STANDARD 25 - Managing effectively and efficiently and monitoring the service

There are clear and effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the service. This includes the financial viability of the service, any serious incidents, allegations or complaints about the service and ensuring the quality of the service.

The manager regularly monitors all records kept by the service to ensure compliance with the service’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring.

Management of the service ensures all staff’s work and all fostering activity is consistent with the 2011 Regulations and NMS and with the service’s policies and procedures.

Managers, staff, volunteers and foster carers are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The level of delegation and responsibility of the manager, and the lines of accountability, are clearly defined.

Clear arrangements are in place to identify the person in charge when the registered manager, or local authority fostering service manager, is absent.

The registered person ensures copies of inspection reports by Ofsted are made available to all members of staff, to their foster carers, children fostered by the service and their parents/carers, and, on request, to the responsible, or where different placing, authorities of existing foster children or those considering placing a child through the service.

The executive side of the local authority or the independent foster service’s provider/trustees, board members or management committee members:

1. receive written reports on the management, outcomes and financial state of the fostering service every 3 months;
2. monitor the management and outcomes of the services in order to satisfy themselves that the service is effective and is achieving good outcomes for children;
3. satisfy themselves that the provider is complying with the conditions of registration.

The registered person takes action to address any issues of concern that they identify or which are raised with them.

Staff, volunteers and foster carers have a copy of:

1. the policies and working practices in respect of grievances and disciplinary matters;
2. details of the services offered;
3. the equal opportunities policy;
4. health and safety procedures.

Information is provided to commissioners of services as part of tendering. This includes:

1. charges for each of its services;
2. statements of the amounts paid to foster carers (separated by fee and allowance); and
3. any amounts paid for other services e.g. health and education.

The registered person has provided the service with a written policy and procedural guidelines on considering and responding to representations and complaints in accordance with legal requirements and relevant statutory guidance.

The service has the facilities to work with children with physical, sensory and learning impairments, communication difficulties or for whom English is not their first language. Oral and written communications are made available in a format which is appropriate to the physical, sensory and learning impairments, communication difficulties and language of the individual. The procedures include arrangements for reading, translating, Makaton, pictures, tape recording and explaining documents to those people who are unable to understand the document.