PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATED CARE SERVICES LTD

Incorporating

TLC (WALES) INDEPENDENT FOSTERING LTD

(Specialist family placements for children and young

people with disabilities and complex medical needs)

Statement of Purpose

Welcome to

TLC Wales

Fostering

Statement of Purpose

TLC Wales Fostering Tan y Fron

Pontarddulais Road

Crosshands

Carmarthenshirel

SA14 6PG

Tel: 01269 846371

Fax:01269 846372

E-mail: info@tlcwales.org.uk

Last updated May 2018

Contents and Introduction

1. The Aims and Objectives of

TLC………………………………………………………………………………………1

2. Status and constitution………………………………………………………..... ……2

3. Management structure and staffing

levels………………………………………………………………………………….…3

a) Commissioned Services

b) Commissioned staff

c) Individual Staff profiles

4. Recruitment, Assessment,

Approvals………………………………………………………………………….……4

a) Assessment of prospective foster carers

b) The fostering panel, approvals and reviews

5. Placement provision…………………………………………………………..………5

a) Fostering placements

b) Emergency placements

c) Short term placements

d) Respite and short break placements

e) Shared care placements

f) Long term placements

g) Palliative care

h) Parent and Child placements

i) Residential care/family placements

j) Therapeutic placements

6. Referral and matching…………………………………………………………………..6

7. The Support Strategy…………………………………………………………………...7

8. Complaints and outcomes…………………………………………………………..…8

a) Useful contact details

9. Appendix 1…………………………………………………………………………….…9

a) Quality Assurance Mechanisms and Performance Indicators

The Statement of Purpose is set within the context of the appropriate statute law and regulations to

include:

The Care Standards Act 2000

The Fostering Service Regulations Wales 2003

The National Minimum Standards for Fostering Service (Wales)

Judith Gibby Head of Service, has the lead responsibility in partnership with staff to ensure that TLC

meets and exceeds wherever possible the Regulatory requirements and National Minimum Standards and

to ensure the best possible outcomes for the Children and Young people placed.

The Statement of Purpose will be reviewed at least annually or when there are staffing or organizational

changes.

The Statement of Purpose covers the following to evidence that there are clear Quality Assurance

mechanisms in place to monitor and evaluate performance across the service. (Appendix1). This

document will cover:

1. TLC (Wales) Core Business Activities

TLC was established in 2002 to provide specialist family placements for children and young people

with disabilities and complex needs (aged 0-18 years). TLC is now the leading Independent Fostering

Agency positioned number one on Tier 1 of the Foster South Lot under the Children’s Commissioning

Consortium Cymru (4C’s). TLC recruits and supports specialist foster carers solely to care for children

and young people with disabilities and additional needs. Children and young people can have hearing

difficulties, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), physical disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Autistic Spectrum

Disorder (ASD), PICA, are deaf/blind, have a visual impairment, Late Infantile Battens Disease,

Downs Syndrome, Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), Attachment Disorder as well as a range of

other needs which leads to developmental delay. Recently TLC has been registered for Parent &

Child placements for parents and/or child with a disability.

TLC views children and young people with disabilities as the most vulnerable in society and that by

securing the best possible family placements they will have opportunities to develop trusting

relationships, be safe and reach the best possible outcomes in terms of care, education, health and

social inclusion. TLC expects its foster carers to relate to children and young people in their care with

dignity and respect.

TLC foster carers are trained in different methods of communication to provide a child centered

approach, ensuring that all information sharing is meaningful and that children and young people with

disabilities are at the centre of discussions regarding their care plans, wherever possible.

TLC operates a Support Strategy managed by Judith Gibby (Head of Service) and Caroline Picek

(Deputy Head of Service) which ensures all Foster Carers and staff are fully supported to fulfill their

obligations to children and young people. TLC’s Recruitment and Approval Strategy is managed by

Caroline Picek (Deputy Head of Service) and is designed to ensure we secure Carers who are highly

motivated and committed to caring specifically for children and young people with disability and

complex needs. TLC has a new Commercial Manager (Karen Zasheva) who undertakes Marketing to

target recruitment in areas where there is unmet need, as identified in TLC’s Marketing Strategy and

together with the Recruitment and Approval Strategy. TLC ensures that they meet the needs of the

Welsh Local Authorities so that we remain highly competitive and offer the best placements for

Children/Young People with disability.

