leicestershire county council’s fostering service · a recruitment plan, which focuses on the...

Leicestershire County Council’s

Statement of Purpose 2013/2014

Fostering Service

Contents

Introduction ...................................3

The Aim of the Fostering Service ............................4

Foster Care Charter for Leicestershire ............................4

The Fostering Service’s Commitment to foster carers ............5

The Foster Carers Commitment ........6

The Organisational Structure of the Service ................................10

Services Provided ...........................12

Fostering Allowances 2013 .............15

Recruitment, Approving Training, Supporting and Reviewing Foster Carers and Recruitment ..................16

The Fostering Panel ........................18

Services for Children .......................21

Performance Management...............22

Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Complaints .............................22

Complaints and Allegations .............23

IntroductionThe Statement of Purpose for Leicestershire’s County Council Fostering Services is required

under the Fostering Services Regulations and the National Minimum Standards for fostering

2011. The Statement of Purpose describes the aims and objectives of the fostering service

and the range of services offered to support foster carers and children.

It is made available to staff of the organisation, foster carers, children and young people,

parents and other professionals. It is reviewed on an annual basis and revised to reflect any

changes as necessary. Children placed with Leicestershire foster carers receive a copy of the

Children’s Guide to the Fostering Service.

Leicestershire’s Fostering Service works in partnership with children and young people, their

families and carers to provide safe, caring homes which value the differences in children and

young people and help them to achieve their full potential.

We aim to achieve this by providing:-

■ Safe, warm and caring family environments

■ Comprehensive support for children, young people and carers

■ Encouragement for children and young people to meet their full potential and to mark and

celebrate their successes

■ Personal and group support for carers and their families

■ A flexible service which respects individual needs and values diversity

■ Measurable outcomes which strive to achieve, or exceed, National Standards

■ A professional service which is accountable, financially viable, and maximises partnership

opportunities.

■ Training opportunities

The address of the Local Authority who approves the statement of purpose and function is as

follows:

Leicestershire Council CouncilChildren and Young People’s ServiceCounty HallLeicesterLE3 8RL

3Fostering Service | Statement of Purpose 2013 - 2014

The Aim of the Fostering ServiceOur aim is to develop and provide a high quality, comprehensive and integrated service

that delivers excellent outcomes for children and young people in our care.

We will ensure that we have a range of safe, high quality foster care placements for children

and young people with carers who value, support and encourage them to grow and develop

as individuals. The needs, wishes, welfare and safety of the child or young person are at

the centre of Leicestershire’s Fostering Service. Children come from a wide range of cultural,

racial, linguistic and religious backgrounds and the Fostering Service endeavours to recruit

carers who reflect this.

The ethnic origin, cultural background, sexual orientation, religion and language of looked

after children and young people and the particular needs of disabled children and young

people will be fully recognised and positively valued and promoted when placement

decisions are made.

Our service is underpinned by the Leicestershire County Council’s pledge to Children in

Care and the Foster Carer’s Charter.

Foster Care Charter for LeicestershireLeicestershire County Council aims to provide safe

caring placements for its children and young people and

recognises the importance that foster placements have in

supporting some of the most challenging yet rewarding

children and young people. The charter defines the

expectations that can be expected between the Fostering

Service and the Foster Carer.

The Charter has been produced in consultation with

Children in Care, foster carers and staff from the fostering

team and is given to all new carers.

4 Fostering Service | Statement of Purpose 2013 - 2014

The Charter is fully endorsed by County Councillors with

responsibilities for Children’s Services.

The Fostering Service’s Commitment to foster carers:

Working in PartnershipWe will support you through the process of becoming a foster carer and

work with you to achieve the best outcomes for children. We will be

clear with you about your responsibilities for the child and acknowledge

that the foster placement is your home and as such respect this.

InformationPrior to the child being placed, we will share with you any known information. At the

Placement Planning Meeting we will be clear about what you can and cannot agree to and

what decisions can be delegated to foster carers.

Support and ClarityBefore placing a child with you we will be clear about any financial matters and payments.

