Family Based Respite Services
Fostering Service
Martyr School
17 Parsons Street
Glasgow
G4 0PX
Inspected by: Anne Borland
Type of inspection: Announced (Short Notice)
Inspection completed on: 10 December 2013
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Contents
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Summary
About the service we inspected
How we inspected this service
The inspection
Other information
Summary of grades
Inspection and grading history
Service provided by:
Glasgow City Council
Service provider number:
SP2003003390
Care service number:
CS2008190531
Contact details for the inspector who inspected this service:
Anne Borland
Telephone 0141 843 6840
Email [email protected]
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Summary
This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of
performance which were examined during this inspection.
Grades for this care service may change after this inspection following other
regulatory activity. For example, if we have to take enforcement action to make the
service improve, or if we investigate and agree with a complaint someone makes
about the service.
We gave the service these grades
Quality of Care and Support 5
Very Good
Quality of Staffing 5
Very Good
Quality of Management and Leadership 5
Very Good
What the service does well
The staff at the service ensure that a high quality service is provided to children in
need of respite services. They do this by ensuring that respite carers are well
supported, adequately resourced and skilled.
What the service could do better
The service has recently merged with Families for Children fostering service and are
seeking to integrate successfully whilst still providing a high quality service to respite
carers.
What the service has done since the last inspection
The service has increased the numbers of applicants being assessed as respite carers.
Conclusion
The staff team and respite carers continue to provide a high quality service for
children and their families who are in need of respite care.
Who did this inspection
Anne Borland
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1 About the service we inspected
Family Based Respite Services (FBRS) is a Glasgow City Council resource providing,
planned and emergency respite placements for children aged 0-16 years. The
voluntary breaks are provided by respite carers in their own home.
Social Work staff refer where they find a family and child may benefit from a break.
The service is normally arranged on a planned basis. Respite places can be
provided on an emergency basis to support children and their families though a
period of crisis.
For respite to go ahead the parent/guardian, the child and the child's allocated
worker must all be in agreement.
The service recruits, prepares, trains and supports families to provide respite care.
After a robust recruitment process all respite carers are approved by Glasgow City
Council's Fostering panel.
The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Prior to 1 April 2011, this
function was carried out by the Care Commission. Information in relation to all care
services is available on our website at www.scswis.com.
This service was previously registered with the Care Commission and transferred its
registration to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 2011.
Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following
grades:
Quality of Care and Support - Grade 5 - Very Good
Quality of Staffing - Grade 5 - Very Good
Quality of Management and Leadership - Grade 5 - Very Good
This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of
performance which were examined during this inspection.
Grades for this care service may change following other regulatory activity. You can
find the most up-to-date grades for this service by visiting our website
www.careinspectorate.com or by calling us on 0845 600 9527 or visiting one of our
offices.
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2 How we inspected this service
The level of inspection we carried out
In this service we carried out a low intensity inspection. We carry out these
inspections when we are satisfied that services are working hard to provide
consistently high standards of care.
What we did during the inspection
This announced inspection was carried out on the 27th November 2013. During the
course of the inspection the Inspector met the manager, team leader and staff team.
Relevant records were examined and feedback was provided to the manager on the
10th December 2013.
Grading the service against quality themes and statements
We inspect and grade elements of care that we call 'quality themes'. For example,
one of the quality themes we might look at is 'Quality of care and support'. Under
each quality theme are 'quality statements' which describe what a service should be
doing well for that theme. We grade how the service performs against the quality
themes and statements.
Details of what we found are in Section 3: The inspection
Inspection Focus Areas (IFAs)
In any year we may decide on specific aspects of care to focus on during our
inspections. These are extra checks we make on top of all the normal ones we make
during inspection. We do this to gather information about the quality of these aspects
of care on a national basis. Where we have examined an inspection focus area we will
clearly identify it under the relevant quality statement.
Fire safety issues
We do not regulate fire safety. Local fire and rescue services are responsible for
checking services. However, where significant fire safety issues become apparent, we
will alert the relevant fire and rescue services so they may consider what action to
take. You can find out more about care services' responsibilities for fire safety at
www.firelawscotland.org
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What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made
at our last inspection
Following the last inspection the service received two recommendations. These are
detailed below with an update on progress made.
1. The service manager should seek ways to improve the travel escort arrangement for
children. The manager now met routinely with the service who commissioned the
escort service and this communication was thought to be helping resolve issues. This
recommendation is met.
2. Safe care plans, risk assessments and family policy statements should be in place
for children and carers. These were in place and this recommendation was met.
The annual return
Every year all care services must complete an 'annual return' form to make sure the
information we hold is up to date. We also use annual returns to decide how we will
inspect the service.
Annual Return Received: Yes - Electronic
Comments on Self Assessment
Every year all care services must complete a 'self assessment' form telling us how
their service is performing. We check to make sure this assessment is accurate.
The team leader provided a self assessment which gave strengths and areas for
development.
Taking the views of people using the care service into account
The service had sought the views of respite carers and children who were receiving
the service. Responses received are detailed below.
Children stated;
"The family are very nice and treat us well and the food is nice"
"I get to go to the cinema, swimming, shopping and having fun"
"I feel it is good to go to respite as it stops conflict between (my sister) and me"
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Respite carers stated,
"The training is much improved"
"Staff are approachable, helpful and always willing to listen and offer support"
Two carers felt the transport could still improve.
Taking carers' views into account
The service had sought the views of parents of children who were receiving the
service. Responses received are detailed below.
" Knowing I have respite means I am rested and more able to deal with things at
home and family life"
"I have used ( respite carer) for 12 years and there is nothing I can complain about or
dislike( respite carer). She is amazing and a credit to social services"
"It has made a big difference as I can spend more time with my other daughter"
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3 The inspection
We looked at how the service performs against the following quality themes and
statements. Here are the details of what we found.
