Committee Title: Corporate Parenting Board

20 June 2024

Fostering Panel Chair’s Report

For Review and Consultation

Portfolio Holder:

Cllr. C Sutton, Children's Services, Education & Skills

Local Councillor(s):

Executive Director:

T Leavy, Executive Director of People - Children

Report Author:	Lianne Chorley

Job Title:	Fostering Panel Independent Chair

Tel:	01305 228382

Email:	Lianne.Chorley@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Public Choose an item.

Brief Summary:

This report provides detail of Fostering Panel activity over the last financial year. It is pleasing to note the increase in approvals of both mainstream and connected carers and reduction in the number of resignations. There have been noticeable strengths in panel processes and where there is more to do this is being progressed through feedback to the service and in regular 1-1’s. There continues to be a positive working relationship between Dorset Fostering Panel and Fostering Service which is very welcome.

Recommendation: Members of Corporate Parenting Board are requested to note the content of the report and the activity that has been undertaken during the reporting year and the impact for children.

Reason for Recommendation:

To be assured that the report had identified the strengths and areas for development and that steps are being taken for further improvement.

Report

Introduction

This report covers the year from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. This has been a busy year, with panels having been held, hearing a total of 138 carers. We have noted a number of areas of progress:

Consistency in the quality assurance of panel papers provided by Advance Practitioner advising panel

Appointed a Vice Chair – 1 x observation completed.

Annual appraisals completed – generally positive feedback from members with regards to their experience of being members of Dorset Council Fostering Panel

Panel members have adopted a trauma informed approach to their questions.

We trialled Sarah Naish therapeutic assessments through panel.

Continued timeliness and quality of minutes

Increase in children’s social workers attending panel, this is positive as they are the direct voice of the child

Panel meetings and membership

Fostering Panel meets 2 times a month, on the first and third Tuesday, with the availability to add or cancel panels if so required. 35 panel meetings were held over the reporting period out of 46 booked dates. In total 121 carers were presented including 8 week extensions, stage 2 approvals, connected person assessment, resignations and 3 year reviews. This averaged at 3.5 carers per panel.

Between 1 April 2023 – 31st December 2023, when 4 panels were timetable per month, 11 panels were cancelled in this period due to lack of panel business which resulted in the service reducing the number of panels to 2 timetabled per month. 5 additional panels have been booked since 1st January 2024.

This reviewing period has seen an additional vice-chair appointed, 4 new panel members added to the central list and changes to panel administration. There have been 4 panel members resign during the reporting period.

In 2024/25 we will see a further expansion of central list members which currently sits at 14 members including panel chair. Whilst there is an undoubtable wealth of experience and professional knowledge held by current panel members, the aim is to diversify central list membership and increase breath of knowledge and experience available for the service to call on. In particular, we will be looking to recruit additional social work members going forward.

We have returned to face-to-face meetings and facilitate a hybrid approach to allow for both in person and virtual (in exceptional circumstances) attendance to allow participation. The service aim is for all panels to be face to face for all, and to have clear written guidance as to what is deemed as exceptional circumstance and who this applies too for consistency, equity and transparency moving forwards.

Panel have seen children attend connected carer approvals and appropriate portions of annual reviews to hear their voice and views directly being involved in the conversation about their lives. This is something I would support more of going forward.

Panel now has a permanent panel coordinator for panel meetings, supported by the business support team to ensure continuity. The panel coordinator has been a very welcome appointment.

Training, Development and Appraisals

There has been continued investment in both panel members and panel itself in varying forms in the reporting period.

April 2023 Therapeutic Fostering Assessment training with Sarah Naish.

April 2023: SGO Kinship Focus Group.

June 2023: Appointment, inductions and observations of 4 newly appointed panel members.

July 2023: interviews and appointment of second vice chair.

August 2023: therapeutic assessments for kinship care training

September 2023: Introductory conversation for potential new Councillor panel member

October 2023: Panel Chair met with Dorset Children in Care looking to advance the children’s panel

November 2023: Annual appraisals for all panel members carried out by panel chair and advanced practitioner. These were a positive experience, which allowed for reflection and future development actions to be discussed. All panel members have received a written account of their appraisal. There is a strong pool of knowledge and experience, both professional and personal.

February 2024: Panel Chair appraisal completed (very positive feedback)

February 2024 Differing ADM decision meeting with Paul Dempsey, Louise Drury, Lianne Chorley & Debbie Forde

March 2023 Re-imagining care proceedings – Dorset Synthesis – final session attended by chair.

In addition to this panel members have been supported to complete their mandatory training – this includes:

TEAMS

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Equality and Diversity

Health and Safety

NEW Safeguarding Adults

Prevent

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

Data Protection Modules (to be completed on Day 1 in post)

SEND Awareness

Panel Activity

Fig.1

Year	Total new Applications	Mainstream Carers	Connected Carers
2023/24	46	15	31
2022/23	35	12	23

Fig.2.

In comparison to the 2022/23 we have seen an increase in the number of mainstream approvals from 12 to 15 and in the number of connected carers from 23 to 31.

The number of resignations has reduced from 33 to 6 in 2023/24.

Performance in timely reviews is identified as an area where continued work and progress is required.

