Family Placement Agency

A Sense of Belonging BANYA FAMILY PLACEMENT AGENCY

Statement of Purpose

Banya is an independent fostering provider offering family placements for children and young people

Address: Units 1, 6 & 7 Croxted Mews, 286A-288 Croxted Road, London SE24 7DA Tel: 020 8678 5330 Fax: 020 8678 5343 Email: [email protected] Web: www.banya.co.uk

Fostering Manager: Nyasha Gwatidzo

Date: 1 July 2015

Company Limited by Guarantee in England. Registered Office 3rd Floor, 67 Wingate Square, London, SW4 0AF. Registered No 3161115 CONTENTS

1. Mission Statement...... 1 2. Introduction...... 1 3. Where we are...... 1 4. Aims, Objectives and Principles...... 1 5. Care Standards...... 2 6. Services and Facilities...... 3 a) Emergency placements...... 3 b) Bridging placements...... 3 c) Long term placements...... 3 d) Parent and child placements...... 4 e) Assessment placements...... 4 f) Moving towards independence...... 4 g) Monitoring education and health needs...... 4 7. Status and Constitution of Banya...... 5 8. Management Structure...... 5 9. Staff...... 6 10. Our Foster Carers...... 7 11. Children Placed with Banya foster carers...... 8 12. Complaints...... 8 13. Financial Position...... 8 14. Recruitment and Approval of Foster Carers...... 9

Version produced: 1 July 2015

This Statement of Purpose is approved by the Registered Provider. 1. Mission Statement

To provide a sense of belonging in stable family placements, so that each child and young person can achieve their full potential.

2. Introduction

Standard 16 of the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services and Regulation 3(1) of the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 require a fostering service to produce a Statement of Purpose. This Banya Statement of Purpose has been prepared in accordance with the Standards and Regulations. It is hoped it will prove a source of useful information to existing and prospective foster carers, children and young people placed with Banya carers, and Banya staff and colleagues involved in fostering, whether in local authority children’s services or with other providers. The Statement of Purpose is reviewed and updated at least annually, and modified as appropriate.

3. Where we are Banya’s office is situated in Herne Hill, South London, and includes a suite for training purposes. It is accessible by public transport, with Herne Hill railway station and several bus connections nearby. Founded in 1997, Banya supports some 120 foster carer households, having some 125 children and young people currently in placement. Nyasha Gwatidzo is the fostering manager.

4. Aims, Objectives and Principles We aim to provide a high standard of foster care for a range of children and young people, and parent and child placements. Its main aims are for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need to:- •Stay Safe •Healthy •Enjoy and achieve •Economic well-being •Positive contribution Banya was founded nearly 20 years ago, to meet a felt need within the wider community for such a service. In striving to achieve this aim, Banya has developed specialisms in placing sibling groups, children who are unaccompanied refugees or asylum seekers, children and young people with special needs, and teenagers with challenging behaviours.

1 Banya’s objectives include: ► a diverse mix of carefully selected foster carers, enabling appropriately matched placements to be offered without delay to children and young people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds; ► respect for the ethnic, cultural, religious and language backgrounds of children and young people placed with Banya carers; ► enabling each child in placement to express their identity fully, with a will to work consistently for, and value and respect people irrespective of ethnicity, colour, sexuality, disability or culture, within a commitment to a child/young person centred approach; ► to provide effective and round-the-clock support to foster carers, with ongoing supervision and training, and accreditation for a range of specialist fostering; ► proactive co-operation with placing authorities, in the interests of the children and young people concerned. The principles in the light of which Banya operates are: ► evaluation of, and reflection on, practice, together with realistic and continuously revised procedures, to deliver best outcomes for children and young people; ► the abiding criterion of ‘what is in the best interests of the particular child or young person’; ► monitoring of the service we provide, combining quality assurance and best outcomes for children and young people in placement, as reflected in the developing satisfaction, self esteem and sense of security of the child or young person in placement. ► giving best value for the placing authority, Banya seeks, within the framework of relevant legislation, regulations, standards and guidelines, to deliver a reliably high standard of care for those in placement. By providing a strongly supportive structure within which foster carers operate, we aim to minimise placement disruptions.

5. Care Standards

Banya aspires to follow best practice in care standards, with reference not only to legislation and regulatory or other guidelines, but also to the advice of Fostering Network and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (Banya is a member of both). The framework in which Banya expects its foster carers to work is both demanding and rewarding. External assessments have consistently confirmed Banya’s ability to meet exacting criteria. These include organisational audits by independent consultants, and evaluations related to Banya’s membership of regional consortia. Banya is a Pan London Contractor, in

2 terms of an agreement used by a consortium of London boroughs when placing children and young people with independent fostering providers. We are also part of other framework agreements outside of London. Banya’s registration and inspection come under Ofsted, which is the regulatory body. The Ofsted inspection of December 2009 considered that the overall quality of the service was ‘good’. Further improvements since then notwithstanding, the Ofsted inspection of March 2013 considered that the quality of service was ‘good’, whist the overall quality was ‘adequate’. Ofsted is aware that Banya is anxious to improve the overall rating.