TLC’s Recruitment and Approval Strategy reflects the diversity of local communities and endeavors

to place children and young people in their home area wherever possible or within a 20-mile radius.

The anti-discriminatory policies and practices of TLC will continue to promote and value the diversity

of both looked after children and carers, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background,

age, religious beliefs, disability and marital status.

TLC’s assessments of prospective Foster Carers clearly evidence their skills and training in the

area of disability as well as the core skills necessary for fostering. Caroline Picek and Independent

Social Worker Gillian Pickersgill deliver Preparation training. Clare Davies-Scott, Training and

Support Services Manager is responsible for devising the Post Approval training. Each Foster

Carers registration is reviewed annually by an independently commissioned social worker and all

first Reviews are placed before the TLC Foster Panel as an independent Quality Assurance

mechanism.

TLC has a comprehensive Support Strategy which has been complimented in successive CIW

reports and is reviewed and updated annually. The Support Team has extensive child care and

disability experience and we will continue to use the staff skill base to sustain challenging and

complex placements and deliver/commission specialist training around disability issues.

TLC Carers and staff are highly committed to working in partnership with Local Authorities, Child

Health and Disability Teams, Specialist Health Visitors, Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Services, the National Advocacy Service, SNAP, SENSE and will continue to strengthen support

networks which support and promote the health, educational and social opportunities for children

and young people with additional needs. TLC values its existing links with a range of workers in

the field of disability and is motivated to extend and strengthen these over time.

TLC is committed to assisting children and young people develop skills leading to increased

independence and to help them make informed choices regarding their future (in line with their age,

development and level of understanding).

TLC ensures that children and young people with disabilities are able to forge social interests and

hobbies, challenging barriers to inclusion and participation where they exist.

TLC will ensure user consultation and participation looking into the challenges of communication

and expression. TLC has reviewed the Children’s Guide to ensure it is a more inclusive resource

– this includes audio and visual formats in addition to the written personalized document.

TLC acknowledges the contribution made by the children who foster and will continue to develop

its support group for these children and young people to include pre and post approval initiatives.

There is also a Children and Young People Consultation Group for Looked After Children/Young

people in the Agency.

TLC are, at all times committed to the principle of partnership with purchasers and stakeholders.

TLC has also developed a pre-approved training day for applicants’ children.

2. Status and Constitution

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd (Company Number 4824925) and Professional Integrated Care

Services Ltd (Company Number 4771613) are both currently registered as private limited companies under

the Companies Act 1985.

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Professional Integrated Care

Services Ltd. On the 27 May 2011 Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd was acquired and became

part of the CareTech Holdings Group.

The Directors of Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd and TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd

are Farouq Sheikh, Haroon Sheikh, and Michael Hill, with Judith Gibby as a Director of TLC. TLC will only

be operating as an independent fostering agency.

In accordance with the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989, TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd and

Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd have produced a Memorandum of Association and Articles of

Association and copies of these will be made available to the government commissioners which regulate

independent fostering agencies throughout Wales.

3. Management and Staffing within TLC (Wales)

The staff group includes:

Full Time

Responsible Individuals 2 Agency Decision Maker 1 Head of Service and Registered Manager /Director 1 Deputy Head of Service 1 Supervising Social Workers 6

Support Worker 1 Training Co-Coordinator and Panel Administrator 1 Referral & Placements Co-coordinator 1

Part Time Training and Support Services Manager 1 Statutory Checks Officer 1 Administration Officer 1

Commissioned Services

The agency commissions Independent Assessors (who are all registered Social Workers) to complete

Form F and competency based assessments as well as foster carer reviews. These assessors have

extensive experience and skills within social work and assessment.

We also commission external trainers to deliver some Post Approval training as well as drawing from the

depth of experience within the Support team of TLC (Wales).

