DONCASTER CHILDREN’S SERVICES TRUSTPRIVATE FOSTERING SERVICE

ANNUAL REPORT

2014 - 2015

Florence Jurua JosephPrivate Fostering Co-ordinator

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1 Introduction:

1.1 A private fostering (PF) arrangement is essentially one that is made privately (i.e. without the involvement of a local authority) for the care of a child under the age of 16 (under 18, if disabled) by someone other than a parent or close relative with the intention that it should last for 28 days or more. A person who is a close relative under the Children Act 1989 i.e. a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of full blood or half blood or by marriage) or step-parent will not be a Private Foster Carer. However, a Private Foster Carer may be a cousin, great aunt, friend of the family or parent of a friend of the child. The period for which the child is cared for and accommodated by the Private Foster Carer should be continuous, but that continuity is not broken by the occasional short break.

1.2 This annual report gives an overview of activities in relation to privately fostered children in Doncaster from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. The report details how Doncaster Children’s Services Trust has discharged its duties and functions in relation to Private Fostering and how the welfare of privately fostered children is satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted in the 12 months period. The report outlines the activities which have been undertaken to promote awareness of the notification requirements regarding children who are privately fostered.

1.3 The report outlines the national context and comparison with regards to private fostering. It provides a summary of the private fostering returns (PF1 Return) for Doncaster covering the last two years for comparison purposes. The PF1 Return highlights the numbers of new notifications, arrangements and visiting patterns.

1.4 The report compares the number of private fostering arrangements in Doncaster with those of the neighbouring authorities in South Yorkshire.

2 Legislation

2.1 Current arrangements for the regulation of private fostering are influenced by the tragic death of Victoria Climbie’ in 2000 and subsequent government enquiry by Lord Laming in 2003, which brought new attention to the practice. Victoria was privately fostered by her great aunt Marie-Therese Kouao who was not classed as her close relative, and her aunt’s partner Carl John Manning who was a stranger to her. Victoria died following months of abuse and neglect from her great aunt and the partner.

2.2 The principal legislation relating to private fostering arrangements is set out in the Children Act 1989, as amended by section 44-47 of the Children Act 2004, which came into effect in 2005. This then follows the Children (Private Arrangement for Fostering) Regulations 2005, which sets out the duties of local authorities in their arrangements for private fostering and the NMS for local authorities were published in 2005.

3 The Local Authority’s Arrangement for Carrying Out its Duties and Functions:

3.1 In accordance with the Private Fostering Regulations 2005 and the NMS 2005, a Private Fostering Co-ordinator is in post to undertake the private fostering activities. The PF Co- ordinator is currently based within the Fostering Team.

The role of the PF Co-ordinator includes:

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To undertake assessments of private fostering arrangements in accordance with the Private Fostering Regulations 2005 and the Private Fostering National Minimum Standards 2005.

To undertake awareness raising activities in accordance with the Private Fostering Regulations 2005, on the legal requirements to notify private fostering arrangements to Doncaster Children’s Services Trust with: internal Social care staff, all partner agencies, voluntary and non-voluntary organisations, faith and community groups.

To work with the Policy and Performance Team to ensure accurate data reporting for the monthly performance booklet, and the end of year PF1 Statistical Returns as required by the Department for Education.

To be the named person within the Doncaster Children’s Services Trust (DCST), whom social workers and other professionals can contact for advice regarding private fostering.

To work with the line manager to ensure that DCST discharges all its duties and functions in relation to the private fostering service.

3.2 The Fostering Service Manager who is also the Lead Officer in the DCST has line management responsibility for the private fostering service and oversees overall activity, including authorising private fostering assessments within the required time. A key responsibility of this role is to ensure that the DCST discharges its duties and functions in relation to private fostering.

3.3 The Assessment and Child Protection Service has case-holding responsibility for all children and young people who are privately fostered, some of whom are also considered Children in Need. The allocated workers have a duty to continuously monitor the suitability of the private fostering arrangements through Statutory Regulation 8 visits and/or Child in Need plans. Regulation 8 visits are completed at least six weekly in the first year and twelve weekly in the second and subsequent years as per the Children (Private Arrangement for Fostering) Regulations 2005.

4. Procedure:

4.1 A review of the Private Fostering Policy Procedure document was undertaken in November 2012 and also March 2014 by the PF Co-ordinator and Tim Clayton (Fostering Service Manager). A further review of the document has been undertaken in December 2014 by the PF Co-ordinator and Sue May (Fostering Service Manager). This is currently being further reviewed by Richard Fawcett (Head of Service – Safeguarding and Standards) for updating onto the Procedures Manual on Tri-X. This document should be read in conjunction with the Private Fostering Statement of Purpose, which was last reviewed in February 2014 by the PF Co-ordinator and can be found on the Manual. This reviewed document will also be made available on the internet.

4.2 A review of the private fostering flow chart process has been undertaken in December 2014 by the Pf Co-ordinator and Sue May (Fostering Service Manager). The PF Co-ordinator provides this document to the area team social workers to assist them in ensuring that they are clear about their monitoring role and the timescales required for the monitoring visits.

