Statement of Purpose
This Statement of Purpose is compiled in accordance with National Minimum Standards and Fostering Services Regulations 2002, Standard 1 Regulations 3 & 4.
The registered provider will formally approve the statement of purpose of the fostering service, and will review, update and modify it where necessary on an annual basis.
Preface & IntroductionPlus One Fostering Limited, a Permanency Fostering Care Agency, is an exciting new innovative development situated in the centre of Birmingham.
Plus One was conceived and initiated by Mrs. Pauline Higgins, a former Social Worker and Foster Care Support Worker who has worked in children’s teams for Birmingham Social Service for over eighteen years.
Plus One was formed to meet a need to recruit carers/parents from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a range of skills in caring for children from varying circumstances that have resulted in their need to be looked after by Local Authorities.
Research has shown that it is difficult for local authorities to recruit carers/parents from the Black and Asian communities to provide appropriate family placements. The difficulties in accommodating children from these backgrounds stems from a number of reasons that have been well documented. One key factor has been the difficulties experienced in recruiting carers/families from Black and Asian communities.
Plus One aims to give children placed with carers/parents the opportunity to utilize the resources central to the area they are living and this will be achieved by working in partnership with those responsible for the appropriately matched resources.
RegistrationConditions for registration are as stipulated in the Commission for Social Care Inspection report dated 16th August 2004 and are available on request.
Aims and ObjectivesPlus One aims to:
Provide as wide a variety of placements as possible to meet the diverse needs of the individual child.
a. See the child/young person as an individual and ensure, as far as possible, the placement fits the particular needs of the child/young person.
b. Work in partnership with families (where appropriate) and social workers to implement the child/young person’s care plan.
c. To work towards rehabilitation where appropriate. If not, to provide the stability of a long-term placement, either with Plus One or another agency/local authority.
d. Respect the child/young person and teach him/her to respect others.
e. Promote the health, education and welfare of the child/young person by working in accordance with the care plan towards achievable goals.
f. Ensure skilled, professional foster carers provide effective and appropriate care.
g. Ensure our foster carers receive ongoing training and they are provided with effective support, including an out of hour’s service.
h. Our carers are able to progress through a career structure from experience and completing necessary qualifications.
i. To work in accordance with “Every Child Matters” and its five outcomes for better services for children looked after.
j. Introduction to the new Training, Support and Development Standards for foster care under the CWDC Children’s Workforce Development Council to be completed by approved carers by 2011 and new recruits within 12 months following approval as of April 2008.
Organisational Statement of Good PracticeThe introduction of the Care Standard Act 2000 and the Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and The Fostering Regulations 2002 has provided a framework for the establishment of Plus One. The agency obtained registration with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), in 2004 and is now developing as a service that recruits carers who provide caring family placements for children who are unable to be cared for within their immediate family environment.
Plus One intends to build upon the National Minimum Standards to become a ‘flag ship’ for the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), formally the National Care Standard Commission to hold up as an example of ‘best practice’ and ‘total quality’. We are aware of changes to come and keep abreast of current issues that can improve our services for those with whom accesses it. As of April 2007 Ofsted Office for Standards in Education now inspects all fostering service provider.
Nature of Services ProvidedPlus One provides a range of carers able to work with and support the needs of individual children including those with challenging behaviour or mild disabilities. The carers have a wide range of qualifications and experience of working with children in care and where gap are identified Plus One ensures that carers are equipped appropriate. Placements will be offered with carers from a diverse ethnic background centralized within the Birmingham conurbation or within the West Midlands Consortium, together with a strong support network. Once approved, carers will be reviewed at Panel on the anniversary of their approval and will be given an opportunity at this stage to apply for progression to the next level in the career structure which now includes the new 7 standards for foster carers under the CWDC
Plus One is able to compete on a level with Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies in providing placements for the following categories - emergency and planned, long and short term, for all ages from 0 to 18years, including sibling groups. The preliminary and on-going training of carers and staff will be Plus One’s way of addressing this important issue.
Plus One recognizes that there have been many studies and articles produced looking at the needs of Black children in care, which encompass placement needs, identity, and education and so on. All such studies and research have brought to the forefront the many issues that affect the lives of children of ethnic minority groups in particular and diverse ethnic backgrounds in general.
Plus One will emphasise the development of a positive racial and cultural identity to enable children to counteract the negative attitudes and beliefs held about them, or attitudes and beliefs that they may hold about themselves.
