1. 8 February 2018 Fostering Network regional conference
Fostering – an Ofsted perspective Corrinne Barker (Regulatory Inspection Manager) Tracy Murty (Social Care Regulatory Inspector)
8 February 2018
Fostering Network regional conference

2. Background
The progress of children in care and care leavers is an important priority for Ofsted. It is incorporated in all regional plans and across all inspection frameworks.
Ofsted renewed its commitment to focusing on the progress of vulnerable and disadvantaged children in its strategic priorities for

3. Some findings
More care leavers stayed living with their former foster carers.
Children were more likely to experience a change in educational placement if they also experienced an unplanned ending.
A large minority of children who went missing had no RHI.
Around 77% of fostered children are White, with 22% of children belonging to minority ethnic groups.
Just under 10% of children were reported to be disabled.
From: Fostering in England, Ofsted, england-1-april-2015-to-31-march-2016

4. Some figures Approximately 70,000 children in care in England.
Two thirds (75%) live in foster care – approximately 50,000 children.
Most foster children are in local authority foster care – 66%
33% of children in foster care are in IFAs.

5. IFAs in England Region Number of IFAs East Midlands 13 East of England31
London 55
North East, Yorkshire & Humber 33
North West 36
South East 60
South West 21
West Midlands 46
Total
295

6. Independent fostering agencies – 81% judged as good or outstanding at their last inspection (1 April 2017)

7. Consultation and pilots - SCCIF
218 replies to online consultation.
Meetings/webinars/events with 250+ individuals, including:
children and young people
providers
representative groups, e.g. ADCS, Alliance for Children in Care, LandEx, National IRO managers group
social workers
foster carers.
Eight pilot inspections testing the SCCIF and short notice inspections of independent fostering agencies (four IFA pilots).

8. Outcomes of consultation
Publication of the SCCIF, for use from 1 April 2017.
Common judgement structure
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people taking into account:
How well children are helped and protected
The effectiveness of leaders and managers.
A reduced notice period for independent fostering agencies – now two working days.
We will usually re-inspect IFAs judged as inadequate within 6-12 months, and IFAs judged as requiring improvement within months.
new approaches to inspecting local authority children’s services piloted. Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) now implemented. These inspection will retain a sharp focus on the experiences and progress of looked after children and care leavers

9. Our inspection principles
Focus on what makes the most difference in children’s lives: rigorous focus on progress and experiences across all of our inspection frameworks.
Being clear about our expectations of providers: bringing commonality into our expectations on inspection wherever we can e.g. children living away from home.
Prioritise inspection where improvement is needed most: risk-based and proportionate.
The SCCIF and local authority inspections embodies these principles

10. Does the SCCIF raise the bar for good and outstanding?
We have not intended to raise the thresholds for good or outstanding judgements by introducing the SCCIF.
We will continually review the impact of the SCCIF, including any changes in inspection outcomes – interim evaluation after 6 months and formal evaluation after 12 months.

11. Inspections of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS)
The experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers and the effectiveness of achieving permanence.
Inspection activity will include: a primary focus on evaluating individual children’s experiences.
Testing the quality of decision making at all key stages of a child’s journey and meeting with children and young people, parents and carers.
We will be looking at the impact of fostering services on the experiences and progress of children in care

12. SCCIF feedback Please send any feedback to: Matthew Brazier
HMI Specialist Adviser, Children in Care
Social Care Policy

13. Evaluating the SCCIF Are we achieving what we set out to achieve?
Engage, listen, reflect and improve
Independent view
Focus on voluntary adoption agencies and the secure estate
Foster care- May 2017

14. Ofsted on the web and on social media