4.3 The PF Co-ordinator undertakes annual reviews of the private fostering arrangements. This is attended by the child, carer, child’s SW and parent (when possible). There are no minimum standard requirements for formal reviews, but the Service’s good practice standard is that private fostering arrangements are reviewed once a year.

5. Private Fostering Staff Development:

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5.1 Nationally:

5.1.1 The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) has a special interest in Private Fostering. There are five groups in England, and Doncaster is linked to the North Regional group. Members of the group include BAAF staff, representatives from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Ofsted, member agencies and stakeholder groups with personal experience of private fostering. In the past, the group had supported members by providing materials such as Private Fostering DVDs as information guides to professionals, young people and their carers.

5.1.2 BAAF co-ordinates an annual national publicity campaign for Private Fostering. This gives

opportunity for co-ordinated awareness raising within local authorities in England. Doncaster Children’s Services Trust participates in this campaign. Last year’s campaign commenced on 13th to 17th July 2014 (see appendix 1 – completed communications plan). The next national private fostering awareness week is scheduled to take during the week beginning 6-10 July 2015.

5.2 Regionally:

The PF Co-ordinator is a member of the North Region Private Fostering Special Interest Group (PFSIG) which meets four times a year, in Leeds. The members consist of Social Workers and Service Managers responsible for private fostering services within their local authorities. The meeting is chaired by a BAAF Consultant and it is where up to date private fostering information based on research, law and practice is disseminated and shared. The group members use the forum for information exchange, seeking advice and sharing good practice with regards to dealing with cases, awareness raising, policies and procedures, and Ofsted inspection. The group also provides a forum to put forward queries electronically via email and invites members to respond and advise. This is a key development and support area for all Private Fostering Practitioners regionally.

5.3 Locally:

The PF Co-ordinator is a member of the South Yorkshire Private Fostering Network Group, which has been in existence since 2011. The group members include Private Fostering Practitioners from: Barnsley, Sheffield and Rotherham Local Authorities, and Doncaster Children’s Services Trust. The members meet quarterly to share good practice and experiences, and provide support for each other.

6. Practice Development:

6.1 A PF Flow Chart has been reviewed in December 2014 (see appendix 2)

6.2 Private Fostering information has been included in the DCST website.

6.3 Following a private fostering Survey Monkey conducted in the last reporting period, the PF Co-ordinator has reviewed the awareness raising strategy and re-focused on visiting internal teams and partner agencies to raise awareness on on-going bases. Some of the targeted areas include schools and health.

6.4 Privately fostered young people viewpoint survey was undertaken at the beginning of March 2015. This was an opportunity for the young people to express their views about their care

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and contribute to the ways in which the service might improve. However, the number of responses received from the young people was very low and not considered representative of the overall views of young people in the private fostering arrangements. Only two responses were received from the eight young people who were sent the survey. Both young people who responded said everything was going well where they lived. One of the young people would like her allocated worker to keep in touch with her by phoning, and the other would not like to have a social worker involved in the future.

6.5 The PF Co-ordinator has met with the Family Group Conferencing Co-ordinator and discussed working in partnership. Families considering family group conferencing will also be made aware of private fostering service if this will provide an area of resolution to any family issues involving the care and welfare of children and young people.

6.6 The training courses designed for mainstream foster carers are also made available for private foster carers. In this reporting period one carer attended five training courses and another attended just one.

6.7 The PF Co-ordinator has continued to work in partnership with:

Referral and Response Team (R&R Team): The PF Co-ordinator routinely gives advice regarding private fostering criteria and guidance. PF Co-ordinator attended a team meeting in March 2015 and gave private fostering briefing to the staff members.

Assessment and Child Protection Service (ACPS): The PF Co-ordinator liaises routinely with the allocated workers in the area teams to ensure statutory regulation 8 visits are undertaken within time scale. The PF Co-ordinator sends private fostering information to team managers from time to time to cascade to members of staff.

Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Board (DSCB): Private fostering has been embedded in the DSCB safeguarding training programme. Awareness raising information is included as part of Level 3 training. A DSCB Lunch Time Seminar on private fostering has been scheduled on 1 June 2015 for professionals. This will be facilitated by the PF Co-ordinator. The DSCB website hosts information about private fostering and all board members are requested to promote the understanding and reporting of Private Fostering within their own agencies.

Doncaster Admissions and Pupils Services: Information about private fostering ‘'Looking after Someone Else's child' and a question about the carer’s relationship to the child are included in the Doncaster Council Transfer Request Form and also the School Nursery Application forms. The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Principal Admissions Officer and advises the officer to ensure that completed application forms received are checked for potential private fostering arrangements. Advice has been given that where the carer’s relationship with the child is described as an ‘Aunt or Uncle’, this relationship would require to be further explored to ensure that the aunt or uncle is indeed closely related to the child.