Examples of placements offered:The agency also aims to provide Education packages and Psychological/Therapeutic support where needed in particular for those children seeking asylum. Currently we undertake supervised contact on behalf of local authority for named children.
Recent development is currently ongoing in regards to working in partnership with BID Services to cater for Deaf People who wish to be considered as foster carers to care for deaf children accommodated by the Local Authorities.
In August 2007 Plus One appointed a Mentor to offer services to children in placement if required.
Status and ConstitutionIn accordance with Sections 4(4) (a) of the Care Standards Act 2000, Plus One Fostering Ltd is an Independent Fostering Agency. Plus One will undertake to discharge the functions of Local Authorities in connection with the placing of children with foster parents.
Plus One’s constitution comprises
Plus One Fostering Limited is a Company Limited by Shares and is a Permanency Care agency The company was incorporated on the 14th July 2003 with Company House
The agency will be in operation from May 2004, by section 4 (4) (a) of the Care Standards Act 2000. As an undertaking which discharges functions of local Authorities in connection with the placing of children with foster carers/parents, on a short, medium, long-term or permanency basis depending on the individual needs of each child referred to Plus One.
Plus One has achieved registration with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) on 16th August 2004. Our Registration number is: E540002079.
Plus One’s philosophy is to work in partnership with Local Authorities and the parents/carers of a child who is being looked after. Also to work in partnership with other resources in the community that are relevant in providing a young person’s needs (SPLICES`S)
Plus One strives to ensure that children and young people of all ages, gender, sexuality, disabilities and cultural backgrounds, are placed as near to their family and community as possible, to have a right to be seen as children first and have access to the same support systems and many more as other children in the community.
Management Structure
The Referral Process
Children are referred to Plus One by Local Authorities. Plus One will Inform the Local Authority of all vacancies and will endeavor to match the child with appropriate carers taking into account the assessment of the carer. If possible a planned placement will take place over several weeks where the child will gradually be introduced to the carer and their household, if everyone is happy then the placement will proceed. Often there will be a need to place a child in an ‘emergency’ and in this case a follow up review will take place as soon as possible after placement to ensure the child is matched appropriately and has settled in.
The agency will enter an agreement with the local Authority detailing all aspects of the placement and any conditions required.
Full documentation will be produced including any LAC documents and previous review notes etc. The carer will initiate a children’s file completing information about clothing and valuables, diet and medication and any education requirements.
A Qualified Supervising Social Worker will be allocated to the carer and they will arrange to visit within forty-eight hours to discuss any issues regarding the placement.
Note: When a child is placed outside the local authority’s area they must notify the local area authority where the child will be residing about the child’s details. Reg 40 (4).
Quality AssurancePlus One has adopted the Statement of Values and Principles, UK National Standards for Foster Care, P.6. The following is a summary.
To promote:
Plus One will also follow the Government’s response to the Victoria Climbe Inquiry Report and Joint Chief Inspector’s Report Safeguarding Children ‘Keeping Children safe’. In addition to the above, we accept that the majority of children (especially those under 10) are likely to make better developmental progress in family settings, although for a minority of children in residential care will offer the best solution. Objective 1 of Quality Protects requires councils to ‘ensure that children are securely attached to carers capable of providing safe and effective care for the duration of childhood.
Qualifications and Experience of Management & StaffRegistered Manager
MP
Diploma in Social Work
B-Tec National Diploma in Social Care & Health Studies,
B-Tec 1st in Care
Registered Managers Award (Current)
Practise Teacher course (Current)
Experience:
Social Worker for B’ham City Council – 1 Year
Foster Care Development Worker for Private Fostering Agency - 1 Year
Supervising Social Worker for Private Agency – 6 months
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Responsible Individual
PH
Certificate in Social Services (CSS)
Advanced Certificate in Child Development and Care
Preliminary Certificate in Residential Care
CFE in Pre Nursing and Caring Services
Management Development Certificate for Black Women
Certificate in Internal Quality Auditing
Business Start up Course
Registered Managers Award -Adults/Children
Experience:
Community Care Adults Team – 2 years
Observation and Assessment Centre – 6 years
Set up/run Independent Living Project – 5 years
Generic Social Worker – 3.5 years
Adoption and Fostering Team, Teenage and Remand Fostering 1 year
Adoption and Fostering Team – Mainstream 2 years
Senior Social Worker – Children and Families – 4 years.
