these Standards are: • • The fostering service promotes contact arrangements for the child or young person. (NMS 10) The fostering service promotes consultation.(NMS 11) The Commission considers Standards 10 and 11 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 10,11 The way that young people contact their parents and how often this is done is clearly recorded and carried out. The young people have their views listened to and taken into account by the foster carers. EVIDENCE: The young people said that they knew how much contact they had with their parents and that their foster parents talked to them about it. There was evidence in the case records to indicate that young people had influenced the contact arrangements with their parents. Foster parents were able to discuss the issues around the contact young people had with parents. They also showed understanding of the difficulties that differences between what the young people wanted and the contact that was achieved. The financial support for foster parents for transport and other costs associated with parental contact is clearly stated. Case files contained details of the outcomes of the contact with parents that the foster parents contribute to. The young people said that they were asked about the different things in their lives and they were able to talk to their foster carers about things that they were worried about. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 15 There is a clear complaints procedure that all foster carers have a copy of, this procedure is also included in the initial training for potential foster carers. Young people said that they knew how to make a complaint and what would be done if they did. They also said that most of the things they wanted to raise were dealt with there and then. The older young people said that they had seen details of how to complain and that they could understand the leaflet. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 16 Achieving Economic Wellbeing The intended outcomes these Standards are: • • The fostering service prepares young people for adulthood.(NMS 14) The fostering service pays carers an allowance and agreed expenses as specified.(NMS 29) The Commission considers Standards 29 the key standard to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 14,29 The foster carers who look after older children intensively prepare them for adulthood whilst in their care. There is a clear statement of the allowances that are paid to foster carers for caring for the young people. EVIDENCE: Foster carers were clear about what money they could claim for the care of the children. Foster carers also said that the support social workers were pro-active in advising them of what expenses they can be reimbursed for while children are placed with them. Where older people were placed with foster carers they were very clear about what the plan was to prepare them for adult life. Foster carers were able to discuss in detail how the ‘rules of adulthood’ were passed onto the young people and what the expectations of everyone concerned were. Young people said how they discussed things with their foster parents and with their social worker when they visited. The foster parents were able to distinguish between the general behaviour to be expected from a teenager and behaviour that was special to the child concerned. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 17 Team Fostering are able to offer mother and baby placements as part of an assessment process for outside agencies. The foster carers enjoyed the network of their peers and felt that this was especially useful during more difficult times when talking with others who had gone through similar situations “helped you to get your head straight”. Team Fostering are very aware of the importance of creating a strong support network by giving prompt support through supervising social workers, support groups, and communal activities. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 18 Management The intended outcomes these Standards are: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • There is a clear statement of the aims and objectives of the fostering service and the fostering service ensures that they meet those aims and objectives.(NMS 1) The fostering service is managed by those with the appropriate skills and experience. (NMS 2) The fostering service is monitored and controlled as specified. (NMS 4) The fostering service is managed effectively and efficiently.(NMS 5) Staff are organised and managed effectively.(NMS 16) The fostering service has an adequate number of sufficiently experienced and qualified staff.(NMS 17) The fostering service is a fair and competent employer.(NMS 18) There is a good quality training programme. (NMS 19) All staff are properly accountable and supported.(NMS 20) The fostering service has a clear strategy for working with and supporting carers.(NMS 21) Foster cares are provided with supervision and support.(NMS 22) Foster carers are appropriately trained.(NMS 23) Case records for children are comprehensive.(NMS 24) The administrative records are maintained as required.(NMS 25) The premises used as offices by the fostering service are suitable for the purpose.(NMS 26) The fostering service is financially viable. (NMS 27) The fostering service has robust financial processes. (NMS 28) Local Authority fostering services recognise the contribution made by family and friends as carers.(NMS 32) The Commission considers Standards 17, 21, and 24 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for standard(s) 17,21,24,26 There is and adequate number of staff to meet the current needs. Because the organisation is expanding more staff are being recruited to meet the expected increase in work. The expectations for supporting carers is made clear and understood by both the support staff and the carers themselves. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 19 Case records for children are comprehensive and orderly; they contain all the relevant information. The premises meet the needs of the organisation but there are plans to improve the facilities in the near future. EVIDENCE: Full time staff both support the existing foster carers, and assess prospective new ones. Staff said that they were kept busy but able to offer the support to the foster carers that at a level they were happy with. Training is offered as it becomes available and there is also a philosophy of searching out appropriate courses. Contracted staff are approved by Team Fostering to carry out some of the initial assessments for foster carers. They also cover some of the duty sessions. It was noted that one of these members of staff attended a foster carers support meeting so that they could all be introduced. The training for foster carers is done formally through set courses and less formally during support meetings. Foster carers were very complementary about the level of training they received and the help they got for specific issues from the supervising social workers. They felt there was a philosophy of saying you don’t know and finding out rather than “waffling”. There are links maintained between the child’s social worker and Team Fostering employees. Records were seen where supervising social workers had made several attempts before finally managing to contact the child’s social worker. All the children in foster care had case records that were seen to be up to date and logically presented. There was evidence of Team Fostering chasing up information from Local Authorities regarding the needs of the children. The records were well kept and it was possible to get a picture of the young people at different stages of their development and settling in to their placement. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 20 At the start of the inspection there were plans to look at two new locations for the organisation, during the inspection the decision was made about which one to take and negotiations were taking place to enable a move before the end of the year. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 21 SCORING OF OUTCOMES This page summarises the assessment of the extent to which the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services have been met and uses the following scale. 4 Standard Exceeded 2 Standard Almost Met (Commendable) (Minor Shortfalls) 3 Standard Met 1 Standard Not Met (No Shortfalls) (Major Shortfalls) “X” in the standard met box denotes standard not assessed on this occasion “N/A” in the standard met box denotes standard not applicable BEING HEALTHY Standard No 12 Score ACHIEVING ECONOMIC 3 STAYING SAFE WELLBEING Standard No 14 29 MANAGEMENT Score 4 3 Standard No 3 6 8 9 15 30 Score 3 3 3 3 3 4 ENJOYING AND ACHIEVING Standard No 7 13 31 Score 3 4 3 MAKING A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION Standard No Score 10 3 11 3 Standard No 1 2 4 5 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Score x x x x x 3 x x x 3 x x 3 x 3 x x Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 22 yes Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Fostering Services Regulations 2002 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales. No. 1. Standard 3 Regulation 20 Requirement Details fo the telephone follow up to the receipt of references be recorded and made available for inspection Timescale for action 1st December 2005 RECOMMENDATIONS These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out. No. 1. Refer to Standard 12 Good Practice Recommendations Before children with complex medical needs are placed with foster carers, a support netework is set up with people specially trained to meet the medical needs to give the carers an occasional break from their duties. Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 23 Commission for Social Care Inspection First Floor Barclay Court Heavens Walk Doncaster DN4 5HZ National Enquiry Line: 0845 015 0120 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk © This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI Team Fostering 20050916 Team Fostering X00009 AI Stage 4 S60698 V194564 J55.doc Version 1.40 Page 24 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. 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