Education standards and Effectiveness Service: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Lead Advisory Officer Safeguarding and Education who helps to raise private fostering awareness within the Education settings through Whole School Safeguarding training delivered to all Designated Safeguarding Teachers/Officers in Doncaster. Private Fostering is on the agenda for the Designated Persons Network meetings. In addition, PF Co-ordinator sent requests to 18 secondary schools in Doncaster to raise awareness

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of private fostering. 12 out of 18 Schools responded and the PF Co-ordinator undertook private fostering briefings with the Designated Safeguarding Officers in the 12 schools.

Early Years and Child Care Service: Private Fostering is included in the ‘Refresher in Safeguarding Children Training’ pack delivered annually to all Private Nursery Managers in Doncaster.

The Family Information Service (FIS): Private fostering information is included on the FIS Website and Facebook. The contact details have been updated with the new DCST links and contact details. The service also supports the private fostering service by raising awareness of through their social media during Annual National Private Fostering Week. PF information has been cascaded to staff members in March 2015 as part of on-going awareness raising.

Children’s Quality - Doncaster CCG: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with Head of Children’s Quality - Designated Nurse for Safeguarding and Looked After Children (LAC) through which PF information is forwarded and disseminated to representative members of the Local Medical Council e.g GPs and other health professionals. Private Fostering was discussed at the Safeguarding Network Group in March 2015. In addition, PF Co-ordinator has undertaken private fostering briefing with the health visitors and school nurses area teams.

The Cusworth Gateway: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Cusworth Gateway Head teacher re private fostering awareness raising. Recent briefing was undertaken in March 2015 and information was shared at the staff team meeting.

The Interfaith Group: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Chair of Unitarian and Free Christian Church to raise awareness of private fostering with the faith groups.

Doncaster Women Centre: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Women Centre Manager and the Lead person for the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) with regards to promoting awareness of private fostering. Private fostering information leaflets in English and five other languages (i.e Polish, Czech, Slovak, Nepalese and Farsi) have been displayed at the Centre. Awareness raising has been undertaken in March 2015 at the Doncaster Women Centre and the Quaker Meeting House on the 5th and 6th of March 2015 respectively during the International Women’s Day events.

Ethnic Minority, Travellers and Achievement Service (EMTAS): The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Lead Practitioner and the Bilingual Support Assistants Co-ordinator to raise private fostering awareness with the staff.

Doncaster Ethnic Minority Regeneration Partnerships: This is a charitable company which helps all BME groups with advice, support, training, IT skills and guidance. The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Centre Manager regarding private fostering awareness raising within this group. Private fostering information is displayed at the Centre.

South Yorkshire UK Border Agency: The PF Co-ordinator liaises with the Chief Immigration Officer to promote partnership working focusing on risks to young people from potential trafficking being identified and responded to appropriately and timely.

Doncaster Council for Voluntary Service (CVS): Private Fostering information circulated through the service’s newsletter, which is accessed by the local communities

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and all voluntary services in Doncaster. Private fostering information has been included in the March 2015 newsletter.

Doncaster Keepmoat: Private fostering information cascaded through the club’s welfare officer.

Fostering Team: The PF Co-ordinator gave private fostering presentation at the team’s Development Day in March 2015.

7. Number of Children in Private Fostering arrangements and visiting figures submitted for the PF1 Return:

The Private Fostering Return (PF1 Return) is required to be submitted by all local authorities by the 31st May each year. The national figures gathered through the Private Fostering Return are collated and published in the Department of Education (DfE) Statistical First Release (SFR) for the year ending 31 March in each year. The SFR also includes information on the percentage of arrangements where visits were made within timescales.

7.1 National context 2014:

7.1.1 The number of new notifications has increased nationally but not consistently in all areas – 3,300 notifications were received by local authorities in the year ending 31 March 2014, the highest over the past 8 years and an increase of 9.3% from the previous year. Figures regionally varied however with 5 of the 9 regions recording a reduction in new notifications, in the North East the number reduced by 25% from 80 in 2012/13 to 60 in 2013/14.

7.1.2 An increase has also been noted nationally with the number of new arrangements starting in the year; overall the number of new arrangements has been steadily increasing over the past 8 years from 1,420 in 2007 to 2,880 in 2014. In 2013/14 nationally the number of new arrangements starting increased by 15.2%, however again regionally figures varied, with 4 out of 5 regions noting a decrease. In the North East the number of new arrangements reduced by 14.3%.

7.1.3 The number of children in PF arrangements nationally at 31 March each year have fluctuated in the past 5 years, however the number of arrangements at 31 March 2014 increased 7% from 1,500 in the previous year to 1,610. The numbers have fluctuated over the past 8 years but are generally quite stable. However again figures varied at regional level. Compared with the previous year, 3 regions saw a fall in the number of reported arrangements and 6 regions saw an increase. West Midlands had the greatest increase of 40% and the North East for the second year in a row had the greatest decrease at 16%. Please note that numbers are small so percentages are volatile.

7.1.4 Nationally action was taken in accordance with requirements for carrying out visits for new notifications in 7 working days in 80% of cases, compared with 72% the previous year. This is the highest proportion in the last 8 years. In the North East the figure was slightly higher at 85%.