Commissioned Staff

Independent commissioned registered Social Workers 6

Individual Profiles Staff.

Michael Hill – Responsible Individual

Michael is the Group Finance Director and Company Secretary. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant

with Deloitte in 1975. Michael has held many senior positions in financial organisations and became the

Finance Director of NFA in 2006. Michael joined Care tech in 2010 to establish the Foster Care and

family services division. He became the Group Finance Director in August 2011 and is the Company

Secretary.

Robert McKay – Managing Director:

Robert McKay is the Managing Director of the Children and Young People Division at Caretech. Robert

joined Caretech in January 2017 and was Managing Director at Aspirations Care Children Services and

Marlowe Child and Family Services. Prior to this Robert was Operations Director of Recovery Services at

SACCS Care Ltd.

Beverley Senior – Operations Lead in Fostering

Bev qualified as a social worker in1988. She has an NVQ 4 in Leadership and level 7 in Post Graduate

Diploma in Management. Bev worked in Telford and Wrekin Council, Severndale Specialist Academy

and Mencap for 13 years. Over the last 15 years Bev has worked in various fostering roles for

Shropshire Council and Orange Grove Foster care, as a Supervising Social Worker, Placement

Manager, Registered Manager, ADM and Responsible individual. Bev has worked for Caretech since

2014 initially as Head of Service for Park Foster Care.

Sheila Hall – Policy and Safeguarding Manager/Responsible Individual & Agency Decision Maker:

Sheila is the Agency Decision Maker for the Caretech Group of Fostering Services. Sheila qualified as a

social worker in 1984 and has considerable experience in managing fostering and adoption services for

local authorities and for the largest national children’s charity.

Judith Gibby – Head of Service and Registered Manager.

Judith is a qualified social worker with 28 years’ experience in social work. Her experience includes

working with children and young people with disabilities, social work in a Child Care team on a

practitioner and managerial level and working as a family placement social worker. Judith has a degree

in Economics and Social Administration, holds a Diploma in Social Work and the post qualifying award in

Child Care. She has also completed the NVQ4 in Management.

Caroline Picek- Deputy Head of Service

Caroline has a Diploma in Social Work and MSc Econ in Applied Social Studies, Certificate in Health &

Social Welfare, Certificate in Counselling Skills and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. She has completed

NVQ Level 4 in Management and has a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Caroline was

previously the Senior Social Work Practitioner with Swansea Child Health & Disability Team and is an

experienced practitioner. Caroline is responsible for overseeing the recruitment of prospective

applicants, recruitment of Independent Assessors and Panel members, delivering Skills to Foster

(Preparation training), and quality assurance of all Form F’s and Reviews. Caroline is the Panel Advisor

for TLC and covers for the Head of Service when she is on annual leave.

Kay James - Referral & Placements Coordinator:

Kay has several years’ experience in administrative work and office procedures. She has achieved a BA

in Accounting and HND in Business and Finance. Kay is responsible for the coordination of referrals and

placements within the agency.

Fran Bowhay - Supervising Social Worker:

Fran delivers the agency support strategy to Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire carers. Fran is an

experienced manager with extensive experience in service provision for Looked After Children, Children

at Risk and has a working knowledge of Child Care Law Policies and Procedures. Fran has an MSc in

Management Development and Social Responsibility and CQSW and Diploma in Social Work, qualifying

as a Social Worker in 1986. Fran will have responsibility within TLC for developing the Children who

Foster initiative, and having input into the agency training programme, as appropriate.

Clare Davies-Scott - Training and Support Services Manager.

Clare has a BSc in Health & Social Studies and Diploma in Social Work and MSc Econ in Applied Social

Studies. Clare qualified in 2005 and has experience in youth work, working with disabled and elderly

people. Prior to joining TLC Clare worked as a Social Worker with Pembrokeshire County Council

working with Children & Young People with disability and leaving care team. Clare has a PQ6 award

and is responsible for student placements within TLC for the co-ordination of the Post Approval training

programme in the agency and co- ordination of Support Services.