Quality Theme 1: Quality of Care and Support
Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of the care and support provided by the service.
Service strengths
The staff at the service routinely promoted participation with respite carers and the
children using the service.
Following referral a member of the team met with the child, the child's social worker
and parent to give information about the service and answer any questions.
Support plans reflected the needs and preference of the child and the inspector found
that respite carers organised activities and routines in keeping with the care plan.
Support groups were held for respite carers and a child's activity group operated at
the same time. This allowed carers and child to meet each other and share their
views about the service.
Annual reviews were held for respite carers and they were able to give their views
about the support provided and the service in general. Records of reviews showed
that respite carers were happy with the level of support provided by the staff team.
Children, parents and respite carers had completed questionnaires about the service
provided and responses were positive.
A focus group had been held and respite carers had been consulted about the service
and this showed that respite carers were of the view that opportunities for training
had increased since the service had merged with the fostering service.
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Areas for improvement
The staff working with respite carers should continue to ensure that participation is
promoted to this level.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Statement 3
We ensure that service users' health and wellbeing needs are met.
Service strengths
The health and suitability of respite carers was fully explored during the assessment
process and was subject to regular updating as part of the foster home review
system.
Children's care and support needs were assessed prior to admission and a care plan
was in place which stated how support would be provided. Parents signed the support
plans to confirm their agreement.
It was evidence that children and their families benefited from respite care. Children
were encouraged to participate in sports and interests, such as, swimming and arts
and crafts. When relevant respite carers also assisted children with education in
helping with homework, practicing handwriting and number work.
When a child had a specific health need, training had been provided to the respite
carer to ensure that they were fully competent in attending to the child's need.
Risk assessments were in place for children which were specific to individual levels of
vulnerability. It was evident in talking to staff and in the examination of records that
risk was well managed.
Family placement policies were in place which promoted safer caring practices.
Areas for improvement
The service should continue to promote good care in relation to the health and
wellbeing of children and respite carers.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
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Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing
Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of staffing in the service.
Service strengths
Refer to Theme 1. Statement 1.
Areas for improvement
Refer to Theme 1. Statement 1.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Statement 3
We have a professional, trained and motivated workforce which operates to National
Care Standards, legislation and best practice.
Service strengths
Respite carers consistently reported that staff members were extremely supportive,
knowledgeable and helpful.
This was a period of significant change for the staff team. They had merged with the
families for children fostering team, moved premises and moved to more agile
working. The team still presented as highly motivated and although described the
changes as presenting some challenges could see benefits to being part of a larger
team, this had included more easy access to training. Team meeting and formal
supervision were taking place and staff stated feeling well supported.
Areas for improvement
The staff team should continue to perform at this level.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
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Quality Theme 4: Quality of Management and Leadership
Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the
quality of the management and leadership of the service.
Service strengths
Refer to Theme 1.Statment 1.
Areas for improvement
Refer to Theme 1.Statment 1.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
Statement 4
We use quality assurance systems and processes which involve service users, carers,
staff and stakeholders to assess the quality of service we provide
Service strengths
The staff at the service carried out unannounced visits to respite carers to assess the
quality of care and support being provided.
Respite carer received regular supervision where the quality of the service was
discussed.
The manager and team leader met regularly to discuss the service delivery. The
service provision was also reported on at operational performance reviews in relation
to recruitment and retention of respite carers and frequency of foster home reviews.
The service sought the views of respite carers and those receiving the service and
used this to inform the service improvement agenda.
A complaints system was in place and this was known to the service users.
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Areas for improvement
The service should continue to develop quality assurance tools to progress and
develop the service.
Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good
Number of requirements: 0
Number of recommendations: 0
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4 Other information
Complaints
No complaints have been upheld, or partially upheld, since the last inspection.
Enforcements
We have taken no enforcement action against this care service since the last
inspection.
Additional Information
This service has now merged with Glasgow City Council Fostering service and as such
will no longer be subject to an individual inspection by the Care Inspectorate.
Action Plan
Failure to submit an appropriate action plan within the required timescale, including
any agreed extension, where requirements and recommendations have been made,
will result in the Care Inspectorate re-grading a Quality Statement within the Quality
of Management and Leadership Theme (or for childminders, Quality of Staffing
Theme) as unsatisfactory (1). This will result in the Quality Theme being re-graded as
unsatisfactory (1).
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5 Summary of grades
Quality of Care and Support - 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 3
5 - Very Good
Quality of Staffing - 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 3
5 - Very Good
Quality of Management and Leadership - 5 - Very Good
Statement 1
5 - Very Good
Statement 4
5 - Very Good
6 Inspection and grading history
Date
Type
Gradings
28 Dec 2012
Announced (Short
Notice)
Care and support
5 - Very Good
Staffing
5 - Very Good
Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good
10 Oct 2011
Announced (Short
Notice)
Care and support
3 - Adequate
Staffing
Not Assessed
Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good
15 Jun 2010
Announced
Care and support
4 - Good
Staffing
5 - Very Good
Management and Leadership 4 - Good
All inspections and grades before 1 April 2011 are those reported by the former
regulator of care services, the Care Commission.
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To find out more about our inspections and inspection reports
Read our leaflet 'How we inspect'. You can download it from our website or ask us to
send you a copy by telephoning us on 0845 600 9527.
This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can get more copies
of this report and others by downloading it from our website:
www.careinspectorate.com or by telephoning 0845 600 9527.
Translations and alternative formats
This inspection report is available in other languages and formats on request.
Telephone: 0845 600 9527
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.careinspectorate.com
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