7.1.5 Nationally 2,880 arrangements were reported to have begun on or after 1 April 2013 and, of these, 67% were visited within the required time scale of 6 weeks in the first year of their

arrangement. This has decreased from 69% in the previous year but is fairly stable over the past 5 years ranging between 64% and 69% since 2010. Performance varies across the regions – where East of England achieved the highest percentage of visits within 6

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weeks, at 91%, and the South West achieved the lowest, at 55%. In the North East the figure was 62%, a reduction from 68% from the previous year.

7.1.6 Nationally 1,400 arrangements were reported to be on-going at 1 April 2013 and, of these, 68% were visited within 12 weeks in the second and subsequent year of their arrangement. In the previous year it was 67%. This has been fairly stable over the past 5 years, ranging between 62% and 68%. Performance varies across the regions – East of England achieved the highest percentage of visits within 12 weeks, at 79% and the North West achieved the lowest, at 52%. Please note that numbers are small so percentages are volatile.

(Source: Department for Education, 2014)

7.2 Summary Report for Doncaster Private Fostering Return 2014/2015

Table 1:The table below shows the figures for this year’s return compared to previous years.

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15Number of notifications of new private fostering arrangements received during the year 14 15 21 16

Number of cases where action was taken in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 4 for carrying out visits (Initial Visits)

12(86%)

15(100%)

21(100%)

15(94%)

Of these, the number of cases where this action was taken within 7 working days of receipt of notification of the private fostering arrangement

8(67%)

15(100%)

21(100%)

15(94%)

Number of new arrangements that began during the year 14 15 11 12

The number of private fostering arrangements that began on or after 01/04 where visits were made at intervals of not more than 6 weeks

3(21%)

9(60%)

11(100%)

7(58%)

The number of private fostering arrangements that began before 01/04 that were continuing on 01/04

16 12 20 12

The number of private fostering arrangements that began before 01/04 that were continuing on 01/04 where scheduled visits in the survey year were completed in the required timescales at 12 weekly visits.

10(63%)

6(60%)

19(95%)

12(100%)

The number of private fostering arrangements that ended during the year 20 11 21 13

Number of children under private fostering arrangements 10 14 10 11

The difference of 1 between the Number of notifications of new private fostering arrangements received during the year and the Number of cases where action was taken in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 4 for carrying out visits (Initial Visits) is because 1 child was subsequently deemed as not in Private Fostering Arrangements as became a LAC.

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The Percentages that are shown above are the percentages we expect DfE to publish due to the number of queries identified within Collect. This however doesn’t truly reflect on our progress as our Regulations 4 and 7 were all completed within timescale so should be 100%

The Reg 8 Visits (7 Children) have also been completed within timescales so should be 100%, although currently shows 58%.

7.2.1 Number of notifications of new private fostering arrangement received during the year: 16 new notifications were received in the year. As per Table1, figures have varied over the past 3 years with an increase noted in the year 2013/14.

7.2.2 Number of cases where action was taken in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 4 for carrying out visits: Following the notification, there is a requirement for an initial visit to be carried out. Of the 16 notifications received above, 1 child was subsequently deemed as not in Private Fostering Arrangement following an initial visit. Therefore, of the 15 notification remaining, a visit each was undertaken (94%).

7.2.3 Of these the number of cases where this action was taken within 7 working days of receipt of notification of the private fostering arrangement: An initial visit should be undertaken within 7 working days from the date of notification. Of the initial visits all were undertaken within 7 working days (94%).

7.2.4 Number of new arrangements that began during the year: 12 new arrangements began during the year, which is an increase of 1 from last year’s figure.

7.2.5 The number of private fostering arrangements that began on or after 01/04 where visits were made at intervals of not more than 6 weeks: Of the 12 arrangements above, 7 began on or after 01/14 where all visits were made within timescale, at intervals of not more than 6 weeks (58%), 2 children were notified at the end of March, therefore their Reg 8 visits were not due at the end of the Return Year, 1 arrangement was less than 28 days, and 2 arrangements lasted longer than 28 days but ended before the first Reg 8 Visit took place.

7.2.6 The Number of private fostering arrangements that began before 01/04 that were continuing in 01/04: 12 arrangements were open and continuing in 01/04/2014.

7.2.7 The number of private fostering arrangements that began before 01/04 that were continuing on 01/04 where scheduled visits in the survey year were completed in the requested timescale: Follow-up visits should be undertaken at intervals of not more than 6 weeks in the first year and 12 weeks in the second or subsequent years. As per the regulation, the start of the arrangement is deemed to be the point of which the Local Authority became aware of it. 12 arrangements were continuing, of which: 1 arrangement was visited at 6 weekly (100%) 9 arrangements were visited at 12 weekly (100%). 2 arrangements started towards the end of March 2014 – Reg 8 visits not due then.

