‘Extremely positive’ report for Caerphilly’s fostering service

The fostering service at Caerphilly County Borough Council has won praise from inspectors for its supportive work.

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) said children receive a “good standard” of care and are “encouraged to have fun and enjoy a range of interests and activities”.

Most foster carers told inspectors they felt “well supported in their role”, and staff at the service are “dedicated, feel supported and are provided regular supervision and training opportunities”.

At a meeting of the council’s education committee, on Thursday February 20, members congratulated the service’s staff, and the county borough’s foster families, for their efforts.

Cllr Elaine Forehead, the cabinet member for social care, said the inspectors had been “extremely positive” in their feedback, and had not found any areas of non-compliance.

Cllr Teresa Heron called the findings “really heartwarming” and praised the “vitally important skills” of foster carers.

Committee member David Bezzina, a parent governor representative, asked about the inspectors’ finding that quality of care reviews had not been carried out in the timescales required in regulations.

Gareth Jenkins, the interim corporate director of social services, said the council had “slipped” into a more infrequent pattern of reviews after regulations were “relaxed” temporarily during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was an oversight”, he added.

CIW has listed six-monthly quality of care reviews as the only area for improvement for Caerphilly’s fostering service, which will be followed up at the next inspection.