Anthony Boggis – Supervising Social Worker:

Anthony joined TLC as an experienced social worker with extensive knowledge of disability and this

agency. Anthony has a BSc Hons degree in social work and prior to joining TLC was working as senior

practitioner with a Local Authority team for children with disabilities. Anthony worked with children/young

people and their families with complex medical and social needs and was part of a pilot project funded

by WAG looking to set up an integrated approach to assessment intervention between Social Services

and colleagues in NHS such as Physiotherapists, OTs, Speech & Language Therapist.

Adam Morley - Supervising Social Worker:

Adam qualified as a Social Worker in 2014 after working as a support worker with adults with learning

disabilities for 8 years. Before joining TLC Adam was a social worker in Bridgend and Newport working

within the Disability Children Team. Adam has experience of working with children and young people in

the statutory sector and Looked after Children. He has a BSc in Social work and the PQ CPEL.

Jeanette Yellen – Supervising Social Worker

Jeanette joined TLC as a very experienced social worker with extensive knowledge of disability and of

this agency. Jeanette was a senior practitioner in a Local Authority team for children with disabilities.

She has worked with children and young people and their families on behaviour strategies to try and

maintain children & young people with complex and challenging needs in the community.

Jeanette has worked with various agencies in care and transitional planning. Previously she was a

counsellor for adult survivors of sexual abuse and has worked in the mental health team. Jeanette also

sits on the TLC foster panel. Jeanette is currently studying for Theraplay Practitioner qualification.

Karen Zasheva – Commercial Manager

Karen is a registered social worker with over 29 years’ experience in both the statutory and voluntary

sector (working with homeless people, asylum seekers and their families) and in Children’s Services.

Karen has an MSc in Housing Management, a BA (Hons) in Business and Finance, the ILM level 4 in

Project Management and a Diploma in Social Work. Latterly Karen worked in NPT as a Referral &

Resource Panel coordinator based in Children Services, responsible for ensuring that the LA targeted

resources and support services to children and families in crisis, whilst ensuring value for money.

Before joining TLC, Karen worked part-time as a Contracts Officer, commissioning services and

accommodating children and young people with complex needs. Alongside this role Karen undertook

the role of Complaints Officer for the local authority and dealt with requests for Access to Records.

Karen brings a wealth of experience to the role and a strong commitment to making a difference to

carers and children and young people placed within TLC.

Mari Timbrell – Supervising Social Worker:

Mari qualified in 2013 after working for 7 years as a welfare assistant/contact officer in the

Carmarthenshire Child Care team. Before joining Carmarthenshire Mari was a higher level teaching

assistant in Swansea, coordinating the special educational needs programme, working with the children,

supervising 13 teaching assistants and sitting on the management panel. Before joining TLC Mari was

a social worker in Carmarthenshire working with older adults with disabilities and had previously

undertaken a placement with TLC and was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to come back as a

qualified social worker. Mari has a BSc in Social Work, Diploma in Welfare Studies, Level 4 Higher

Level Teaching Assistant and also trained as an investigating officer for safeguarding in

Carmarthenshire, requiring her to work closely with the CSSIW, Safeguarding Team and the Police.

Mari is currently studying for Theraplay Practitioner qualification.

Julie Nevin – Training Coordinator & Panel Administrator:

Julie joined TLC April 2017. Julie worked for the British Red Cross for 12 years in Learning &

Development as Service Support and has extensive administratative experience. Julie also works part

time for Action for Children. Julie has a NVQ level 3 Administration and Health and Social Care.

Emma Evans - Support worker:

Emma joined the team in September 2013, and has childcare and disability experience in a residential

setting.

Emma-Jane Farnell – Statutory Checks Officer:

Emma-Jane joined the team in January 2014. She has extensive administrative and clerical experience

and is familiar with a variety of IT systems. Emma has worked for a Local Authority as well as private

agencies and also has experience of working in a fostering agency setting. Emma is a University

Graduate and has completed her NVQ in Health and Social Care.

Judith Davies – Administrator

Judith has a banking background and has an extensive knowledge of fostering and TLC as she was the

Financial Manager for the agency for many years. Judith has returned to the Admin office for two days a

week to have a lead audit role (CHARMS) and supporting the Head of Service in meeting regulatory

requirements. Judith will also offer additional administrative support.