We will establish a visiting pattern that meets the needs of the child as well as you and your

family. We will provide access to support out of hours and offer alternative arrangements

if your worker is not available. We will provide you with information in relation to the

Compliments/Complaints procedure.

Learning and DevelopmentA programme of training and support will be available to support you in your role as a foster

carer.

Fair TreatmentWe will treat you and your family with respect and consult with you regarding any changes.

We will provide you with support if you are subject to an allegation, whilst following statutory

procedures.


Respect for the ChildFoster children are part of our family and will be able to enjoy:

■ A family life with us including holidays and outings

■ Have a sense of cultural identity, celebrating and encouraging religious beliefs

■ Encouragement to keep in touch with their friends and family.

InformationWe will keep accurate records and inform you of any changes that impact on our fostering or the

children.

Learning and DevelopmentWe will participate in all relevant training as agreed within our development plan. We will

achieve our Training, Support and Development Standards within one year of approval.

Communication and ConsultationWe will participate in opportunities to develop the service and join in with locality support

groups. We will respond to local consultations in relation to fostering issues.

Fair TreatmentWe will treat children and their experiences with compassion and respect. We will offer

consistency, guidance and support the child to feel part of our family.

The Foster Carers’ Commitment:Working in PartnershipWe will work together to achieve the best outcomes

for the child in all areas of development particularly in

education and health including taking responsibility for

children’s health appointments.


Objectives of the Service

The Fostering Service aims to provide a high quality responsive child-centred service in

relation to its core functions:

■ To provide placements close to the child or young person’s local community, wherever

possible and appropriate for the child or young person’s assessed need taking into

consideration children’s wishes and feelings.

■ To promote the use of kinship (family and friends/connected) care for children and young

people.

■ To recruit, train and assess and approve a range of foster carers who can meet the needs

of children and young people requiring foster placements and support them to achieve

high outcomes.

■ To involve and consult with children and young people regarding their foster placement

and their care, providing them with an age-appropriate level of choice.

■ To supervise, support and review foster carers to ensure they have the skills and

competencies to ensure they are able to meet the diverse needs of children in their care.

■ To ensure that a child’s ethnic, religious, cultural, sexual and linguistic needs are properly

understood and met in their placement.

■ To provide appropriate placements for older young people where they can develop the

necessary skills and knowledge for independent living and make a successful transition to

adulthood.■ To promote the educational achievement of

children and young people by ensuring that

foster carers are supported and are able to

access opportunities for children to achieve.

■ To promote all aspects of the child’s health and development

to enable the child or young person to achieve the best

possible outcomes, through the provision of good standards

of care, access to services and support from other agencies

and professionals, particularly health, education and youth

services.

■ To foster an open and partnership-based service that

recognises the central role of foster carers in children’s lives.

■ To ensure all users of the Fostering Service have opportunities

to inform future service delivery.

■ To contribute to multi-agency planning systems for children to

promote an integrated service to meet their needs.


The Service will be Responsible for:■ A recruitment plan, which focuses on the recruitment of local carers who are able to

meet the diverse needs of looked after children and resulting in an annual net increase in

approved foster carers.

■ Training courses set out in a yearly training plan based on foster carers needs so that they

are trained in the skills required to provide high quality care to meet the diverse needs of

each child or young person placed in their care.

■ A wide range of support services to ensure that foster carers feel valued as part of the

Fostering Service and their services as carers are retained.

■ Appropriate specialist support for foster carers in the fields of education, health and mental

health to support them in managing the particular needs of children and young people in

their care.

■ A competitive, annually reviewed fostering fees and allowance structure, based on

nationally recommended rates.

■ Ensuring that people who work in or for the service are suitable to work with children

and young people and are managed, trained and supported to ensure the best possible

outcomes for children in foster care.

■ Cost effective services provided and

commissioned to maximise available resources.

■ Appropriate records are kept in relation to

individual foster carers, children and young

people and the fostering service.

■ Foster carers having access to a handbook

which guides their practice and clarifies

expectations and standards.


Principles and Standards of the ServiceThe Fostering Service is committed to achieving and

maintaining the highest standards and offering quality provision.