Community Care – Adult Team – 3 years
Independent Fostering Agency – 3.5 years
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Business Development Manager NB
Qualifications:BA Hons – Business Enterprise
HND – Business & Finance
B-TEC National Diploma in Business & Finance
8 GCSE’s
Experience:
Senior Consultant for Progressive Computer Recruitment for two years
Training Manager for Monarch Recruitment for two years
Sales Manager for Yellow Pages for eight years
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Team Leader SM
Qualifications:Diploma in Social Work
Diploma in Personnel Management
PQ1 Qualification
Assessors course for NVQ (Current)
Experience:
Foster Care Development Worker for one year with an Independent Fostering Agency
Human Resources Manager for seven years recruiting and selecting staff
Industrial Relations Officer for two years
Personnel Officer for three years
Working with the Juvenile Court for children in need of care for three years
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Supervising Support Worker KW
Qualifications:C.S.E’s in English, Mathematics, Physics, History
Electrical Installation Part 1 & Part 2
OCN Mentoring Level 3
7407 Teacher Training
Strengthening Families / Strengthening Communities Course
Health & First Aid Course
Experience:
Activity Worker for Omnicare Community Service for three years
Male Development Worker for PACT for one year
Transition Worker for A.C.S.S for one year
Driver Supervisor for Reliance Task Management for three years
Supervisor for Forensic Science Service for four years
Electrician for Lewis & Beddows for ten years
Currently working part time as a Freelance Mentor for Children in Secondary Schools
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Team Administrator SD
Qualifications:MDP - 1 Management Development Programme Module 1
Diploma - Shift Runners Floor Manager
Shift Runners Managers Course
Health & Safety Course & Basic Electricity at Work
Food Hygiene Course
First Aid at Work
G.C.S.E’s in Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, and Drama
Experience:
Floor Manager at McDonalds Restaurants for seven years
Administrator for Kingsbury Interiors for three years
Sales Administrator for Lynx Express Parcels Ltd for three years
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*The agency also provides a Mentoring Service to all children placed, the Mentor is employed on a consultancy basis and details can be obtained from personnel file. *
The agency employs a Training Officer on a consultancy basis who delivers all the training required to undertake the role of a foster carer. Currently we also have a full time student social worker on placement from the University of Birmingham.
Numbers of CarersCarers: Plus One currently has 13 approved carers (including four couples).
Total: Plus One now has a total of 17 approved carers on roll and 5 prospective carers. This is an increase of 100% during the last 12-month period. The ethnic break down of current approved carers is as follows:
• 8 African Caribbean• 8 White UK
• 1 European
Numbers of children
Children: Currently Plus One has 18 children in placement across 10 carers households. There are 10 permanently placed, 8 children are placed on a long term basis.
Gender mix: There are 8 females, and 10 males.
Ethnicity: There are 7 children of African Caribbean background, 2 Asian, 1 of dual heritage and 8 white UK.
ComplaintsThe agency has a simple, easy to use complaints procedure which is available to the children in place, their parents, the carers and staff working for the agency.
The procedure involves three stages:
1. Informal where the complainant can either discuss their complaint with the Supervising Social Worker or Manager or put it in writing.
2. Formal where meetings will be arranged to try to resolve the complaint. These will be recorded.
3. Appeals where the complaint can be taken to an Independent Mediator or Ofsted.
The management undertakes to respond rapidly to any complaint no matter how small in order that any issues are addressed. Any complaints must be given to the carer’s supervising development worker or the manager. Should a complainant not be satisfied with the outcome of their complaint then they can contact Ofsted who will initiate an independent complaint enquiry which will ensure that the complaint is reviewed and a decision reached by an independent panel.
The fostering service’s policies, procedures and any written guidance to staff and carers accurately reflect the statement of purpose
All policies and procedures are checked to ensure that they accurately reflect the statement of purpose. Amendments and additions will be ongoing as better practices are developed.
Amendments/Revisions
This document was last reviewed in November 2006 and will be reviewed periodically. It is not practical for us to advise everyone to whom we have sent our Statement of Purpose in the past of any changes that we make. However we will be pleased to provide the current version to anyone who requests one.
Appendices:
Schedules of the numbers, relevant qualifications and experience of the staff, foster carers and children in placement. This is updated as and when changes occur.
