ISP Enfield. Inspection report for independent fostering agency. Unique reference number Inspection date 21/11/2011

Transcription

1 ISP Enfield Inspection report for independent fostering agency Unique reference number SC Inspection date 21/11/2011 Inspector Sandra Jacobs-Walls Type of inspection Social Care Inspection Setting address I S P, 64a Church Street, ENFIELD, Middlesex, EN2 6AX Telephone number enfield@ispchildcare.org.uk Registered person Intergrated Services Programme Registered manager Elisabeth Jenny Davies Responsible individual John Henry Whitwell Date of last inspection 02/11/2007

2 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Crown copyright 2011 Website: This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: Online ordering:

3 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 About this inspection The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service. The inspection judgements and what they mean Outstanding: Good: Satisfactory: Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality this aspect of the provision is strong this aspect of the provision is sound this aspect of the provision is not good enough

4 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Service information Brief description of the service Integrated Services Programme (ISP) Enfield is an independent fostering agency and is part of a limited company. The other centres are based in Buckinghamshire, Sussex, throughout Kent and South London. The head office is based at Sittingbourne in Kent. ISP Enfield office provides staff offices and also has rooms available for therapy sessions, educational input, meetings, contact arrangements and training. ISP Enfield provides a wide range of services including social work support for foster carers and the young people, a range of therapeutic services, educational support and assistance with transport. ISP Enfield foster carers provide short-term, emergency, long-term, respite care and mother and baby placements. ISP Enfield and Chesham centres share a joint fostering panel. Summary The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. The main finding is that the fostering service offers an outstanding quality service to looked after children in foster care placements. The outcomes for children and young people are excellent. Children and young people benefit from a very well-organised and well-monitored fostering service. Placements are expertly matched and consultation with children and young people is effective to ensure their needs are well met by foster care placements. The fostering service's referral and placement planning process is particularly effective in meeting identified needs. The recruitment and assessment of potential foster carers is robust. Support to foster carers is exceptional and is provided by a highly qualified, experienced and stable staff group. Training opportunities for staff and foster carers are excellent. The fostering service works effectively in partnership with other agencies and disciplines, and also with internal resources including the organization's therapeutic and educational services. This acts to enhance positive outcomes for children and young people in placement. The fostering service's fostering panel is highly effective and plays an important quality assurance role within the organisation as a whole. The fostering service pays keen attention to issues of equality and diversity and managers provide the service with sound leadership. An area identified for improvement is consistent recording of information on both manual and electronic files.

5 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Improvements since the last inspection The previous inspection resulted in one action. this related to the revision of the service's complaints procedure to include the contact details of Ofsted. This issue has been resolved satisfactorily. Helping children to be healthy The provision is outstanding. Children and young people in foster care placement with the fostering agency live extremely healthy lifestyles and their physical, emotional and social development is highly promoted. Foster carers demonstrate a great awareness of their role and responsibility in ensuring children and young people's medical and health care needs are well met. Foster carers' practice in promoting healthy lifestyles is supported by clear written guidance and policies and procedures and there are excellent training opportunities. These include first aid, medication training, healthy eating and addressing children and young people's emotional well-being. The promotion of healthy lifestyles is a consistent feature of supervisory visits, looked after children statutory reviews and foster carers' annual reviews. All children and young people are promptly registered with primary health care providers and any required specialist services soon after the placement starts. The fostering service has an effective working relationship with local authority looked after children (LAC) nurses to ensure all parties can readily access advice, support and health care services. The development and review of general and specific health issues is the lead responsibility of the organisation's health advisor. This is a senior management post and is responsible for the development and monitoring of health care promotion within the organisation. Recent developments include the implementation of the organisation's health information plan that systematically collates key health care information for each looked after child. These assist foster carers and staff to have accurate insight into known or suspected health care issues for children and young people. As a result, medical and health care needs are promptly identified and effectively addressed in placement. The organisation's health record booklet is another new effective health care development. The booklet is designed to record medical and health care issues and treatment. Foster carers and older young people are responsible for keeping health care information updated. The booklet is forwarded with children and young people to any subsequent placement. This ensures accurate and comprehensive health care and medical information follows children and young people, while they remain in care and beyond. Foster carers, children, young people and the staff of the fostering team benefit immensely from the input of the organisation's therapeutic services; this is a clear strength of the fostering service. Clinical psychologists offer support and advice, and where necessary, direct work with foster carers, children and young people to address their emotional well-being and related placement issues. This has a significant positive impact on placement progress and success. Another clinical psychologist provides a range of relevant training opportunities and support group