The Agency commissions independent assessors to complete Form F and competency-based

assessments as well as Foster Carer Reviews. The assessors have extensive experience and skills

within social work and assessment.

Independent Assessing Social Workers / Reviewing officers Sue Hatcher, Gillian Pickersgill, Einir

Tomos, Emma Britton, Geraldine Buckley and Amy Hurst, Ros Lewis.

Dominique Kent retired in December as Panel Administrator but will continue to record Panel minutes on

a sessional basis.

4. Recruitment, Assessment and Approval

TLC has a detailed Recruitment and Assessment policy and procedure with Deputy Head of

Service Caroline Picek taking the lead for quality assurance.

TLC differs from other IFA’s in that the agency solely recruits carers who have a strong desire to

foster children and young people with disability. TLC uses a variety of marketing approaches to

recruit a diverse range of Foster Carers to meet the individual needs of the children referred.

These people often have a wealth of experience with backgrounds in disability, nursing, care work

and may have a disability themselves. TLC has focused recruitment campaigns targeting

nursing/health care professionals as well as those with teaching backgrounds who work with

children and young people with additional needs.

Carers have chosen TLC because of their motivation, commitment and desire to make a difference

to children with additional needs who are Looked After. They have also chosen to foster with TLC

because we offer a high level of support to Carers and ensure they feel part of a team.

TLC has a Commercial Manager (Karen Zasheva) who undertakes Marketing and works closely

with the Deputy Head of service Caroline Picek to ensure that we recruit Carers with high levels

of motivation and interest to care for children and young people with a disability and /or complex

medical needs, and ensure quality assurance is monitored throughout. Consultation with the

Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru (4 C’s) and research of market position statements

form the basis of marketing campaigns. There are focused campaigns to meet the market

demands of the Framework authorities and specific training courses on recruitment to ensure we

deliver the best practice for children and young people placed. Marketing and Recruitment during

the year has included focused campaigns in the press, community based magazines, events,

transport and radio advertising. TLC has a website through CareTech (who own TLC) who are

already known in England.

TLC has developed financial incentives for Foster Carers to encourage friends, family and

colleagues to foster for us.

Marketing has generated a number of quality enquiries with a number progressing to the Skills to

Foster course which runs quarterly, and then through to assessment. TLC has a very clear process

of assessment to make sure that business objectives can be achieved by ensuring the quality of

the application.

Assessment of Prospective carers

In assessing prospective Foster Carers, TLC works within the Fostering Services Regulations,

Wales 2003, The National Minimum Care Standards for Fostering Services (Wales), The Care

Standards Act 2000.

Following an initial enquiry, prospective Carers are visited at home. Once a formal application to

foster is received, statutory checks are undertaken and applicants are required to attend a 2 day

Skills to Foster preparation course delivered by Caroline Picek and Independent Assessor Gillian

Pickersgill. This training is an essential element in the preparation of Foster Carers for the task of

looking after children and young people. The statutory and best practice checks are undertaken by

Emma-Jane Farnell. These include a number of formal checks with agencies such as the police,

health, education and local authority. Personal references and home health and safety

assessments are also undertaken.

Once checks and training are satisfactorily completed an independent assessing social worker is

allocated to undertake a competency-based assessment with the prospective carers. This

assessment involves discussion with family and others who are regular visitors to the home.

The Fostering Panel, Approval and Reviews

The completed assessment is presented to the TLC Panel which is made up of 10 members with

in depth knowledge and experience. They include: an ex-team Manager of Children’s Disability

Team, a Specialist Children Nurse, Social Workers from Child Care, Disability and Hospital

settings, and an independent member who was brought up in foster care. Derek Clode sits on panel

as the Independent Agency Director of TLC. Caroline Picek is Panel Advisor and advises on

regulatory/legislative matters. The Panel provides an independent quality assurance mechanism

with additional expertise and knowledge in disability and medical issues.

The role of the Panel is to make recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM), Sheila

Hall, who makes the final decision of approval status.