6. Services and Facilities

Banya provides placements for children and young people, and parent and child placements, with trained and supervised foster carers. For every placement, there is effective support for Banya’s carefully matched foster carers. Further, the Banya ethos has built into it respect for the potential and aspirations of each child and young person. The range of services offered by Banya includes the following types of placement: emergency, short-term, long term, respite, bridging, assessment, and parent and child. Matching considerations are gone into carefully before any placement is made. Banya is concerned that there be a care plan for all children/young people placed which provides guidelines for the placement, as well as a PEP and Pathway plan as appropriate. a) Emergency placements Many Banya carers are able to accept what are initially unplanned, emergency placements. Even in an emergency, when a child/young person needs to be placed within hours, the placing local authority should communicate all available information to Banya and the proposed foster family. A longer term plan should be within days. b) Bridging placements These placements are for a transition while children are waiting for another, more permanent placement, or rehabilitation home. Banya offers such placements, and reviews them with placing social workers. We endeavour to carry out rehabilitation work with parents if appropriate, as agreed with the placing authority, or we can assess the children/young people and prepare them for long term placements. c) Long term placements Where the intention is to place a child for a longer period, our aim is that the child/young person, the foster family, the placing local authority and others involved have a shared understanding of the placement aims and consider that the selected placement will help achieve them.

3 d) Parent and child placements Banya aims to work with parents and their babies. Fostering provides a setting for work in assessing parenting abilities, as well as preparing for independent parenting (depending on each individual case). We work in partnership with the parents and the placing local authorities. These parents are offered help from our specialist carers, who can help transfer child development and parenting skills. At the same time it is arguable that some parents may themselves benefit from some form of parenting. e) Assessment placements A child or young person may be considered to need an overall assessment, as part of a longer term care plan. Our carers, in cooperation with other professionals, can provide placement stability and security so that the assessment is successfully completed. Duration may be from three months upwards. f) Moving towards independence Banya is concerned to develop skills, competence and knowledge necessary for adult living, in terms of moving towards independence and leaving care, within the framework of relevant legislation. Children and young people are encouraged to develop their full potential, as they come to the threshold of adult life. Such areas as personal budgeting, health care, rights awareness, and accessing training and educational needs are covered, with Banya taking on advocacy as appropriate. Banya foster carers are provided with clear, written requirements of what is expected of them in terms of preparing children and young people for independent or semi-independent living. In addition, Banya has a policy on practical arrangements for post-18 which can allow for young people to stay in the home of their foster carers. g) Monitoring education and health needs Subject to special arrangements, ideally entered into before placement commences, Banya can provide educational, counselling and therapeutic, and specialist medical inputs through partnership with professional affiliates, and placements for children with disabilities and/or learning difficulties. Banya assists the placing authority to carry out statutory obligations ensuring health care of all children and young people in placement. Every effort is made by Banya to provide information to carers on the health needs of each child, including medical or dental consent considerations. Guidance, support and advice on health, nutrition, personal care and health promotion are provided to carers, so that healthy living is prioritised.

4 Banya acts as advocate, in conjunction with carers, in trying to secure a place at school or college for every child and young person. Banya monitors the progress of each child or young person at school, including attendance and participation in school activities. Leisure interests, including public library use, hobbies and sports as appropriate, are a key area for encouragement. Carers receive information regarding educational needs, and assistance which can include purchase of educational equipment. Banya is concerned to back up efforts towards education, training and employment of children and young people who are over the minimum school leaving age, and to contribute to their Pathway plans.

7. Status and Constitution of Banya

Banya is an independent fostering provider. It is a private limited company, registered under the Companies Act 1985 (company number 3161115), operating in accordance with the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989. Banya comes under the regulatory framework of Ofsted, the national regulatory authority for fostering providers. Banya’s directors are its founders, Nyasha Gwatidzo (Fostering Manager and Registered Manager) and Paul Soper (Administration and Finance Director and Responsible Individual). They share responsibility for supervising the management of the agency, and maintaining a strategic overview of every aspect of Banya’s activities. The directors are responsible, with appropriate delegation, for determining Banya’s fulfilment of its statutory duties and responsibilities, which are constantly changing and being extended.

8. Management Structure

The Fostering Manager, or in her absence her Deputy, in liaison with the Administration and Finance Director, has direct responsibility for managing placements. There are regular directors, management group, social worker group and administration meetings, as well as staff meetings. The social work group comprises Senior Practitioners and Supervising Social Workers, all of whom are professionally qualified. The social workers are accountable to the Fostering Manager, and they supervise and support the carers on a regular basis. The Fostering Manager is responsible for the selection, training and assessment of carers, before approval to foster, and then after approval for their induction, continuing supervision, training, support and review as foster carers.