It has been developed and is managed in accordance with the

Fostering Service Regulations 2011 and the principles outlined

in the National Minimum Standards.

These standards apply equally to our kinship/connected carers:■ The child’s welfare, safety, wishes and needs are at the centre of

their care.

■ Children and young people should have an enjoyable childhood,

benefiting from excellent parenting and education, enjoying a wide

range of opportunities to develop their talents and skills leading to

a successful adult life.

■ Children and young people are entitled to grow up in a loving and safe environment that

can meet their developmental needs and protect them from harm and abuse.

■ Every child, young person and their families should have their wishes and feelings listened

to and taken into account and have the right to participate in the plans for their care and

inform future service development.

■ Each child or young person should be valued as an individual and given personalised

support in line with their individual needs and background in order to develop their

identity, self-confidence and self-worth.

■ The particular needs of disabled children and young people and children and young

people with complex needs will be fully recognised and taken into account.

■ The significance of contact, in its broadest sense, for children and young people in care, is

recognised, as is the foster carer’s role in supporting this.

■ Children and young people in foster care deserve to be treated as a good parent would

treat their own children and to have the opportunity for as full an experience of family life

and childhood as possible, without unnecessary restrictions.

■ The central importance of the child’s relationship with their foster carer should be

acknowledged and foster carers should be recognised as core members of the team

working with the child.

■ Foster carers have a right to full information about the child and receive appropriate

support and development opportunities to provide the best care for children. It is essential

that foster carers receive relevant support services and development opportunities in order

to provide the best care for children.

■ Genuine partnership between all those involved in fostering children is essential for the

best outcomes for children.


The Organisational Structure of the ServiceThe Fostering Service is part of Leicestershire County Council’s Children’s Services. The

structure of the service and how it relates to the business group is shown on Appendix A.

The Registered Manager of the Fostering Service is:-Andrew J LogieService ManagerChildren and Young People’s ServiceCounty HallGlenfieldLeicestershireLE3 8RLTelephone (0116) 305 9024

The Head of Strategy has overall responsibility for the Fostering Service and fulfils the role of

the Agency Decision Maker and responsible individual.

Kerrie Scraton based at: County Hall Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8SA

Kerrie Scraton qualified as a Social Worker in July 1994 and worked in Children’s Social

Work since that date. She has placed children for Adoption, worked as a Team Manager from

2001, and then Service Manager covering Locality Social Work Teams the majority of the

time. She has sat on an Adoption Panel as Children’s Social Work Advisor previously. Kerrie

has been a Head of Service here in Leicestershire since 2009 and led on Fostering Adoption

and placements since May 2013.

The Service Manager for the Fostering Service is responsible for the strategic management of

the Adoption Service.

Andrew Logie based at: County Hall Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8SA

Andrew Logie has worked in Children’s Social Care for over ten years and has a BSc (Hons)

degree in Social Work. He qualified as a Social Worker in 2008. Initially, he practiced in

Youth Justice, moving later to a front line Child Protection role. He spent two and a half years

managing a locality assessment team in Leicestershire and often placed vulnerable children


into Local Authority care. He became the Service Manager and

Strategic Lead for Fostering and Adoption in 2013.

The service currently consists of three fostering Teams with

each having a lead on areas of the fostering Service including

recruitment and assessment, support and family and friends or

connected person’s assessment and support. The service will

assess and approve foster carers, family find and match specific

children to placements.

There are three team managers of the service:

Maria Hunt qualified as a Social Worker in June 2001. She spent

6 years in a child protection team and subsequently worked in the

following areas: 2 year secondment as an Independent Reviewing

Officer (IRO). 2 years as a children’s rights and participation officer,

6 months as acting Corporate Parenting Team Manager. 2 years

as the LADO in the Safeguarding Unit. Maria has been a Team

Manager in Fostering since August 2011.

Joss Longman has been working within the childcare field since 1985. She has worked

in various children’s homes throughout her career. She qualified as a Social Worker in

1994, and has been a Team Manager of a Children’s Home that worked with vulnerable

young women at risk of exploitation. In 2011 she became the Team Manager within family

placements with specific responsibility for connected placements and continues with this.