If Carers/applicants are unhappy with the final decision of the Panel, there is a clear complaints

process.

Once approved an Agency Supervising Social Worker is allocated to support the new Foster Carer

and to deliver the agency Support Strategy.

Clare Davies-Scott, Training Coordinator is responsible for devising the Post Approval Training

Programme. There is a comprehensive package of additional training for Foster Carers to ensure

their professional development and enhance their skills in caring for children and young people

with disabilities.

Carers are required to attend all Mandatory sessions. Training is also delivered to staff and panel

members on an annual basis. The programme is identified through feedback from: Carer

supervision, course evaluation, training needs analysis, annual reviews and Form F assessments.

All Foster Carers receive an Annual Review undertaken by an Independent Social Worker. All first

reviews are placed before TLC Foster Panel and it is an expectation that carers attend their review

on the day of Panel. All reviews following the first review are considered by the ADM. In the event

of an allegation, all post-allegation reviews are presented to Panel.

5. Placement Provision

Fostering Placements

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd offers Long/Short Term/Respite/Shared Care and

Palliative placements for children and young people of all ages with Foster Carers who have had

experience of and or training in working with children and young people with disabilities. It is

recognised that those children and young people may have been the victims of abuse and may

present some challenging behaviours.

Emergency Placements

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd is reluctant to offer general emergency placements

because of the high level needs of the children we accommodate, however we will consider a

child or young person who is known to us, either as a person placed previously or a child who is

known to us via the respite facilities we offer. The reason for not offering emergency placements

generally is that most of the children/young persons placed have complex needs which need

rigorous planning and matching to achieve the best possible outcome.

Short Term Placements

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd undertake task centred work with children and young

people and their families in situations where the purpose of the placement and the intended

duration can be estimated with relative accuracy.

Respite & Short Break Placements

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd offers respite placements on a regular basis to children

and young persons. Those respite situations are monitored closely and if the needs of the child

increase and the reason for the initial respite become more acute, then provision can be made for

the child or young person to enter another category of care.

Shared Care Placements

TLC has a long history of providing Shared Care placements to support kinship placements and

parents. We have designated Carers who have proven skills in working co-operatively with

parents to prevent family breakdown and ensure children/young people with disabilities remain

within their families. These placements are seen as key resources within the Care packages for

the Children/Young People placed.

Long Term Placements

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd carers have a definite interest in providing placements for

children and young persons on a long term basis until the young person moves on to Adult

Services.

Palliative Care – Short breaks/Respite/Short Term/Long Term

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd offer specialised care to some children and young persons

who need extensive medical care, who might be terminally ill or require a range of invasive care

procedures such as managing gastrostomies, tracheotomies and suction. There are also some

facilities available for children and young persons with severe physical disabilities who require

adapted homes, aids and adaptations.

Parent & Child Placements

The Agency is recruiting and approving skilled and trained Carers who can offer placements for

parents with their children where the parent and or child have a disability. TLC will offer

assessment and parent support placements. Foster Carers are specifically recruited for this highly

skilled work – they will be professional and have the necessary training in fostering, child

development and disability, safeguarding and recording. All Carers will have high levels of support

by experienced social work staff.

TLC has Good Practice Guidance re Parent & Child Foster Placements and a Model for Parent &

Child arrangements – placements and/or assessments.

Residential Care/Family Placements

TLC is starting to establish partnerships with Local Authorities for children currently placed in

specialist residential placements. If children/young people need to attend schools (SCOPE,

School for the Deaf in Exeter for example) during the term TLC offer family placement

opportunities on weekends and during school holidays.

TLC is looking at designated carers to offer support to parents and the Local Authorities for

children/young people with complex needs to offer an alternative to residential respite and to

ensure they have continuity of care from a young age. This will be an area of development for TLC

in the immediate and long term.

Therapeutic Placements

TLC currently has two SSW’s undertaking accreditation to become Theraplay practitioners and

then go on to qualify in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. This will enable TLC to provide

children and carers with an integrated therapeutic service from point of placement in line with the

needs of the child, and then throughout their time in our care. This will obviate the need for the LA

to commission therapists to undertake time limited work.

