Agenda item

To consider the findings and recommendations arising from the review of the Fostering Service by iMPOWER. Report to follow

The Committee welcomed Varun Sitram and Ebony Hughes from iMPOWER to the meeting.

Following an internal audit of Fostering Service at the beginning of 2013 there were found to be a high level of deficiencies in the service.  This service had not been of a consistent   high quality standard in terms of its outcomes for children and young people and iMPOWER were enlisted in May to carry out a further external review of the service and had   further  carried out some extensive  field work in this area .  The review findings were put forward to Members along with recommendations on the way forward and an implementation plan for the service.  These recommendations were compiled following consultation with key stakeholders, discussion with foster carers and staff.  The main recommendation was to   externalise the recruitment of foster carers to a separate organisation to effectively increase the number of foster carers in the borough and also cover the number of carers leaving the service through retirement.

IMPOWER had examined values and motivation around becoming a foster carer and considered the profiles in Haringey in comparison to similar boroughs and there was an opportunity to increase the number of in house foster carers living in Haringey. The merits of externalising the recruitment and assessment part of the service would allow the process to be completed more expediently and enable the council to better focus on support to the foster carers, once recruited, which would remain with the council. The organisation that would be procured to undertake this recruitment role would have a detailed insight into foster caring and know the target areas for recruiting carers. It was envisaged that if the recommendations were endorsed, the chosen organisation would start work in April 2014.  Between now and April,  there would need to be a strong contract compiled,  ensure there was a robust project plan  and a strong sufficiency and placements strategy in place  to enable the organisation to do their work effectively. The following key actions  would need to be completed  in the coming  6 months: a mapping exercise to  set out the implications  of the externalisation, IT process change , and  the governance system  and  a risk analysis system compiled and  put in place.

Committee members were provided with an example of a comparator borough which had a higher number of foster carers recruited following the   externalisation of the recruitment arm of the service.

 Members of the committee were keen for officers to progress quickly with the procurement process to enable   the increase in foster carers to happen as soon as possible.  They were advised by iMPOWER representatives of the importance of compiling a robust governance process so that there was clarity on the actions that would be taken forward by the chosen organisation and what the responsibilities of the council were.  There was also a need to consider the capacity of the foster care support team and understand if there was enough to deal with the anticipated increase in the number of foster carers.

 It was noted that the task orientated assessments were already in place.  There was a need to devise a medium to long term strategy to get the right local foster carers recruited and provide stable placements.

Members were pointed to the implementation plan at page 70 of the report.   iMPOWER had scoped out what is needed for children in Haringey and there was a need to ensure that this key analysis was factored on actions going forward and kept at the centre of what was trying to be achieved which was ultimately meeting the needs of the children in Haringey

The Committee were assured that the chosen provider would have to demonstrate their previous experience in foster care recruitment and have a good track record of providing this service. It was clarified that the foster carers would still need ultimate approval by the Foster Carers Panel.

Noted that the needs analysis will work out the number of foster carers to target and the number of carers leaving as there was good value in doing this.

 Committee Members made the following comments:

·        As this was a likely to be a limited contract and subject to renewal it would be important for the provider to be able to pass on knowledge and skills to council staff. There was also a need to establish a contract relationship between the council side of the service and the provider with clear lines of responsibility.

·        An independent social worker would be completing the day assessments and will have professional oversight of this process. There will be regular updates and reports sought from the chosen recruitment organisation.

·        A lot of learning will be gathered from the iMPOWER review   for quality assurance purposes and there will be significant support from the children’s service to the Legal team to compile a contract.

The Committee endorsed the report and decision to be made.