Michelle Robinson has been employed by Leicestershire County Council since 1987 and

holds qualifications in child development, adult learning as well as the Diploma in Social

Work. Michelle has spent the majority of her career working within child protection including

managing a child protection team. Michelle spent 2 years working in the fostering service

in 2008 as a fostering social worker and training co-ordinator before returning to child

protection. Michelle was appointed Team Manager in the Fostering Service in August 2012.

In addition to the three Team managers the service is made up of three senior practitioners

with approximately 20 whole time equivalent social workers across the team. Additionally

there are 3.5 whole time equivalent child care support workers and an Independent

Reviewing Officer, panel advisor and panel administrator. All social work staff are

professionally qualified and registered with the HCPC and have varying experience in

Fostering.


Services ProvidedThe Fostering Service aims to meet a range of children’s needs by providing:

■ Emergency placements.

■ Short term placements to support families or facilitate the assessment of the needs of the

child.

■ Task centred placements which provide a bridge to another placement, help a child return

home, or enable a young person to move to independent living.

■ Permanent or long-term placements for children who cannot be placed for adoption. These

placements will support young people through transition to adulthood and beyond where

appropriate.

■ Short Break Service providing short breaks for children with disabilities.

■ Family and Friends care (Connected Persons) who are approved and supported to provide

placements for children and young people known to the carer.

■ Specialist placements which include parent and child placements and remand

placements.

■ An Independent Visitor Service is provided for children and young people who may benefit

from the service

Health OutcomesThe Fostering Service is committed to ensuring that the health outcomes for young people in

care continually improve. There is close liaison with the health team for looked after children

including a designated Looked after Children’s nurse who is responsible for facilitating health

assessments and in monitoring and promoting the health of children in care. A strategic

health group monitors health outcomes for children and contributes to the development of

services.

As part of the assessment process prospective foster carers have a health assessment

undertaken by the carers’ GP. A medical adviser is able to advise on the health information

provided for applicants.

All foster carers have a health assessment every three years. In the intervening years they

complete an adult health declaration. If there are any health issues of concern, an updated

assessment is sought from the carer’s GP.

Protecting Children from HarmLeicestershire’s Children and Young People’s Service including its Fostering Service are


members of Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB). Suspected

abuse or ill treatment of any child is investigated using the LSCB procedures.

Leicestershire County Council operates a safe recruitment process for all staff employed by

the agency. In addition, there is a rigorous vetting and assessment process undertaken with

all potential carers. Enhanced DBS checks are repeated every 3 years for all carers and staff.

Safe caring is an important part of foster carer training and all carers are given a Safe

Caring Handbook. Individual safe care plans are produced to address any specific needs or

challenges presented by children or young people in foster care.

Training on safeguarding and safe care practice is provided to all foster carers. All foster

carers are given regular support and supervision visits to develop and review their practice.

An unannounced visit to the foster home is made at least annually. Workers in the team are

also aware of the particular vulnerability of disabled children. For children or young people

who receive Short Breaks Care, close partnership work with parents is one of the important

safeguards to protect them.

Allegations against foster carers are investigated using an established procedure. An

independent person, usually the LADO, chairs the initial strategy meeting and oversees the

process. Foster carers continue to receive the fee element of their payment until the outcome

of the investigation for a maximum of 12 weeks, where the child or young person is removed

from their care.

There is an agreed ‘Missing from Care’ protocol that all foster carers are expected to adhere

to. All children and young people are expected to agree with their carer when they go out;

where they are going and a time to return. If a young person fails to return at the agreed

time, attempts are made to locate them, by telephoning friends, family and relatives. Carers

can obtain advice about the operation of the ‘Missing from Care’ protocol from the Fostering

team, First response Service or from The Foster Care Support Line.

The process for conducting risk assessments on missing young people and making reports to

the police is detailed in the Joint Police and CYP Service Protocol – “Missing from Care”.

Training is offered to carers on:

■ the allegations procedure

■ support available to foster carers subject to an allegation

■ the importance of safe caring procedures.


