Monitoring and Review
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
Regulation 35 - Review of quality of care
Regulation 37 - Financial position
Fostering Services National Minimum Standards
STANDARD 25 - Managing effectively and efficiently and monitoring the service
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter explains how the Fostering Agency monitors the quality of care provided, using the learning from practice and feedback to improve the experiences and care of children.
RELATED CHAPTERS
Leadership and Management Procedure
Contents
1. Overview
The Agency 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 person 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.
2. Regulation 35 Reports - Review of Quality of Care
The leaders and managers of the Agency 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 the Agency 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 the Agency's 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:
- Compliance (in relation to each child placed with foster carers) with the child's care plan;
- All accidents, injuries and illnesses of children placed with foster carers;
- Complaints in relation to children placed with foster carers and their outcomes;
- Any allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect in respect of children placed with foster carers and the outcome of any investigation;
- Recruitment records and the conduct of required checks of new workers;
- Notifications of events listed in Schedule 7 of the Regulations – see Notifications of Significant Events Procedure;
- Any child missing from a foster carer's home without permission;
- Use of any measures of control, restraint or discipline in respect of children accommodated in a foster home;
- Medication, medical treatment and first aid administered to any child placed with foster carers;
- Where applicable, the standard of any education provided by the Agency;
- Records of assessments;
- Records of fostering panel meetings;
- Records of appraisals of employees;
- Minutes of staff meetings.
These monitoring reports are completed by the registered person and submitted to Ofsted at least once every 6 months and, on request, to any local authority.
The Agency's management committee/board members:
- Receive written reports on the management, outcomes and financial state of the Agency service every 3 months;
- 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;
- Satisfy themselves that the Agency is complying with the conditions of registration.
The registered person takes action to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them.