7.2.8 Number of private fostering arrangements that ended during the year: 13 arrangements ended in the year where:

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7 children returned to their close relatives (parents/grandmother). 4 young people turned 16 years old. 1 arrangement broke down and young person (15YO) was accommodated as was

unable to return home. 1 child (6 years old) received permanency as the carer was granted a Child

Arrangement Order.

7.2.9 Number of children under private fostering arrangements: As at 31 March 2015, there were 11 private fostering arrangements that were open and still active. Of the 11 arrangements: 5 are being visited 12 weekly as arrangements have lasted over a year. 3 are being visited 6 weekly. 3 is open - the initial 6 weekly visit is scheduled outside the survey year.

7.3 Age of Privately Fostered Children:

In Doncaster, more children over the age of 10 years were in private fostering arrangements (Graph 1). This is the same as those reported in England year ending 31 March 2014 (DfE report 2014). Of the 12 new private fostering arrangements that began during the year (age measured as at 31 March 2015 as per the PF1 Return guidance)

2 arrangements were in age group 5 - 9 8 were in age group 10 - 15 2 were aged 16+

Graph 1 - Age breakdown of arrangements that began in the year (age as at 31/3/2015)

5-9 Years Old 10-15 Years Old 16+0

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2

3

4

5

6

7

8

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Age Groups (Years)

Number

Of the 12 new arrangements that began during the year16.7% were of age group 5-9; 66.7% were of age group 10 -15 years; 16.7% were of age group 16+

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7.4 Ethnicity and Gender:

All the children and young people living in private fostering arrangement in Doncaster in this reporting period were from White British ethnic background and were all born in the UK. None are from other ethnic origin.Of the 12 new private fostering arrangements that began during the year 7 were girls and 5 were boys.

7.5 Source of Private Fostering Notification received in the year:

Although the overall notification figure is small as per the experience of other local authorities in England, it is important to know the routes used for making a referral to enable better targeting of awareness raising and learning derived from it.

Graph 2 – Source of Notifications of New Arrangements received during the year:

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3

3

2

2

1

1

1

2

Source of Notification

MotherCarerEducationHealthIntensive Family SupportDoncaster Children's ServicesOther Local AuthoritySY PoliceHousing

The graph above shows that 50% of the notifications in the reporting period were received from Partner Agencies (school, health, police, housing), 18.8% from Carers, 12.5% from Family Support Services, 6.2% from Area Team, 6.2% from a parent and 6.2% from other local authority.

7.6 Private Fostering notification by reason of placement:

There are different reasons why children are living in private fostering arrangements. Of the notifications received in this reporting period, the reasons were generally due to crises or difficulties at home, often teenagers who have temporarily broken ties with their parents and were staying in the short term with friends and non-relatives.

Most of these arrangements were unplanned or were spontaneous responses to perceived problems within the family. Additionally, many of these arrangements were effectively made by the young people themselves, although the parents’ consent was always sought, albeit after the child had moved.

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Depending on the interest of the child, should Social Care Service deem the arrangement inappropriate, referrals may be made to Family Group Conferencing, Edge of Care or Family Support Services to meet the child’s needs and promote the welfare.

Graph 3 – Notifications of Arrangements Received During the Year by Reason of Placement

Family relationship breakdown

Parent in prison Parental separation Father & YP became home less

0

2

4

6

8

10

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Reason of placement

Number

The graph above shows, 68.7% of the notification had occurred due to family relationship difficulties involving teenagers temporarily estranged from their parents; 18.7% due to parent going into prison; 6.2% due to parent separating: and 6.2% due to parent and young person becoming homeless.

8 Raising the profile of private fostering in practice in Doncaster: 2014-2015 . Promoting awareness of private fostering notification requirements .

8.1Activities were undertaken during the National Private Fostering Week which commenced from 7th – 13th July 2014. The private fostering awareness raising and publicity activities were targeted towards professionals working with children and young people and adults, the public, communities including Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and Interfaith groups. Activities were focused on:

The Public and Communities: FIS Facebook page: Using the Families Information Service website and Facebook page to

promote and inform people what to do if they are making private fostering arrangement. Doncaster CVS website: An article was included in the website informing people about PF

and what to do if they know someone in the situation. Twitter and Facebook: These were used as part of the social media to promote Private

Fostering.‘One Stop Shop’ Plasma Screen at the Civic Office Reception Area – Private Fostering awareness raising information appears on the screen (on-going) aimed to encourage the public to notify private fostering arrangements. Also leaflets were given out to customers visiting the office over a four day period.

Private fostering banner placed at the Civic Office Staff Entrance Area: Raise Awareness of Private Fostering – encourage staff to notify private fostering arrangement they may be aware of. 400 copies of flyers given out to staff.

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Doncaster Council Intranet Page: Information about private fostering awareness week appeared on the Intranet front page.

Posters were sent to libraries, leisure and opportunity centres: Posters and flyers - were distributed to all libraries, leisure, Youth, children and Citizen Advice Bureaux Centres for display up in the reception area. Private fostering banner displayed at the Central Library, also flyers given out to visitors at the entrance.