Educational OutcomesEducation provision is planned and provided in partnership with schools. The Education of

Children in Care team support the education of all children in care of school age up to age

16yrs by arranging and chairing all PEP (Personal Education Plan) meetings and monitor

educational outcomes for all children in care up to age 18yrs.

Where a child has emotional or behavioural difficulties or special educational needs, the

service of the Special Education Needs team and Educational Psychologists will be provided.

A multi-agency PLACE (Promoting Looked after Children’s Education) Panel can be convened

in order to consider the cases of children with particularly complex educational problems.

All young people are expected to attend school and efforts are made to maintain children in

their existing schools. Foster carers support children to minimise absence from school and a

protocol has been agreed and shared with all foster carers to avoid holidays in term time.

Training is provided to carers on education and the importance of supporting children’s

achievements. Support for ensuring computers are available for young people is in place and

training and guidance on internet safety is promoted to all carers.

The achievements of children and young people are celebrated each year at the Celebration

of Achievement events.

Promoting Children and Young People’s ParticipationThe opportunity for children and young people to succeed in hobbies or sports is seen as

an important element of the fostering task and reduced costs for accessing leisure facilities

have been agreed across the districts. Financial support can also be provided to facilitate

participation in hobbies and interests through the corporate parenting team. The Corporate

Parenting Team arrange a wide variety of different opportunities for children in care and their

carers including a children in care council, a children’s choir and have set up a football team.

The team includes a Children’s Rights Officer and participation officer who have increased

participation levels for children and young people. A Children in Care Council has been

established which promotes a children’s pledge and “Promise Me” which provides

opportunities for children and young people to inform the development of services

Annual foster carer reviews consider the level of social opportunities young people in

placement are supported to attend.


Children and young people are individually consulted by the Independent Reviewing Officers

as part of their statutory review and are encouraged to participate. Children and young

people are also supported in giving feedback in relation to the care they receive via the foster

carers review process. They have the opportunity to see the IRO of the foster carer’s reviews

alone if they wish and are supported in participating fully in the process.

Staying PutFoster carers are encouraged to agree to young people staying with them beyond the age of

18 years old. Carers can become ‘Supported lodgings providers’ and receive financial help

and welfare rights advice. A policy supporting Staying Put has been

produced.

Number of Children Placed

There is close liaison with the commissioning and contracts officers to ensure that children

and young people are appropriately placed in the right setting.

Fostering Allowances 2013The department pays the National Recommended Fostering Allowance to all foster carers.

This is divided into a maintenance payment for the child in placement and a skills fee.

The weekly Fostering Maintenance Allowance from 1st April 2013:

Age of Child Weekly Rate: 0-4 years £122 4-10 years £134 11-15 years £154 16-18 years £179

■ In December 2013 Leicestershire County Council was looking after 458 children. ■ This is in addition to the children with disabilities receiving short breaks. The fostering service received an average of 73 placement requests each month in 2013, not including referrals for day care, respite or short breaks.

Skills fees are calculated by the maintenance fee and the skill level of the carer:

– Level one is 25% of the maintenance fee

– – Level two is 50% of the maintenance fee

– – – Level three is 75% of the maintenance fee

– – – – Level four is 140% of the maintenance fee

– – – – – Level five is 200% of the maintenance fee

Carers receive four weeks

additional allowance to cover

birthdays, holidays and Christmas

(or other significant festivals).


Recruitment, Approving Training, Supporting and Reviewing FosterCarers and RecruitmentAssessment of candidates is undertaken by the Fostering Team. All enquiries are handled

through the Fostering Duty desk, the authority’s contact centre and, upon receipt of a

telephone call or email, the inquiry is logged onto the Framework-i database and an

information pack mailed out the same day. Candidates are then called back, within seven

working days and, if requested and where appropriate, an initial home visit is undertaken by

a Fostering Recruitment Team social worker. The Fostering Recruitment Team is responsible

not only for assessing mainstream carers but also Connected People carers (under Regulation

24).

All candidates must provide the necessary information required to undertake background

checks, personal references, including DBS checks for any members of the household over

the age of 16.