6 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 meetings to foster carers that similarly explores placement issues in a 'safe space'; foster carers appreciate and have high regard for this provision. ISP promotes well healthy eating. Children and young people enjoy nutritional, well balanced meals that meet their preferred tastes and any cultural or religious obligations. Staff explore these issues thoroughly during placement negotiations and key information features on individual health plans. Foster carers have access to the agency's medication policies and procedures. There are good recording mechanisms in place and the administration of medication is carefully scrutinised by staff and managers to ensure safe practice. This is also the case for the recording and monitoring of accidents. Children and young people participate in a range of innovative and stimulating activities that contribute to their physical and emotional health. Children and young people enjoy recreational and leisure opportunities that are wide ranging and foster carers are aware of their role in promoting physical exercise. The organisation regularly facilitates events that promote play and physical activity such as holiday and camping events, trips to theme parks and sporting activities. The fostering service ensures that their foster care placements provide a suitable physical environment for children and young people in their care. Young people say they are happy and comfortable in their surroundings. One child interviewed, commented, 'I love this house and my room!' All children and young people have their own bedrooms unless arrangements are otherwise negotiated with the placing authority. Foster carer households are comfortable, welcoming, well furnished and decorated. Foster carers encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms in line with their particular interests and tastes. The fostering service has efficient systems in place that ensure that each foster care household undergoes an annual health and safety check and an unannounced visit. Staff ensure, during preliminary assessments and through the post-approval processes, that foster carers' accommodation meets the needs of looked after children. Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe The provision is outstanding. Children and young people feel safe and are safe while in placement with the fostering service. Issues of child protection and safe caring are high on the agency's agenda. Good attention is paid to the safeguarding of looked after children. Staff and foster carers regularly receive advice, information and training that promote the protection of children and young people they care for. Looked after children indicate that they have positive relationships with their foster carers and feel that this contributes to their feelings of safety. Foster carers advise young people of the danger of risk taking and develop reasonable strategies to minimise risk. Children and young people's individual case files evidence comprehensive risk assessments to support foster carers' efforts to minimise risky behaviour. Staff ensure that supervisory visits routinely explore issues of safeguarding and ensure that fostering households pay good attention to promoting the welfare and safety of children and

7 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 young people. All fostering households have general household safe caring policies and also child specific safe caring guidelines. Staff and foster carers have access to clear policies and procedures when children and young people are absent without permission or are deemed missing. These protocols are clear and well understood by all parties. Staff and foster carers maintain good records when young people are absent or missing; the collation of this information is robustly monitored by the centre and senior managers. Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do The provision is outstanding. Children and young people share sound relationships with their foster families. Placements are positive, secure and well sustained. Placement disruption is rare and children and young people clearly benefit from this. Foster carers are keen to provide looked after children with rewarding experiences that enhance the potential for positive outcomes in the future. Children and young people are appreciative of their foster family's efforts to provide them with an environment that promotes and supports positive behaviour. Children and young people report that bullying is not an issue in placement; staff and foster carers benefit from clear written guidance in relation to anti-bullying strategies. Staff and foster carers receive excellent guidance and support in their management of challenging behaviour. There is comprehensive written guidance and valuable training available. Crucially, staff, foster carers and looked after children benefit immensely from the input of the organisation's therapeutic services. This is an integral feature of the overall fostering service. Referrals to the organisation's clinical psychologist typically request intervention to address the challenging behaviour of children and young people. Foster carers, children and young people have direct access to therapeutic services that explore placement issues and difficulties. As a result, behavioural issues are effectively explored and strategies to address these are sought. Children and young people participate in a wide range of hobbies and recreational activities of their choosing. ISP has a clear expectation that foster carers support and encourage this, which they do. Children and young people participate in numerous activities, some of which the service facilitates. Leisure pursuits include camping, air cadets, scouts, sporting activities, Greek dance, Greek school and attendance at youth clubs. The fostering service has excellent systems that monitor and promote children and young people's involvement in activities, both within and outside the school environment. Foster carers routinely take children in their care on family holidays and the fostering service has a sensible approach and new guidance in place to facilitate young people's safe overnight stays with friends. The promotion of educational attainment of children and young people in placement is a clear strength of the fostering service and again is very high on the service's agenda. This is of clear benefit to children and young people. Foster carers

