Inspectors praise Herefordshire’s fostering service
http://www.dailyfix.co.uk/articles/39309/1/Inspectors-praise-Herefordshireas-fostering-service/Page1.html
By Chief Editor
Published on 15 May 2008
Herefordshire Council’s fostering team provide a good service with some outstanding features according to an inspection report published by Ofsted this month.
The council operates both adoption and fostering services which are inspected separately by the regulatory body Ofsted. The fostering service recruits, assesses, supports and trains carers so that they can look after children in a number of different ways. A variety of placement types are required for children in care depending on the child’s needs including emergency, short-term, long-term, kinship, respite care and teenage placement schemes.
Herefordshire Council’s Fostering team was inspected on the 8th January by Ofsted inspector, Suzanne Young. In her report, she commented on the excellent consultative practices being developed by young people and the team’s work to encourage children and young people to share their views n the services they receive and need.
Last year’s inspection (2007) judged the service to be good and Ms Young praised the improvements that had been made in 2008, particularly in relation to the revision of a smoking policy and compliance to make sure children and young people are looked after in a safe environment.
In consultation with the young people, the fostering service has created a comprehensive health passport for each looked after child and young person to keep and share with future carers. The inspector reported this initiative was excellent practice ensuring all children’s health needs are accurately identified and understood by everybody involved.
The report says that children and young people’s welfare is promoted within the fostering service by actively encouraging positive contact with birth families and through excellent consultative practices. The Voices project was singled out for praise as a service dedicated to ensuring young people’s views are heard. Helping children make a positive contribution was judged to be outstanding.
The report concluded that children in Herefordshire are protected from harm or neglect, are helped to stay safe, receive well organised services, achieve well and enjoy what they do. Children and young people also receive excellent support to meet their educational needs and to maximise their potential in education which is promoted through links between the school and foster placements.
Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are proud of the service we provide for our young people and are delighted to have received so many positive comments in the inspection report.
“We will continue working with our children and young people to improve the quality and standards of care even further and to make sure the services they receive give them the best possible start in life.
“Well done to the fostering team and the young people themselves who have played such an instrumental role in shaping the services they enjoy.”
The council operates both adoption and fostering services which are inspected separately by the regulatory body Ofsted. The fostering service recruits, assesses, supports and trains carers so that they can look after children in a number of different ways. A variety of placement types are required for children in care depending on the child’s needs including emergency, short-term, long-term, kinship, respite care and teenage placement schemes.
Herefordshire Council’s Fostering team was inspected on the 8th January by Ofsted inspector, Suzanne Young. In her report, she commented on the excellent consultative practices being developed by young people and the team’s work to encourage children and young people to share their views n the services they receive and need.
Last year’s inspection (2007) judged the service to be good and Ms Young praised the improvements that had been made in 2008, particularly in relation to the revision of a smoking policy and compliance to make sure children and young people are looked after in a safe environment.
In consultation with the young people, the fostering service has created a comprehensive health passport for each looked after child and young person to keep and share with future carers. The inspector reported this initiative was excellent practice ensuring all children’s health needs are accurately identified and understood by everybody involved.
The report says that children and young people’s welfare is promoted within the fostering service by actively encouraging positive contact with birth families and through excellent consultative practices. The Voices project was singled out for praise as a service dedicated to ensuring young people’s views are heard. Helping children make a positive contribution was judged to be outstanding.
The report concluded that children in Herefordshire are protected from harm or neglect, are helped to stay safe, receive well organised services, achieve well and enjoy what they do. Children and young people also receive excellent support to meet their educational needs and to maximise their potential in education which is promoted through links between the school and foster placements.
Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are proud of the service we provide for our young people and are delighted to have received so many positive comments in the inspection report.
“We will continue working with our children and young people to improve the quality and standards of care even further and to make sure the services they receive give them the best possible start in life.
“Well done to the fostering team and the young people themselves who have played such an instrumental role in shaping the services they enjoy.”