Prospective carers are assessed against the Fostering Networks’ ‘Skills to Foster programme’,

alongside preliminary work with the Children’s Workforce Development Council carer

induction. Our aim is to complete an assessment within six months, but where delays occur

these are reported. Preparation training is delivered by both Fostering Team social workers

and experienced foster carers, covering all aspects of the responsibilities and demands that

could be placed upon them by entering the service.

The authority makes it clear that the completed Form F1 and Form C (Connected People)

assessment is shared with carers, excluding references, and that they have the right to

comment upon the findings which will be recorded. The completed form is then presented

to the Fostering Panel. In the event that information, obtained during the assessment, means

that the candidate would be unsuitable to become a foster carer, the assessing social worker

must raise this with the Fostering Team manager and the prospective carer. If the decision

stands, following the panel and agency decision maker decision, that the candidate cannot

continue with the assessment, they will be offered an explanation of the reasons the authority

felt them unsuitable to foster. If the applicant wishes to contest this decision, they can refer

to the Independent Review Mechanism (see Complaints and Allegations).


In line with the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review and Fostering Services

(Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013, the fostering recruitment now follows a two

stage process:

Stage 1 – a preliminary stage is commenced and should take up to two months where some training and a series of checks are undertaken.

The Fostering Service Provider, as soon as reasonably practicable, obtains specified

information relating to the applicant and other members of their household and family. Where,

having regard to any information obtained (whether or not the local authority has finished

obtaining all the information), the Fostering Service Provider decide that the applicant is not

suitable to become a foster carer, they must notify the applicant in writing giving their reasons

for that decision. The applicant has no right to make representations to the Independent

Review Mechanism.

Where the Fostering Service Provider has obtained all the specified information and is satisfied

that the applicant should go onto Stage 2 which should last no more than 4 months.

They must:

■ Obtain further specified information relating to the applicant and other members of their

household, together with any other information they consider relevant;

■ Consider whether the applicant is suitable to be a foster carer and whether the applicants’

household is suitable for any child;

■ Prepare a written report on the applicant;

■ Assessments are undertaken using the standard BAAF Form F. Assessing Social workers

undertake a number of home visits to all members of the prospective fostering household.

A full range of statutory checks is made as well as taking full employment and address

histories. Personal referees are interviewed. A medical examination is arranged. All carers

access Skills to Foster Training either through participation in groups or through individual

support from the Fostering Service.

■ Notify the applicant that the case is to be referred to the Fostering Panel;

■ Give the applicant a copy of the report, inviting the applicant to make any observations in

writing;

■ At the end, send their report, the applicant’s observations thereon (if any) and any other

relevant information obtained by the Fostering Services Provider, to the Fostering Panel.

All applicants are made aware of the two stage assessment process and they are advised that

they can make a formal complaint, if they are unhappy with their decision during the first

phase. All applicants are informed of this decision.


The Fostering PanelThe Fostering Panel meets regularly to consider prospective fostering applicants for approval

and to recommend whether or not a person is suitable to be a foster parent. It also considers

whether a person remains suitable to be a foster carer at the first review, following a concern

or allegation and on any further review requested by the Fostering Service.

In 2013 42 new fostering households were approved by the panel. Of these 28 were connected carers for known children. There were also a number of carers that left the service.

The primary reasons for termination of approval for kinship carers were they had either

obtained a permanent order for a child; the child returned home or had gone to live with

another family member.

For mainstream carers, the majority chose to retire.

The panel is independently chaired and the Panel Advisor and Fostering Team Manager

undertake the Panel Advisor role. All panel members undertake checks as part of safe

recruitment practice; attend training and have an annual appraisal.

The Agency Decision-Maker considers the Panel’s recommendations and makes the final

decision on behalf of the agency.

Independent Reviewing Mechanism IRMThe IRM is a review process that can be used when a fostering agency has made a

qualifying determination.

The Independent Review of Determinations (Adoption and Fostering) Regulations 2009

define qualifying determinations as:

■ A determination made by the agency’s decision maker when they do not propose to

approve the prospective carer as suitable to foster a child.

