Monitoring and Review

Family Fostering ensures that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. This includes the financial viability of the service, any serious incidents, allegations or complaints about the service and ensuring the quality of the service.

The registered manager regularly monitors all records kept by the Agency to ensure compliance with its policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action will be taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring.

Leaders and managers regularly review and act on any known risks to children, taking advice and guidance from local partners and agencies.

The leaders and managers of Family Fostering actively and regularly monitor the quality of care provided, using the learning from practice and feedback to improve the experiences and care of children.

This monitoring will include consultation with foster carers, children placed with foster carers, and the placing authority, for example, direct testimony from children, parents, carers, other professionals and other stakeholders.

The leaders and managers of Family Fostering learn from complaints, staff feedback, placement successes and breakdowns, and any serious events. They identify strengths and areas for improvement and implement clear development plans that continually improve the experiences of children. The monitoring will also have reference to Family Fostering Business Plan and the financial viability of the service.

This monitoring will include, inter alia, the matters set out in Schedule 6 Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, Matters to be Monitored by the Registered Person:

1. Compliance (in relation to each child placed with foster carers) with the child's care plan;
2. All accidents, injuries and illnesses of children placed with foster carers;
3. Complaints in relation to children placed with foster carers and their outcomes;
4. Any allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect in respect of children placed with foster carers and the outcome of any investigation;
5. Recruitment records and the conduct of required checks of new workers;
6. Notifications of events listed in Schedule 7 of the Regulations – see Notifications of Significant Events Procedure;
7. Any child missing from a foster carer's home without permission;
8. Use of any measures of control, restraint or discipline in respect of children accommodated in a foster home;
9. Medication, medical treatment and first aid administered to any child placed with foster carers;
10. Where applicable, the standard of any education provided by the Agency;
11. Records of assessments;
12. Records of fostering panel meetings;
13. Records of appraisals of employees;
14. Minutes of staff meetings.

These monitoring reports are completed by the management team every quarter and submitted to Ofsted annually as part of Family Fostering Annual Service Review and to all local authorities, foster parents and stake holders.

Family Fostering’s management committee:

1. Receive written reports on the monitoring of the whole service including all matters contained within the Schedule 6 - Fostering Service Regulations 2011 and financial update of the Agency every 3 months;
2. Monitor the management and outcomes of the services in order to satisfy themselves that the service is effective and is achieving good outcomes for children;
3. Satisfy themselves that Family Fostering is complying with the conditions of registration.

The registered manager takes action to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them.