8 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 proactively and consistently encourage children and young people to maximise their educational potential and success. Foster carers have access to written guidance and training that promotes educational attainment. Children and young people's educational development is consistently reviewed during supervisory visits, statutory reviews and foster carers' annual reviews. Children and young benefit significantly from the input of ISP's educational team, which acts to ensure the individual educational needs of children and young people in placement are keenly met. The organisation's educational team are qualified and experienced teaching staff and they are highly effective in liaising with schools and colleges to ensure children and young people's academic and vocational potential is maximised. Staff ensure that appropriate educational resources are in place and the service is able to offer tailored individual support to learners. These include 1:1 tuition, homework and exam revision support and access to relevant educational websites. The team are available to support foster carers participate and contribute to key educational forums such as parents evenings, personal education planning meetings and statutory LAC reviews. The fostering service has effective monitoring systems in place that offer insight into issues of attendance, bullying, special educational needs and exam results. The fostering service is also developing foster carers' participation in a paired reading scheme. A commissioning officer from a local authority commented about ISP's educational provision, 'One young person was supported in school by ISP. She had been struggling. ISP helped stabilise her and no big fuss was made. It a great weight off placements and commissioners' minds'. A foster carer said of the ISP educational co-ordinator, ' She's fantastic. She's my backbone, who comes with me to personal education planning meetings. She meets with (the child) and sends certificates to acknowledge his achievements. It means everything to him.' Foster carers' homes are learning environments. Children and young people have access to age and ability appropriate learning materials, safe internet access and a quiet space for the completion of homework. Children, young people, their foster carers and families enjoy the fostering service's celebratory events, that highlight achievement. Helping children make a positive contribution The provision is outstanding. The fostering service makes good efforts to consult with children and young people, who as a result, feel listened to. Their wishes and feelings with regards to care planning are fully explored and looked after children are part of the decision-making process. Young people indicate that their foster carers and staff of the fostering service routinely enquire about their satisfaction with placement progress and issues. The fostering service has creative systems in place to encourage effective consultation with looked after children. For example the organisation facilitates a young people's group. The group's function is to assist in shaping the service provision of the fostering service. In addition ISP offers children and young people new to the care system a matched buddy who is available for peer support. The

9 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 organisation periodically distributes surveys amongst children and young people an in attempt to gauge satisfaction with services provided. Currently the organisation is in the process of launching I-SPACE, a dedicated website for children and young people in placement with the organisation. This is yet another means to creatively consult with ISP looked after children. Child supervision records on file, confirm that staff regularly meet with children and young people for private interview. Children and young people participate in formal arenas, such as looked after children statutory reviews and foster carers' annual reviews, and make their views known. Children and young people have access to independent advocates who act on their behalf. Children and young people receive age appropriate information about making complaints. Looked after children have a positive self-view, emotional resilience and good knowledge and understanding of their background. The fostering service provides children and young people with personalised care that meets their needs and promotes individual identity. Staff and foster carers receive information and training that explores well issues of attachment. Staff are currently working on developing training with foster carers with regards to life story work and memorabilia collation to support children and young people's understanding of their background and care histories. ISP's matching process are robust and ensure that children and young people's identity needs are well met within identified placements. Where matching is not exact, but remains viable, the service highlights any shortfall and identifies the nature of support required to address placement gaps. Children and young people are supported and encouraged to develop and maintain constructive contact with family members and friends if their whereabouts are known and it is safe to do so. The fostering service understands its duty to promote contact, and staff and foster carers have access to clear written guidance and training. Foster carers indicate that staff prepare them well for some of the difficulties that may arise from working with birth parents. The service ensures that financial and practical support such as funding for taxis or in house transportation and escorts are made available to foster carers when necessary. Children and young people's case files are explicit in outlining contact arrangements especially where contact is supervised or prohibited. Supervisory visits regularly review contact arrangements and the impact these have on children and young people. Where there are negative reactions, this is immediately reported to the placing authority. The service ensures that children are cared for in line with their placement plan. The service has rigorous placement planning processes in place, which is supported by clear written guidance. The organisation's referral process is managed centrally and is efficiently run. Staff are diligent in ensuring full and comprehensive placement information is retrieved from the placing authority and there is effective follow up if information is not forthcoming. Foster carers are well supported during placement negotiation and participate in the decision-making process as to whether they will accept a proposed placement or not. It is the practice of ISP staff to refuse placements where it is felt children and young people's identified needs cannot be met by available fostering households.