Strengthening opportunities identified in previous reports

Pre-panel preparation sheets are completed jointly in Teams and submitted to the chair in advance of panel to enhance the effectiveness of panel member’s questions. This is shared on the morning of panel with those attending. These have been a great success and have had the additional benefit of supporting with minutes.

Independent QA feedback sheets continue to be completed independently and are shared appropriately via panel advisor to team managers, ADM and fostering services managers. These highlight attendees presentation as well as quality of reports. These are strength based and celebrate strengths and areas to strengthen if needed.

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Minutes are now reaching panel members within 48 hours. They are finalised by panel chair and with Agency Decision Maker (ADM) generally within 7 days of panel. This has a positive impact for all awaiting ADM decisions.

Themes and Observations

It has been noted that there have been some delays in the presentation of reviews post allegation or standards of care, and this has been highlighted by the panel chair to the service. It is recognised that when this happens that this has an impact on the foster carers particularly if a significant number of months have passed before getting to panel. Panel remain determined that all standard of care concerns and allegations should be presented to panel without delay, to ensure that the focus remains on the child and the care they are receiving. This is being addressed, with the service managing this, alongside the need to prioritise current reviews.

During the reporting period 2023/2024 it was noted that there were 5 cases where there were differing ADM decisions which was higher than we would expect. Of these 2 related to approvals of connected carers where there was a negative recommendation from panel, 1 regarding terms of approval at appointment, 2 change of approval for existing foster carers.

The chair and vice chair remain confident and sure in panel’s negative recommendations and their reasoning, but understand the final decision is with the ADM.

A meeting was convened with both ADM’s and work is underway to review differing ADM decisions over the last 18 months to understand any themes. Panel chair has also requested a review of the approval of a connected carer who was subsequently de-registered following a substantiated LADO investigation and involvement in any learning circles that arise from this case. This evidences openness for challenge and learning. There is a commitment for any learning to be fed back to panel.

It has been noted that there are regular occasions when addendums and additional reports are being added to or sent to panel members after the packs have been sent. This has been raised with senior management as it has impacted on the reading time, pre panel preparation for panel members and the agenda timings.

On the occasion where a deferral or return to panel has been advised, better tracking is required to ensure a timely return to panel.

Reports that are being presented are consistently improving, as is the internal quality assurance of paperwork prior to Panel receiving it. These are generally excellent.

Panel continue to highlight the need for child care teams to ensure that there is good communication between them and fostering to ensure that connected carer applications and viability assessments are timely and remain within timescales for assessment. In addition, this will ensure that the Independent QA feedback is utilised more efficiently to serve both teams in getting the feedback they need

Panel remain impressed with how well prepared fostering social workers are to present to Panel, often answering any questions we may have in their opening summary.

Developmental work & future plans

There is a commitment from the panel chair to work with senior managers, developing open and strength-based communication, and feeding back to panel members on this work regularly.

Now the Panel Profile Sheets have been updated and are more accessible to applicants prior to panel, the next step is to share these with children in care so they can feel part of the process and understand the backgrounds and experiences of panel members who are making their recommendations about their lives.

To progress work to establish a Children’s Panel.

Ensure foster carers have access to a warm drink and make the environment friendlier, whilst they are waiting to meet with panel members as part of the welcome to Fostering Panel.

Recruitment of Social Work Panel members.

Continued conversations and learning with regard to differing ADM Decisions looking at the impact for all involved

2 x training days for panel members

Continue to develop a relationship with the child care teams to increase their participation in the Panel process and look at meaningful and effective ways of gathering young peoples feedback

Supported Lodgings Carers to join the panel process.

User feedback

Business Support are currently emailing for feedback post panel. I have received feedback during regular check ins with managers this includes:

Written feedback has been received from carers, applicants and professionals. These identified their experience at panel as being sensitively treated, experiencing empathy, being helped to feel at ease, felling valued, listened to and being asked skilful relevant questions. Receiving 4/5 across the board for overall experience at Panel.

Attendees report that they really appreciate the conversations pre and post panel with the panel chair, finding the chair to be helpful, calming, knowledgeable and empathetic.

Social workers are generally feeling positive about attending Panel.

New social workers observing – they have found this opportunity rewarding and appreciated being able to observe the whole process from report to formulation of recommendations and rational.

Panel members report that they enjoy the chair’s leadership style which makes them feel valued, respected, able to express their views, that they are able to participate effectively. They are confident in the chair’s ability to navigate challenging or complex conversations with carers, applicants, professionals and the service.

Conclusion

Relationships are being nurtured, the processes are more efficient and generally panel is a positive experience for all who attend. This is a strength based panel which has high challenge, accompanied by advice and guidance to support, It provides robust and thorough independent overview and scrutiny.

In conclusion, I would like to thank those that have consistently worked on ensuring that the most vulnerable children in our care are provided with the highest quality foster care possible, showing continued dedication in striving to achieve best outcomes for all children.

Financial Implications

None

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Implications

None

Well-being and Health Implications

None

Other Implications

None

Risk Assessment

HAVING CONSIDERED: the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Low

Residual Risk: Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

N/A

Appendices

None

Background Papers

None

Report Sign Off

18.1	This report has been through the internal report clearance process and has been signed off by the Director for Legal and Democratic (Monitoring Officer), the Executive Director for Corporate Development (Section 151 Officer) and the appropriate Portfolio Holder(s)