6. Referral and Matching

All referrals are screened by Kay James and Karen Zasheva. Kay James is the Referral and

Placements Coordinator with designated responsibility to ensure the CCSR is kept updated and that

referrals are responded to in a speedy and timely way. TLC has a detailed referral and matching

form to ensure that foster carers have accurate information. TLC will not place a child or young

person if we are not confident that, on the information received we can match the assessed needs

of the individual child/young person with the Carers’ skills and expertise.

TLC has a reputation for offering high standards of care with stable and secure placements for

children and young people. TLC will not compromise a child’s health, safety or welfare in the interest

of business. The last CSSIW report published in June 2016 stated that TLC had demonstrated good

practice in the area of Matching and had developed robust systems in this area.

Judith Gibby and Caroline Picek make the final decision if there are any safeguarding issues that

could potentially compromise the welfare of the child/young person or the reputation of the agency.

7. The Support Strategy

This is delivered by the TLC Support Team and is quality assured by Judith Gibby through the

agency Supervision Policy.

TLC views its carers as its most valuable resource and has developed a comprehensive and robust

support strategy to retain its carers and acknowledge their skills and contribution. Carers are

regularly consulted, and supported in the best possible way to meet the assessed needs of the

children and feel very much part of TLC.

All carers in TLC have an allocated Supervising Social Worker who has in- depth experience and

knowledge of childcare and disability as evidenced in the CV’s of staff earlier in the Statement of

Purpose.

Carers receive monthly formal supervision and weekly telephone contact. The CSSIW inspection

report produced evidence of the individual and collective skill base of the Support Team and the

support team’s skills and knowledge in child protection, direct/group work, disability and child care

issues has strengthened the success and ensured stability and sustained very challenging and

complex children and young people in placement – often when there are not allocated social

workers or resources are scarce in Local Authorities.

Encouraging team and personal development for both staff and Carers will be ongoing through

professional supervision and annual staff appraisal and foster care review.

The Support Team ensures that foster carers have the necessary information regarding the

assessed needs of the children and that the required protocols (namely for children with

epilepsy/life threatening conditions) are in place and reviewed regularly.

TLC has a comprehensive Carers Handbook which has just been recently reviewed. Policies &

Procedures are reviewed and updated regularly and information circulated electronically and

manually to Carers.

TLC has clear policies and procedures especially in Child Protection, Safe Caring, Bullying, Health,

Education, Social Inclusion and Transition. TLC has specific policies and procedures around

issues relating to disability and medical conditions.

TLC has specific Policies & Procedures and Practice Guidance for Parent & Child Placements.

Each carer has an opportunity to access Support Groups with a specific disability focus.

TLC offers an ongoing training programme for all carers. All training is relevant to meeting the

specific and specialist needs of children with disabilities and the professional development of

carers. Carers are required to attend locally based Core training and also have the choice of

attending ‘special interest’ sessions. The programme is identified through feedback from: - carer

supervision, course evaluation, training needs analysis, annual reviews and form F assessments.

Training is also delivered to staff and Panel members on an annual basis. In striving to meet the

specific circumstances of carers and their differing learning requirements the option of offering

more home-based study training packs will be developed further. The training programme will be

looked at by Clare Davies Scott to ensure staff and Carer training is relevant and that we source

quality providers.

Carers undertaking parent & Child Placements will undertake the Skills to Foster course and

additional training around key skills and parenting assessments and support.

A Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Carers evidence workbook is being

introduced to our Foster Carers.

TLC is actively reviewing issues that prevent Carers being able to access training and addressing

this with innovative e-learning initiatives.

TLC has a 24 hour on call system and a clear on-call policy.

TLC has a website which will be a very dynamic recruitment tool as well as consulting and informing

our foster carers.

TLC has a Children Who Foster group and a Social Committee which helps to organise activities

for children and young people and their families.

TLC has a Children and Young people’s consultation group.

TLC has a quarterly Newsletter which shares information regarding resources and activities for

children/young people with disability as well as acknowledging achievements of the child/young

people, foster carers and staff.