10 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Where placements are planned, it is the fostering service's practice to facilitate the gradual introduction of children and young people with identified foster carers. Looked after children have access to profile information and photographs of families identified to care for them. Staff ensure the introductory process is conducted at the pace of the children involved. When placements are arranged on an emergency basis, placement planning is sensitive and geared towards the needs of children and young people. One local authority commissioning officer comments 'The service is very flexible. I had an emergency the day before Christmas Eve, a mother and baby at 6pm at night. Staff called me while they were shopping. At 9pm the placement was made. Overall ISP is a very strong, professional organisation.' ISP placements are expertly sustained. There are very few placements that end in disruption; placement endings are generally planned and sensitively handled. Many foster carers continue to offer emotional support to looked after children formerly in their care. This is good indication of the quality, success and sustainability of the vast majority of ISP placements. Achieving economic wellbeing The provision is outstanding. The fostering service excels in its preparation of young people for adulthood and leaving local authority care. There are good policies and procedures and training available to staff and foster carers to develop this area of the fostering task. ISP has a designated senior member of staff responsible for the development and review of the organisation's leaving care services. This is an area of the fostering task that has been creatively progressed by the post holder and has significant positive impact on care leavers. Staff, foster carers and young people themselves participate in the assessment of young people's daily living skills and ability to function independently of others. This assessment forms the basis of the ISP's semi-independent programme that offers practical support and continual assessment of young people's independent skills. Staff and foster carers encourage young people to complete a creative workbook that gauges practical ability and progress. Young people are able to monitor and selfassess their skills development. For example in money management, completion of household chores, study and employment and keeping themselves healthy and safe. ISP's semi-independent programme is comprehensive, creative and, most importantly, effective in preparing young people for adulthood. Young people are able to share their progress with respective placing authorities which helps inform the pathway planning process. The organisation has modified the semi-independent programme for use with young people who have learning difficulties. The process is a highly useful tool in determining appropriate resources for care leavers not yet prepared to live independently.

11 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Organisation The organisation is outstanding. Overall, the service has excellent arrangements in place for supporting staff, foster carers, children and young people. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The organisation operates within an anti-discriminatory framework and this is of benefit to children and young people. Foster carers and staff of the service are familiar with policy guidance relating to equality and diversity and they have access to relevant training opportunities. The service pays expert attention to the identity needs of looked after children and how best their needs can be met by the service. For example, the assessment process of potential foster carers includes careful scrutiny of issues such as religious practices, linguistic skills, experience of racism, disability, sexuality, family dynamics and regional and ethnic differentials. ISP's matching process is robust and ensures the identity needs of children and young people seeking placements are fully taken into account throughout placement negotiations and thereafter. The service's Statement of Purpose clearly defines the services provided to all children and young people and it details the support available for foster carers. The service provides looked after children with two children's guides; one is geared towards primary school aged children and another for older young people. Both guides contain informative and creative information about its services. Children and young people benefit from the age-appropriate language and creative graphics. The fostering service effectively recruits, assesses and supports foster carers to meet the needs of looked after children seeking foster care placements. ISP has efficient systems that facilitate a consistently prompt response to all foster care enquiries from the public. Designated staff of the team conduct effective yet sensitive screening interviews to ensure applicants are awar e of and meet agency expectations. The fostering service hosts a range of information sharing sessions that equally are geared towards making clear to potential foster carers the expectations of the fostering service. ISP has contractual agreements with independent social workers to complete the assessment of potential foster carers. The agency's use of independent social workers for assessments prevents organisational conflict of interests issues and promotes a healthy degree of independent autonomy in the assessment process. Staff are highly skilled in the completion of foster care assessments and are vigorous in their exploration. Foster care applicants are subject to all vetting checks as required by the regulations and these are clearly evident on files. The service's vigour in the assessment and vetting process of potential foster carers protects children and young people from those not suited to care for minors. Foster carers' annual reviews, also conducted by independent social workers, are often carried out by the same social worker who completed the foster care assessment. This is good practice as it provides an excellent opportunity for the assessor to accurately gauge the foster carer's progression and development from the point of approval.