Doncaster Council website – Information about private fostering week appeared on the front page of the council’s website, linking to the private fostering webpage. Around 80,000 people visit the website each month. Profile on the front page roughly triples the number of people who view service web pages.

Press Release in Free press. Private fostering information included in Free Press, aimed to highlight importance of reporting arrangements and potential benefits from doing so, which includes support and advice for the child and the carer.

School newsletters – To raise awareness among parents, carers and school staff about the legal requirement to private fostering arrangements. A paragraph of text was sent to all schools with a request that it be included in the July end of year newsletter for parents/carers.

Ecard - An email card designed with the information about what constitutes a private foster arrangement was mailed to all the BME groups within Doncaster through the Women Centre; the Interfaith group; and Doncaster CVS.

Posters and flyers given out at mosques and the Quaker – Friend House (where different faith groups and Asylum Seeker community meet regularly).

Schools, Health and Other Partner Agencies:

School newsletters: A paragraph of text emailed to all Doncaster Schools for staff and also for inclusion in the Schools Newsletter.

School Eportal: A release was sent to all schools via the e-portal informing school staff what constitutes a private foster arrangement.

Posters, leaflets: Printed posters and leaflets for use at information stands and events, information sent to children’s centres, GP surgeries, youth centres, Citizen Advice Centres.

NHS staff: An article distributed to NHS staff through NHS internet to inform them about what private fostering is, a guide for professionals and how to report arrangements.

Other Agencies: Letters sent with briefings and brochures to external agencies about private fostering, for dissemination to professionals/staff e.g. Police, Probation, UK Border Agency, CAFCASS.

Internal Staff:

Local Councillors – Cabinet Members and Support Members: Local Councillors encouraged to help raise awareness of private fostering in their local area. Memo, leaflets and posters sent.

Children Services Staff: Private fostering Information/flyer sent through the Children’s Services circulation list.

BME and Interfaith Groups:

PF information leaflets in five most commonly spoken ethnic minority languages which include: Polish, Slovakian, Czech, Nepalese and Farsi were distributed at the Doncaster Women Centre and the Quaker Meeting Centre.

E-card (in English language) sent to community leaders informing them about private fostering and encouraging them to raise awareness within their communities about the legal requirement to notify any arrangements that members know or may become aware of.

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Private fostering leaflets distributed at the following centres/venues: Baha’I Religion. Bangladesh Society. Doncaster of Bishop House. Doncaster Jamiya Mosques. Doncaster Minister. Islamic Society Doncaster. Pakistani Centre & Mosque. Quaker Meeting House. Sikh Temple. Unitarian and Free Christian Church. United Reform Church. Hindu Temple.

8.2Others activities undertaken by the PF co-ordinatorincluded delivering presentations to:

Designated Safeguarding Officers based within Doncaster Secondary Schools. The Officers further cascaded information and raise awareness with all members of staff at the staff team meetings and also with pupils at assemblies.

Newly appointed Family Group Conferencing Co-ordinators Intensive Prevention Team Social work Students as part of Social Work Development programme IFSS Area Managers Area Teams – Health Visitors. Area Team School Nurses at the Pathway meeting. Private Nursery Manager at Cavendish Court. All Children Centre teams. Young people at the Youth Clubs in Wheatley and Balby Bridge. Fostering team at the Fostering Development Day. Referral and Response Team. Area Team Family support Workers and the Lead Officers; Youth Play Development

Worker and Business Support.

In addition: PowerPoint presentation and other relevant information regarding private fostering sent to

ACPS managers to cascade to all their team members. Private fostering banner displayed and information given out at a Family Support and

Advice Fayre at Balby Carr Academy.

9 Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are privately fostered:

9.1 Each of the children known to be living in a private fostering arrangement in Doncaster was monitored and supported by an allocated area team Social Worker. The allocated worker visits the child as per the statutory requirement and completes the visit record on the Liquidlogic database system. The child is seen alone during each visit unless this is thought to be inappropriate in which case the worker records the reasons for not seeing the child alone.

9.2 The allocated Social Worker has the responsibility to ensure the welfare of the privately fostered child is safeguarded and promoted. The worker also provides advice guidance and support to the young person.

9.3 The PF-Co-ordinator provides each young person with a copy of ‘Your Guide to Private

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Fostering’. This helps them to understand the meaning of private fostering.

9.4 In situations where a privately fostered child is subject to a private fostering arrangement for a longer period of time, the private foster carer and the parents are advised to seek legal advice regarding making application to court for a Child Arrangement Order (CAO). An Order will enable the private foster carer to acquire parental responsibility for the child, to give the child stability and permanency, and also to put an end to Children’s Social Care involvement. In this reporting period, a 7 year old child who had lived in a private fostering arrangement for 5 years was provided with permanency through a CAO. This is considered a positive outcome for the child. Additionally, 3 children who were living in private fostering arrangements in this reporting period were in the process of being provided with permanency as their private foster carers had made CAO applications to the court.

