NEW bosses of a fostering agency have been praised by Ofsted for investing in new consultants after the previous owner resigned.

Inspectors visited Channel Fostercare in Burnham-on-Sea on November 15, 2017, and rated it ‘inadequate’ in a report, published on December 21.

The report highlighted how the agency, which was rated ‘good’ in 2015, operated without a registered manager holding a social work qualification from December 2016 to October 2017 and, as a result, failed to ensure management systems to review children’s safety, progress and experience were effective.

But inspectors have said the new responsible individual appointed a social work manager and fostering consultants just a week after taking over in October.

The report said: “The previous responsible individual monitored the agency infrequently and from afar – children have not been adequately safeguarded.

Foster carers have received conflicting advice from different agency workers about how to provide care from agency staff. Prior to the arrival of the new manager, the supervising social workers had not received supervision or appraisal for nearly a year.”

But inspectors praised the agency’s new owner, for appointing a new social work manager and fostering consultants just seven days after they took it over in October.

Angie Cooper, the new responsible individual for the agency, said it is now ‘an exciting time’ for the company.

“We will be specialising in providing therapeutic placements for children who have experienced significant emotional damage,” Angie said.

“We are working with Sarah Naish, a renowned author and a leader in the field of therapeutic parenting, who will provide the training necessary to ensure staff and foster carers have the skills and understanding required to provide the specific care needed by these traumatised children.

"We have been speaking with various local authorities and they are keen for us to help meet the growing need for theses specialised placements.”

Mrs Cooper said the agency is providing support to its foster carers by providing a children’s support worker and therapeutic listeners, who work alongside social workers, to help them.

The agency’s new manager is putting together an urgent action plan to address the immediate problems relating to child protection, staffing, supervision and training, as well as short and long term objectives.

Mrs Cooper said the agency’s ‘inadequate’ rating will not be in place for long and work is underway to change that.

She added: “We are hopeful anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer, or who would like to take their fostering career forward, will contact us.

“Although the agency is currently classified as ‘inadequate’ this is not a status it will be retaining for long. The agency is working hard to put right the issues left behind by the previous ownership and will welcome a new Ofsted inspection in a few months’ time.”

“It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to really make a difference to the lives and futures of vulnerable children.”