12 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 The fostering service has a robust and effective matching process that enhances the potential for placement success and longevity. Staff have access to clear and comprehensive written guidance The fostering service operates a centralised referral service that efficiently collates information about children and young people and their placement needs. The service's referral process is very carefully monitored by senior managers. Decision making, with regard to matching, is the responsibility of qualified social workers who manage a daily duty system. A local authority commissioning officer commented, 'I feel confident when I make a referral to ISP; they work creatively to meet the needs of some very challenging young people.' A foster carer commented, 'ISP makes sure that the child they have placed with you is a good match for you and your family.' The agency's recording tools used for referral and matching are detailed and comprehensive and enquire explicitly about placement needs and objectives. Staff are skilled in identifying placement issues and seeking foster carers best equipped to meet identified needs. Local authority commissioners are positive about ISP's matching process. One commissioner comments 'ISP is a quality agency. The matching process is effective and you receive full paperwork promptly. They take their time and won't just offer any carer; if they are unable to place staff say so, upfront. Staff are very helpful in all areas, we have several long term placements and they are all very stable.' Foster carer annual reviews are consistently held a within a 12-month timeframe and more frequently if circumstances dictate. Social work staff provide comprehensive and relevant reports, importantly taking into account the views of children and young people, supervising social workers and other involved professionals. All foster carers' initial reviews are considered at the agency's fostering panel which offers a high level of scrutiny and monitoring. Enfield ISP and the Chesham branch of ISP share one fostering panel. This forum plays a key role in the service's quality assurance systems, providing feedback to staff on information presented to panel meetings and exploring the improvement of service provision and delivery. Members of the fostering panel's central list have access to training and comprehensive written policies and procedures with regard to the function and operation of the fostering panel. The organisation has clear written guidance with regard to the safe recruitment to and maintenance of the panel. The service continues to explore the expansion of panel membership on central list. ISP's fostering panel has expertise in key areas that ensure recommendations made are sound and based on panel members' professional and personal experience and expertise in their chosen field. The fostering panel has access to medical and legal advice. Fostering panel meetings are consistently quorate and the administration of panel meetings is efficient. Records of meetings are detailed and an accurate reflection of discussion. All attendees at the fostering panel are proactively invited to give feedback on their experience of the panel meeting, which is considered by panel members immediately. This acts to enhance panel members' awareness about the experience of participants and their opinion about panel performance. Improvements

13 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 to the process is regularly based on feedback. The agency decision maker is appropriately experienced and qualified in accordance with new legislation. The decision-making process, with regard to foster carer approval and re-approval, is sound and the service maintains clear documentation of this process. Foster carers and prospective foster carers are promptly informed of decisions. The service is well managed and there is an effective management structure. There are clear lines of accountability and all managers and social work staff are qualified social workers possessing extensive experience of child development, child protection, and the fostering task. Fostering staff are well supported through the provision of training, regular and meaningful supervision and annual appraisals. There is effective leadership of the staff group and its operation. This is of clear benefit to looked after children and their foster carers. The team is well established with many members having been in post for several years. The team's clear focus is on promoting positive outcomes for children and young people and this is well achieved. One member of staff commented 'We are an effective team, its our strength. We share good working relationships and work well with others within ISP, especially education. We communicate very well and have access to advice whenever we need it. Our differing roles complement each other.' Another member of staff commented 'We're like family and operate as such.' The fostering service is financially viable and there are effective business and development plans that show the intention of the service to expand. ISP has robust recruitment practices that are supported by clear policies and procedures. All necessary vetting checks, as outlined by the regulations, are in place and this is well evidenced. Foster carers overwhelming indicate that training and support are key strengths of the service and they are appreciative of the investment ISP shows in their ongoing development. A foster care commented, 'They (ISP) are constantly sending their carers on very useful courses.' Foster carers receive the training and development they need to provide quality care to children and young people in placement. The service has a foster care training strategy that ensures that all foster carers have access to training opportunities as outlined in new fostering legislation. This helps improve outcomes for children and young people. All approved foster carers have achieved the required Children's Workforce Development Council standards. Training opportunities include key training around child protection and safeguarding, in addition to an extensive range of other relevant subject matters. Staff of the service maintain keen records of training attended by foster carers and of individual development plans. This helps to enhance the caring practices of foster carers and improve the quality of care provided to children and young people. Staff have access to training opportunities. The service has a good quality staff training and development strategy which addresses the specific development needs of individual staff members. Newly employed staff participate in an effective induction programme and the service encourages staff to pursue training events that are of interest to them. Staff have good access to both internal and external training