10 Is DCST Meeting the Legislative Requirements for Private Fostering:

Private fostering procedures, guidance and practice have been developed ensuring that the Trust complies with relevant legislation and meets the private fostering minimum standards. The procedures include guidance relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of privately fostered children. Doncaster continues to meet its statutory requirements through monitoring of the private fostering arrangements.

11 Equality and Diversity:

11.1 Private Fostering information leaflet is available in Polish, Czech, Slovakia, Nepalese and Farsi. The languages were identified based on advice from the BME Manager at the Doncaster Women Centre and the Bilingual Assistant Co-ordinator at EMTAS that these are the most commonly spoken ethnic minority languages in Doncaster.

11.2 Publicity leaflets have been widely distributed in Doncaster aimed at the public, parents, private foster carers, children and young people. The information can be made available in other languages or format on request.

11.3 PF Co-ordinator has made links with a number of agencies involved with BME and faith community, and private fostering is being promoted through these agencies. These include: the Women Centre, Ethnic Minority Regeneration Partnership, EMTAS, Interfaith Group, Doncaster Council for Voluntary Services (DCVS) etc. The PF Co-Ordinator also periodically distributes leaflets at the Mosques during Friday prayers.

12 Case Studies:

There are a variety of reasons why children become the subject of Private Fostering Arrangements and the outcome of such arrangements vary depending on the interest of the individual child concerned. The following two examples illustrate this:

Case 1: Long term Private Fostering ArrangementChild A, aged 6 was cared for by her great aunt and the great aunt’s husband since at the age of seven months. The arrangement was very positive. Child A bounded very well with the great aunt and was loved and nurtured by all the members of the carer’s family. Child A’s needs were being met appropriately. The carers promoted contact between Child A and birth family. Child A’s mother who has some learning difficulties and other children to care for agreed for great aunt to apply for a Child Arrangement Order to give Child A stability and permanency. This was granted in 2014 and ended Social Care involvement.

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Case 2: A Privately Fostered Child Became A ‘Looked After Child’Child B 15 became a LAC under S20 of the CA'89 following a family, private fostering arrangement and private fostering agreement breakdown. The breakdown was attributed to Child B’s behaviour in getting involved within criminal activity and not adhering to guidance and boundaries from the carers.

Child B also had struggled with a range of unmet emotional difficulties. Child B’s mother had dead and Child B felt rejected by the father and stepmother. Despite the initial commitment from the carers to support Child B, they were unable to meet Child B’s needs as they were concerned of Child B’s safety.

Child B was unable to return home as parents would not have him back. It then became apparent that Child B needed a much higher level of intervention to safeguard Child B’s welfare – hence Child B became a ‘Looked After Child’ by the Trust.

Child B is now 16 and living within a Semi-Independent Living Home

13 Continued Improvements:

13.1 Doncaster has shown an increase in the overall improvement against Regulation 8 visits (12 weekly), compared to the previously years, which currently stands at 100%. Activities will be on-going to continue to maintain this trend.

13.2 Better targeting of ‘raising awareness work’: The Private Fostering Service has placed the emphasis on key contact points such as school enrolment and general practitioners, verifying that children are, in fact, living with their parents. Members of staff are advised to explore further when relations are recorded as ‘aunt or uncle’ as these carers may not be closely related.

13.3 The PF Co-ordinator continues to work and engage closely with the internal staff and all relevant partner agencies to raise awareness and to ensure the PF functions and duties are discharged.

13.4 The PF Co-ordinator continues to raise awareness with the BME, faith and community Groups by building on the work already undertaken and working with the BME Community Chairs to reinforce and ensure awareness of the PF notification requirements continue to be highlighted.

13.5 The PF Co-ordinator continues to work closely with the Assessment and Child Protection Service Teams (ACPS) to ensure Regulation 8 monitoring visits are completed within time scale to ensure 100% compliance with statutory timescales, as per the regulation and NMS requirements.

13.6 The PF Co-ordinator continues to give periodic briefings to social workers and remains the named person whom professionals can contact for advice relating to Private Fostering.

13.7 To provide children and young people, parents and carers with private fostering information to ensure clear understanding of the requirement to notify private fostering arrangements.

13.8 Oversight and monitoring of performance to continue to be undertaken by the Performance And Business Intelligence Team to ensure that the reporting mechanism for Liquid Logic meets all of the return and performance monitoring requirements.

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13.9 The PF Co-ordinator continues to provide monthly private fostering case updates to the Performance and Business Intelligence Team so that records are continually reviewed by concentrating on data quality. The PF Co-ordinator continues to liaise closely with the Information Support Analyst to validate private fostering data.

13.10 Reports are created for the Directorate’s monthly performance surgery, and private fostering performance is included as part of the monthly performance surgery booklets.

13.11 Following the private fostering Workforce survey undertaken at the last reporting period, the service will continue to improve on its strategies to address training gaps and awareness raising through publicity campaigns and awareness raising across internal workforce and external agencies working with children and young people, and also those working with adults services including interfaith, Black and Minority Ethnic, and community groups.

