Wandsworth Council

Wandsworth Council

Private Fostering Work Plan: 2014-2015

2

1. C

ontext

2. Objectives

and Goals

3. Work plan summary

4. Detailed work plan

Contents

1. Context

Private Fostering Requirements: Wandsworth Children’s Services are required to identify safeguarding issues for children and young people who are privately fostered and to monitor the number of notifications and actual private fostering arrangements in the borough (WSCB)There is increasing focus on private fostering: The measures in Section 44 of the Children Act ,2004 and the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations, 2005 are intended to strengthen and enhance the Children Act 1989 - Private Fostering Notification Scheme. Along with the National Minimum Standards, they are intended to focus local authorities’ attention on private fostering by requiring them to take a more proactive approach to identifying arrangements in their area (Replacement Children Act 1989 - Guidance on Private Fostering – Every Child Matters)There is a disconnect between children living in private fostering arrangements and notifications: There are an estimated 10,000 children living in private fostering arrangements in England and Wales, but last year only just over 1,500 notifications were made to local authorities. While most of these children will be safe, others may be at risk of abuse and neglect at the hands of their private foster carers. Without children’s services intervention, this could go on for years (www.privatefostering.org.uk)It is believed that awareness of private fostering in Wandsworth is low: Wandsworth Council currently has low case numbers for private fostering despite a multi-cultural demographic , where the likelihood of private fostering arrangements is expected to be higherRequirement to improve visibility of private fostering arrangements: Unless private fostering arrangements are known, there is the implication that families are not receiving support from the local authority nor are adequate monitoring measures in place to ensure safeguarding of children

3

2. Objectives

and goals

4

Within Wandsworth there are some key objectives for the role of private fostering

Objectives

GoalsRaise awareness of private fostering with the general public Increase in notifications of private fostering arrangementsIncrease in enquiries for private fosteringRaise awareness of private fostering with local and statutory agenciesSupport and monitor all private fostering arrangements in WandsworthEnsure visits are conducted within timescalePositive feedback from service usersIncrease in transition from private fostering placements to permanent placements (permanency)Improve the private fostering experience for service users Positive feedback from service usersIncrease in transition from private fostering placements to permanent placements (permanency)

1

2

3

4

5

3. Work plansummary

A detailed workplan has been developed under the headings below which align to the main objectives

1

3

4

2

ObjectivesDetailed work plan categoriesRaise awareness of private fostering with the general public Publicity campaign – raising awarenessRaise awareness of private fostering with local and statutory agenciesSupport and monitor all private fostering arrangements in WandsworthMonitoring and supporting – childrenMonitoring and supporting – private foster carersImprove the private fostering experience for service users Service feedbackProceduresInspection and reporting

6

4. Detailed planPublicity campaign – raising awareness

RefActionProgress to date1This remains a priority for 2014/15 given the current low referral rates and notifications. Group to consider the current trends within Wandsworth, London and the UKFigures are currently being collated. Contact has been established with a number of neighbouring boroughs and these links will be utilised for data collation and information sharing2Private fostering consultant Social Worker to establish links and visit the below agencies. The records of all visits and documentation on progress will be maintained in a dedicated fileAdult ServicesAll Children centresCouncil servicesEducation / schoolsEducation welfareFamily support providers (Welcare, Spurgeons, 4 Children, Young carers etc)Faith / Religious organisationsAll GP surgeriesHealth visiting (all surgeries)Home OfficeHousing (admissions, estates and area teams)All librariesMental health (CMHT)Neighbourhood PolicePlay services / nurseriesPoliceProbationY.S.TLinks established with identified agencies (see list to the left). Most identified agencies have agreed membership of the multi-agency private fostering work group1:1 meetings held with 8 of the 18 agencies listed (see those in bold), note in some cases multiple meetings have been held with the same agency (i.e. housing and council services)Leaflets and posters distributed during 1:1 meetings

Objective:The multi-agency private fostering group to oversee the raising of awareness across the Borough to ensure the number of notifications and referrals are in line with expected numbers / statistics

7

4. Detailed planPublicity campaign – raising awareness

RefActionProgress to date3To monitor notifications and referrals from key agencies and the general publicCollection of data ongoing.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities and agencies.4To organise a publicity campaign using media outletsMeeting held with Wandsworth Council media officer -identified potential publicity in Brightside, Brightside families and Wandsworth GuardianTo identify family to use as case study (closed case)Further publicity options to be explored at next PF group meeting.5To consider opportunities for presentations to identified agencies (i.e. training days, team meetings)Housing team meeting arrangedDeputy Head Teacher trainingFurther opportunities to be considered at the next meeting. All agencies to consider training options that could be utilised for PF promotion and advice.6To distribute leaflets and posters across the BoroughDistribution at all 1:1 meetings with agencies and public counters across the BoroughFurther printing of media items to be orderedPosters to be displayed at religious establishments / places of worship

8

4. Detailed planPublicity campaign – raising awareness

RefActionProgress to date7Private Fostering Consultant Social Worker to establish comparative data with regards to private fostering figures across London and the UK, in particular identify comparable statistical neighboursCollection of data ongoing.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities.