14 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 opportunities. Staff supervision and support are readily available and highly valued. Induction training is available for all those on the service's central list. Social work staff are appropriately qualified and experienced in childcare, child protection and fostering. Unqualified social work staff are appropriately supervised by experienced social workers. Staff appraisals are conducted on an annual basis. Foster carers and children and young people benefit from the excellent support to foster carers to ensure they meet the needs of looked after children effectively. Foster carers speak openly of the superb level of support available to them from supervising social workers in particular, but also via the ISP organisation as a whole. A foster care commented, 'I could not have coped without the support of ISP.' The fostering agency has a highly responsive out-of-hours system which foster carers appreciate. A foster carer said 'No matter what time you call, and I've called in the middle of the night, they are welcoming and happy to help.' Foster carers have free access to independent information, advice and support via a national foster care advocacy service and additional external professional expertise, such as legal advice, is also available. Each foster care household is allocated a qualified staff member to work with them, and the centre manager conducts annual unannounced home visits. Foster carers have access to the service's foster care handbook, which contains key policies and procedures. This is regularly updated. Current and prospective foster carers receive clear information about the agency's complaints procedure; there are robust mechanisms in place to monitor these. ISP has clear and effective policies that address the management of allegations. Staff and foster carers receive comprehensive training in the management of allegations and child protection issues in general. The service has sound monitoring systems in place to review all known allegations. Staff manage allegations against foster carers appropriately and sensitively, ensuring the safety of children and young people is at the forefront of decision-making. Foster carers receive clear written guidance about support available in the event of an allegation being made. Excellent information and advice are made available during any investigation. Overall, the fostering service has effective and extensive monitoring systems in place. For example the agency's progress indicators system provides senior and centre managers with regional feedback of a range of outcomes for children and young people in placement. Line managers have access to substantial data relating to placement issues of any given looked after child. The agency's monthly Multidisciplinary Admissions Panel (MAP) meetings review referrals, placement decisionmaking and progress. As a result line managers are kept appraised with clear and relevant details of individual placements and regional trend; this allows the organisation to take effective action as required. Additionally, the agency's operational manager is responsible for reporting regularly to the board issues relating to the operation of the service. All matters, as outlined in Schedule 6 of the regulations, are comprehensively reviewed and reported upon. This ensures that service provision and delivery is maintained a high standard.

15 Inspection Report: ISP Enfield, 21/11/ of 15 Case files for children, young people and foster carers are well well-maintained by staff. Case files are orderly, well-managed and comprehensive. However, in some instances information held on manual files did not accurately reflect information available electronically. This is noted particularly in the case of unannounced visits to foster carers. The fostering service ensures all files are kept secure and confidential and are subject to periodical auditing. There are effective and robust administrative systems and electronically held information is appropriately secure. Staff share pertinent information with involved professionals consistently. The office premises are fit for purpose with sufficient space for staff, meeting and training rooms. Additionally there is designated space to facilitate contact between children, young people and their families. Foster carers receive appropriate payments promptly and at the expected rate. There are clear financial policies in place and foster carers have access to key financial information in the service's foster carers' handbook. With regards to placement planning and review, the fostering service has clear and comprehensive written guidance in place that is in accordance with new fostering legislation. The placement planning process is sound and practice is consistent in ensuring children and young people's needs remain paramount to the process. Staff actively pursue placement planning information from the placing authority, where this is in not readily supplied. ISP's placement planning process and review is robustly effective and results in highly sustainable placements. This is to the benefit of children and young people. What must be done to secure future improvement? Recommendations To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): ensure that records, especially those documented on manual case file records, are kept up to date. (NMS 26)