The function of the review panel is to consider a case anew and to give the agency a fresh

recommendation.


Independent Review Mechanism

Unit 4, Pavilion Business Park

Royds Hall Road

Wortley

Leeds

LS12 6AJ

Telephone: 0845 450 3956

Fax: 0845 450 3957

Email: [email protected]: www.independentreviewmechanism.org.uk

Support and Supervision of Foster CarersThe Fostering Service recognises and values the important role that foster carers play in the

lives of Children in Care. The service aims to be receptive and responsive to their needs.

A number of structures exist to help promote this relationship:

■ All carers have a fostering social worker and receive support and supervision visits.

■ All carers have an agreed level of visiting/contact from their fostering social worker.

■ All carers including kinship carers have an annual review

■ The department funds the annual membership fee for carers to be members of

Leicestershire Foster Care Association (LFCA)

■ LFCA, in conjunction with the department, publishes a newsletter to carers 3-4 times a

year “The Grapevine”.

■ A Duty Service is available during office hours as a point of contact for foster carers.

■ A Foster Care Support line operates from 6pm until midnight each evening and 12 noon to

midnight at weekends.

■ The Fostering Service has access to a specialist worker who offers support to carers which

includes individual work with carers and children as well as surgery sessions. This worker

can become involved following stability of placements meetings.

■ LFCA and the Emergency Team offer support to carers out of office hours.

■ There is close liaison with Education of Children in Care Team to provide help to children

and young people who have educational difficulties.

■ Locality foster carer groups have been established in all areas to increase the level of local

support that carers can offer one another.

■ The fostering website area means that carers have ready access to a range of information

and the service provides a newsletter to improve communication between the service and

foster carers.


Foster Carer ReviewsFormal reviews for foster carers take place annually. The first review is presented to the

Fostering Panel within 12 months of the original approval. Subsequent reviews are chaired

by an independent reviewing officer.

A report is prepared by the Fostering Social Worker which leads to a recommendation about

the carer’s suitability to continue to be approved. The report includes an updated personal

development plan identifying future learning and support needs, health declarations, the

safe caring policy, the fire escape plan and a Health and Safety checklist. Every 3 years DBS

checks and a full health assessment are undertaken.

The views of the foster carers, all members of the household, any children placed since the

last review, their parents (where appropriate) their social workers, and any other professional

whose views are relevant will be sought and taken into account at the review.

Reviews are presented to the Agency Decision Maker who will consider the ongoing

suitability of the foster carer and their terms of approval. This is a qualifying determination

and carers are able to refer to the IRM if they wish to challenge this.

At each review the Foster Care Agreement is amended, updated and signed.

Training and DevelopmentTraining is a key element for the development of carers and of the fostering service staff. All

fostering applicants are required to attend pre-approval training. Mainstream carers attend a

modified version of the Fostering Network’s Skills to Foster training course, which is delivered

on a modular basis by trainers from the fostering team and incorporates a session for the

sons and daughters of applicants, as well as input by experienced foster carers and care

leavers.

There is a similar shorter course for applicants for the Short Breaks Scheme that looks at

the particular aspects of caring for a disabled child. Connected carers are enabled to learn

through individual support from the assessing social worker. Post approval training is a

combination of core courses and other specialist opportunities to further develop carer’s

skills.


The Core Courses comprise:■ First Aid

■ Understanding how to care for the abused

child

■ Behaviour Management

■ Allegations

■ Record keeping

■ Education Awareness

Specialist Training opportunities include:

■ Managing Contact

■ SCIP training for dealing with conflict

■ Attachment

■ Understanding and Managing Behaviour

of Disabled Children

■ Children’s Mental Health Awareness

■ Drugs and Alcohol Awareness

■ Sexual Health

■ Delay Training

Additional training is also provided from expert agencies such as CAMHs and other independent

training consultants. Foster carers’ careers and personal development are also supported by the

opportunity to complete a NVQ Level 3 in Child Care.