13.12 Existing private fostering framework used for meeting the NMS self-evaluation will continue to be reviewed.

14 Future Developments:

14.1 To raise the profile of private fostering at strategic level with the support of the Team/Service Manager. The PF Co-ordinator actively works with the DSCB to promote private fostering awareness raising. The effectiveness of this promotion requires to be monitored by a committed management group, which will scrutinise practice and set targets to improve public awareness and levels of notification.

14.2 To work closely with the DCST’s Communications Team to private fostering promote awareness raising

14.3 The private fostering service would require an annual review of the provision and of the service plan, while focusing on trends in the overall impact of the private fostering arrangements.

14.4 Improved knowledge of legislation and prioritising support in the area of private fostering by the leadership and management is required.

14.5 An annual questionnaire survey of privately fostered children has been undertaken aimed to enable the privately fostered children to express their views about their care. However, due to the low response received, it is not considered representative of the overall views of the young people in private fostering arrangements. A similar survey to be undertaken in the future.

14.6 To establish a Multi-agency Private Fostering Focus Group consisting of representatives from different organisations and agencies, aimed to focus and share responsibility for raising awareness of private fostering in Doncaster.

14.7 E-system Support Team to develop a suite of automated reports from the Liquid logic system in order to facilitate on-going monitoring, alerts, monthly and statutory performance information.

14.8 PF Co-ordinator and the Manager to undertake reviews of all private fostering information leaflets and ensure information is fit for purpose.

14.9 The PF Co-ordinator is currently undertaking a private fostering research (an academic

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piece of work) to explore the experiences and perceptions of young people involved in private fostering arrangement. Given that little is known about private fostering, the outcome of the research will inform local private fostering policy and contribute to the improvement of service delivery to these vulnerable children and young people.

15. Analysis:

15.1 Doncaster Children’s Services Trust has arrangements in place to ensure its duties and functions in relation to private fostering are discharged. It aims to satisfy itself that the welfare of privately fostered children in its area is satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted, including how it cooperates with other agencies in this regard.

15.2 In the reporting period, although the number of notifications of new arrangement has increased, the number of actual private fostering arrangements is low. This is due to the fact that not all notifications were progressed to private fostering arrangement assessment, and some arrangements have ended during the year.

15.3 A comprehensive awareness raising activity has been undertaken in this reporting period, although, this has not resulted in a significant increase in the number of notifications. Research generally indicates that low notifications are a problem across England, as is also the case with the experience of the neighbouring authorities in South Yorkshire where: Barnsley has 4 current private Fostering arrangements, Rotherham has 5 (not validated) and Sheffield has 9, which is the same as Doncaster although Sheffield is a much bigger authority.

15.4 There is little evidence that raising awareness with the general public yields good results in

uncovering hidden private fostering cases.

15.5 Ofsted Report (2014) has cast doubts about whether ‘awareness-raising’ with the general public is the best way of approaching private fostering. It recommends a strategy based around key points of contact with professional services: ‘Looking to the future we recommend that efforts focus more on alerting other professionals than the general public. There is little to motivate carers to come to us and a campaign based around possible fines would be very negative’ (p29).

15.6 It is possible that we may be dealing with a small number of privately fostered children in overall, whilst it is also very highly likely that many others are known to professionals but are not notified. This is a widely understood feature of private fostering nationally. There is a wide acceptance that the national and local figures are not the full picture. They merely represent the number of private fostering cases known and may not even represent the full number of existing arrangements – We may be dealing with the ‘tip of an iceberg’. This is a concern because privately fostered children without the protection provided through the regulations are a particularly vulnerable group.

16 Conclusion:

16.1 The Service has made rigorous efforts to ensure that there is good professional awareness of what constitutes private fostering and good public awareness of the need to notify DCST of existing or intended private fostering arrangements. This was achieved through the activity undertaken by the PF Co-ordinator in undertaking the annual private fostering week, giving presentations/briefings to professionals, distributing information leaflets and making written information available to education, health and police authorities. Flyers and posters for display have also been provided to key agencies such as libraries, Children Centres,

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Citizen Advice Bureaux, The Women Centre, faith BME, and community organisations. This is an on-going activity.

16.2 Private fostering guidance and information is available to practitioners and specialist advice is accessible through the PF Co-ordinator, and also the Childcare Legal Team.

16.3 Under the private fostering regulations, identifying and reporting children who may be privately fostered is everyone’s responsibility.

16.4 The PF Co-ordinator will continue to promote and raise awareness of private fostering

through coordination and working proactively with the DSCB, the communication team, all professionals and agencies who are involved or come into contact with children and young people through their work.

The Children (Private Arrangement for Fostering) Regulations 2005 puts emphasis on the duty to notify the local authority of all PF arrangements, and to promote knowledge and awareness raising of private fostering in the public and agencies involved with children and young people.

References:

Department for Education (2014) Statistical First Release. Notifications of Private Fostering Arrangements in England: year ending 31 March 2014. Issues 10 July 2014, SFR22/2014.

Ofsted Report (2014) Private Fostering: better information, better understanding January 2014, No. 130249. Published in January 2014

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