TLC acknowledges the vital role of short break Carers for ‘In House’ respite and requests for respite

from the local authority and has ensured its Recruitment Policy allows us to meet the specialist

needs of the children/young people referred, and for those carers who need regular breaks, to

sustain and strengthen long term placements.

8. Complaints

The TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd complaints procedure will adhere to the Regulatory

Reform and Complaints (Wales) Regulations 2006.

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd and Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd complaints

procedure places an emphasis on resolving complaints at an informal level – (Stage 1) - between

the complainant and the manager. A central record is kept of the number of complaints received

by the agency. Stage 2 complaints are those where resolution at Stage 1 has not been possible

and the matter is passed to the Provider for consideration.

TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering Ltd and Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd complaints

procedure has scope for a complainant, if dissatisfied by the response received by the Director at

Stage 2, to involve an independent person nominated by TLC (Wales) Independent Fostering

Ltd/Professional Integrated Care Services Ltd or TLC (Wales) Fostering Panel

TLC received 1 complaint during the last 12-month period

Useful contact numbers

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)

Government Buildings

Picton Terrace

Carmarthen

SA31 3BT

Tel: 03007900126

Fax: (01267) 245140

e-mail cssiw.southwest@gov.wales

Facebook.com/careinspectoratewales

Children's Commissioner for Wales

Oystermouth House

Phoenix Way

Llansamlet

Swansea

SA7 9FS

Tel: (01792) 765600

Fax: (01792) 765601

e-mail: post@childcomwales.org.uk

Appendix 1

Quality Assurance Mechanisms and Performance Indicators

The overall performance of TLC will be monitored and evaluated by:

1. The Annual Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CIW) inspection – Review of Care

(Regulation 42 and schedule 7 matters) and the SAF completed by Head of Service Judith

Gibby, prior to the annual inspection and visits by the commissioning officers from the Local

Authorities.

2. The stability of placements within TLC.

3. Statistics regarding referral matching and placements will be collected and evaluated. TLC will

develop a robust IT system so that this information is easily accessible.

4. Statistics regarding new placements – TLC’s ability to meet Local Authority requests regarding

location, need, nature of disability or accommodation.

5. TLC has systems to monitor and evaluate the quality of its placements and performance of staff

and carers:

Support Strategy

TLC Supervision Policy.

Evaluation form from placing authorities (end of placement and for Carer Annual Reviews)

Records held at the registered office, audited by the Head of

Service quarterly.

Monitoring and review of child protection matters and notifications to the CSSIW by the Head of

Service.

Regular audit of complaints.

Quality Performance Assessment by Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru.

6. Foster carer recruitment, assessment and review:

TLC commissions independent social workers (with expertise and

experience in child care and disability) to undertake assessments and reviews.

TLC has a Specialist Independent Foster Panel that considers all

applications and reviews. There is an annual review of panel

activity to inform any changes in performance, policies and procedures.

TLC has a comprehensive complaints and representation policy;

TLC provides in-house pre-approved Skills to Foster training which forms part of the

assessment process. Evaluation forms are completed after each course to ensure the

programme is relevant to applicants.

TLC continually reviews and strengthens the recruitment strategy monitoring applications and

developing an IT system to collate information regarding new carer numbers, to ensure we

meet the needs of 4C’s and our current purchasers

Annual Panel members’ appraisal;

Panel members’ feedback form on QA of Form F.

7. Training:

A comprehensive annual training needs analysis will be completed by carers;

Evaluation forms will be completed after every course to ensure

the programme is relevant.

Clare Davies Scott prepares the Annual Training report which

evaluates and identifies the training needs for the following year.

8. Foster carer and user views will be monitored and evaluated by:

The Children’s Guide.

Carer annual reviews.

Supervision and statutory visits.

Support Groups.

Placement evaluations forms from local authorities.

Parental views (as part of the carer annual review process).

Children and young people are included in Carers annual reviews

Children’s Commissioning Consortium Cymru

9. Feedback from staff:

CIW Questionnaires

SAF

Support Team Meetings

AGM

Supervision

Annual Appraisals