Foster carers are supported to complete the Training, Support and Development Standards. This

can be through regular workshops, one to one sessions, or through the overall programme of

training available to all carers.

Services for ChildrenChildren’s Guides to the Fostering Service are available in three age bandings that are given to

all children and young people when they become fostered. These guides contain key contact

information for children and young people and summarise what the Fostering Service sets out to

do for children and how they can find out their rights. It also includes how a child can contact

their Independent Reviewing Officer, the Children’s Rights Director and Ofsted.

The team have access to a wide range of support material that can be used for direct work with

children. Children participate in social events that are facilitated by the participation officer and

the LFCA. Events for children who foster are organised to support their involvement and provide

opportunities for peer support.

All children placed in foster care will be supported by their own social worker and additional

services will be provided as relevant, e.g. from the Education of Children in Care Team, Child

and Adolescent Mental Health and the Health Team for Children in Care.


Performance ManagementThe agency monitors its performance and provides reports to the executive team, which in

Leicestershire is the Director of Children and Young People’s Service and the Lead Member

every quarter about children who are in the care of their local authority and who are waiting

to be placed with new families (National Minimum Standards 25.7). A range of reporting is

undertaken throughout the service which highlights performance and manages change and

development of the service. The development plan of the service is renewed every quarter by

the Service manager and head of Strategy.

Monitoring, Quality Assurance and ComplaintsLeicestershire are committed to providing services that comply with Fostering Services

Regulations, Guidance and Standards 2011. Monitoring and quality assurance is undertaken

by the following methods:

■ Regular staff supervision and appraisals to monitor quality of work and support training

and development

■ Regular staff meetings to monitor work, share good practice and inform service

development management information is collated regularly to ensure performance

indicators are met, to plan fostering services that are effective and to set targets for the

service

■ The teams comply with written procedures and policies that set out clearly their role and

responsibilities under fostering and care planning legislation and provide a reference for

good practice

■ Children’s cases are regularly reviewed with Independent Reviewing Officers who are

based in the Safeguarding and Improvement Unit

■ Performance reporting and management reports on the work of the fostering service to the

executive

■ Regular auditing and checking of case files

■ Regular manager’s meetings to review the service, update the development plan and

develop the service

■ Permanency tracking meetings via the joint solution forum are undertaken to monitor

progress and avoid delay

■ Stability and disruption meetings to support placements in crisis and learn from unplanned

endings


■ The Fostering Service is subject to a regular inspection by Ofsted Feedback is gathered

from a variety of service users through evaluation

■ The Fostering Panel has a critical role to play in the provision of independent expert

oversight and quality assurance of reports

■ The ADMs observe one panel each year and attend panel training days.

Complaints and AllegationsThe Fostering Service has a Complaints policy that provides opportunities for informal and

formal procedures to deal with complaints. The Specialist Service Standards leaflet was

revised in November 2011 and was shared with all foster carers and describes the standards

of service for our users and the contact details for the complaints service.

All allegations are investigated through the guidance of the Local Authority Designated Officer

(LADO) following LSCB procedures. Foster carers are supported independently through the

LCFA and Fostering Network as appropriate.

An independent support service can be commissioned as appropriate.

Children and young people have access to the County Council’s Children’s Rights Officer who

will assist any child in making a complaint if they wish, and will support them throughout

the process.

Complaints can be made independently of the Fostering agency by contacting:

OfstedNational Business UnitPiccadilly GateStore StreetManchesterM1 2WDTel: 0300 123 1231e-mail: [email protected]

The Complaints Manager - County HallTel: 0116 305 5875 or

email: [email protected]

Or writing to us at:-Complaints Manager

Social Care Service

FREEPOST LE 1779

County Hall

Glenfield

Leicester LE3 8XR

Ofsted is responsible for inspecting the Fostering

Service. They will also receive and investigate

any complaints about the Fostering Service.

Significant incidents are also reported to them.

Ofsted can be contacted at:


If you require this information in an alternative version such as large print, Braille, tape or help in understanding it in your language, please contact 0116 305 0505.

N0219 June 2014

leicestershire county council’s fostering service · a recruitment plan, which focuses on the...

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