9

4. Detailed planMonitoring and supporting - Children

RefActionProgress to date1Regularly update the list of privately fostered children and present to multi-agency private fostering groupList has been updated and data collated. This will be discussed at next meeting -multi-agency elements to be considered (any specific information held to be shared).2All visit time scales to be met by private fostering Social WorkerAll completed visits documented, monitored and overseen by Team Manager3Full consideration of the issues surrounding children whose parents are not resident in the UK, including issues of PR, ensuring contact with birth parents, promoting contact with birth parents (if applicable) and consideration of complicating factors such as immigration issuesLegal planning meetings on children under 10 years of age completed Further issues to be considered at the next meeting 4Multi-agency group to consider TAC plans, consider appropriateness of TAC or to consider any restrictions placed on the private fostering arrangements due to child protection issuesTo be identified as appropriate.Regular TAC meetings have been held on at least 2 children in PF arrangements5For arrangements where the child is approaching their 16th birthday (or 18th birthday if they have a disability), consider ongoing appropriate supportRelevant children to be identified and discussed within the multi-agency meeting forum.6Ensure that all cases of children privately fostered are audited as per Wandsworth procedures throughout 2014/15Audits are on-going and in line with Wandsworth procedures and guidance.

Objective:To ensure there is a comprehensive list of privately fostered children living in the Borough and that the best interests of these children are being fully considered, including legal options for permanence

10

4. Detailed planMonitoring and supporting - Children

RefActionProgress to date7Consideration of compiling an age appropriate information pack or leaflet for children in private fostering arrangements (to include relevant information and support)Discussed during meeting with representative from Health Services To be considered and fully explored at the next meeting (Sept 2014).

11

4. Detailed planMonitoring and supporting – Private foster carers

RefActionProgress to date1Private Fostering Social Worker and multi-agency group to consider unique and creative approaches in capturing feedback from private foster carersPF social worker has requested feedback from 3 families and this will continue throughout period.Further approaches to be considered at the next meeting (Sept 2014)2Consideration of a support group for privately foster carers. Explore possibility of working with other Boroughs across London to achieve thisHas been discussed with a number of agencies at 1:1 meetings (with favourable responses).Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities and agencies.3Consideration of setting up training sessions for private foster carers. Identified issues already raised by private foster carers include behaviour support, first aid and legal and immigration issues. Explore possibility of working with other Boroughs across London to deliver training (consider use of in-house professionals to manage costs)Has been discussed with a number of agencies (with favourable responses).Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities and agencies.4Consideration of compiling an information pack for private foster carers for the start of statutory involvement (to include details of services available, claiming benefits and advice in relation to health, development and behaviour)Discussed during meeting with representative from Health Services Has been discussed with a number of agencies at 1:1 meetings (with favourable responses).

Objective:To ensure appropriate feedback from private foster carers is received to improve service provision

12

4. Detailed planService user feedback

RefActionProgress to date1Private Fostering Social Worker and multi-agency group to consider unique and creative approaches in capturing feedbackPF social worker has requested feedback from 3 families and this will continue with other families throughout period.Further approaches to be considered at the next meeting (Sept 2014)2Consideration of a support group for privately fostered children. Explore possibility of working with other Boroughs across London to achieve thisHas been discussed with a number of agencies during 1:1 meetings, with favourable responses.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities and agencies.3Consideration of a one-off “fun day” for privately fostered children. Explore possibility of working with other Boroughs across London to achieve thisHas been discussed with a number of agencies during 1:1 meetings, with favourable responses.Discussed with some service users in relation to potential improvements to the PF service.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities and agencies.

Objective:To ensure appropriate feedback from children in private fostering arrangements is received to improve service provision

13

4. Detailed planProcedures

RefActionProgress to date1Check the current Wandsworth procedures and update as necessary, taking advice from the BAAF and legal services (as appropriate)Ongoing and to be considered by the multi-agency private fostering work group.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities , BAAF and other agencies. These links can be utilised in relation to legislative and procedural updates and alternative thinking across other local authorities.

Objective:To ensure that the current Wandsworth procedures are updated regularly to reflect changes in legislation

14

4. Detailed planInspection and reporting

RefActionProgress to date1Multi-agency group to monitor issues for inspection and developments since last inspectionTo be considered at the next meeting (Sept 2014)2To consider inspection feedback in relation to private fostering from other local authorities and whether any recommendations are relevant to improving Wandsworth servicesOn-going and to be considered by the multi-agency private fostering work group.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities, BAAF and other agencies. 3To comply an annual report in relation to private fostering activity for the Wandsworth Borough for the Safeguarding BoardDate of submission to be confirmedCollation of information on-going.Links established with a number of neighbouring local authorities , BAAF and other agencies. These links can be utilised in relation to legislative and procedural updates and alternative thinking across other local authorities.

Objective:To ensure that Wandsworth have fully considered all issues relating to inspection, self evaluation and developments since last inspection