A glowing report for city fostering
Sunderland fostering and adoption teams are celebrating Ofsted success.
Two agencies, managed by Together for Children, were both rated good in two separate inspections by the watchdogs.
Together for Children, which provides children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council, manages the independent fostering agency and a voluntary adoption agency.
Both were inspected during September with Ofsted praising the quality of work to support children and young people and they even rated the leadership of the adoption agency as outstanding.
The Ofsted report for fostering highlighted that the children are in stable placements with foster carers who are committed to providing nurturing and effective care.
They said the youngsters attend and achieve in education and their healthcare needs are met.
Ofsted said foster carers are making use of the increased support groups, are supervised regularly and feel well supported by the agency.
The watchdogs found the adoption agency recruits, assesses, prepares and trains prospective adopters well, so they are well equipped to parent the children and provide them with stable and nurturing homes.
Coun Louise Farthing, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services in Sunderland, said: “As Ofsted has said, these are very good reports. Earlier this year, Ofsted recognised significant progress and improvements in our city’s children services.
“These reports are an example of that progress and the council and its partners are all committed to continuing this good work.”
Martin Birch, Director of Children’s Social Care at Together for Children, said: “Our fostering team is working with and supporting more than 350 children, cared for by 279 fostering households.
“This inspection result recognises the good standards of care provided by our teams and foster carers.”
Kathryn McCabe, Together for Children’s lead manager for fostering and adoption, said: “Our teams link with a range of partners and of course children’s social workers and these inspection results are testimony to the hard work of all involved to ensure that children develop and thrive in their adoptive families.”
To find out more about fostering or adoption, visit www.togetherforchildren. org.uk/families or email enquiries@togetherforchildren.org.uk.