5 The Fostering Manager’s updating on relevant legislation and issues, and provision of supervision, training and support, enhances the effectiveness of our social workers. The Fostering Manager, together with the Administration and Finance Director and Banya’s social workers, keeps the Fostering Panel informed at all stages of significant developments. Administrative services are provided by an administration team.

9. Staff

Banya establishes clear roles with well established lines of communication and accountability between Managers, Staff and Carers. Banya employees 33 staff (22 of which are social workers) and staff numbers are maintained in line with placement and carer numbers, supported by a HR and quality assurance function. The Registered Manager and Senior Practitioners hold recognised professional social worker and management qualifications and all supervising social workers hold a recognised professional social work qualification. Staff has a range of previous experience which includes local authority children’s services and in residential children’s homes. Staff undertake specialist responsibilities such as Champions/Lead on projects including Partnership Working, Education, Stability of Placements, Supervision and Training. The foster carer recruitment, reviews of foster carers and assessments. All social workers have experience of foster care training, and of the work of Banya’s fostering panel. There is administrative support for the social workers’ responsibilities, and for the overall work of the fostering service including collating data including placement outcomes. All staff operate the CHARMS system, a computerised management system which provides a web based system which enables staff to manage all aspects of electronic case management.

Both social work staff and administrative staff keep updated with changes in fostering and social policy, and are concerned to update their professional development.

First name Last name Position Naomi Addai Supervising Social Worker Gunes Akbulut Senior Practitioner Irene Asubonteng Recruitment Coordinator Brenda Biamonti Supervising Social Worker Lidia Bokrezion Supervising Social Worker Amanda Brown Administrative Support Worker Verna Casey Supervising Social Worker Flo Chiwetu Business Management Consultant

6 Vyrah Collins Senior Practitioner & Deputy Fostering Manager Laurette Dudney Administration Manager Hewan Ghiorghis Finance Assistant Nyasha Gwatidzo Fostering Manager & joint Agency Decision Maker Jackie Hinson Supervising Social Worker Nicholas Hyman Contracts & Policy Officer Wendy Issaka Operations Manager Rose Katana Supervising Social Worker Carol Lilly Relations Manager Emilda Moyake Supervising Social Worker Ephraim Mudere Supervising Social Worker Emily Mullan Supervising Social Worker Sylvia Nengomasha Supervising Social Worker Sikho Ndlovu-Lovlie Senior Practitioner & joint Agency Decision Maker Garry Norwood Supervising Social Worker Caroline Palmer Reviewing Officer Michaela Pink Participation Worker & Compliance Officer Chido Poe Recruitment Coordinator Jennifer Roberts Supervising Social Worker Dorothy Shambambeva Student Social Worker Zainab Shyllom Supervising Social Worker Paul Soper Administration & Finance Director Irena Tafa Supervising Social Worker (maternity leave) Flo Worley Supervising Social Worker (maternity leave) Saul Zulu Supervising Social Worker

In addition, there are part-time sessional workers who provide a range of supportive and additional services to child in care and for local authorities from transport, escorting, supervised contact and support for young people moving into independence. Specialist advisers, who are consulted when appropriate, include medical, counselling and legal advisers.

10. Our Foster Carers

Banya has in total some 120 foster carer households. A further 22 households are in the process of being considered for eventual approval to foster. Active recruitment campaigns continue. With regard to the numbers of applicants to become foster carers, we try to identify from first enquiry stage those suited to the tasks of fostering. Most of those who complete the rigorous pre-assessment training course are later approved as carers. To retain carers and sustain their commitment are twin aims, and this is helped by careful discussion with those wishing to foster early in the process. The majority of our foster carers reside in the greater London region.

7 There is diversity in the ethnic and cultural mix of Banya’s carers, a frequent asset in matching considerations. Once approved, our foster carers undergo induction and continuous training. There is full provision of advice and information, including all hours support. Every effort is made through training, support groups and frequent oral and written communication, to familiarise foster carers with updated policies and procedures. Supervision of foster carers by our social workers is in full accord with fostering regulations and standards. Forums are held both for carers, and for children and young people placed with them. The necessity for relevant, and updated, information concerning each child placed is recognised. Procedures are in place to ensure that foster carers receive this information, and also monitor the state of health and educational development of each child and young person placed, with reference also to medical and dental consent requirements. Safer care and safeguarding for each child are constantly monitored.

11. Children Placed with Banya foster carers There are a total of some 125 children and young people in placement. There is a fairly balanced distribution of male and female children, and of children aged under and over 11. Many of the children and young people placed are part of a sibling group. Banya’s concern for children and young people to be in stable and secure placements is reflected in the average length of placements, which for children currently placed, is 2 years and 3 months. There is a children’s forum for children/young people placed with Banya foster carers. Banya is concerned at all times for the rights of children and young people, including their rights awareness.

12. Complaints Banya has an established procedure for the careful consideration and investigation of any complaints. A complaint was made to Ofsted in 2015, and was not upheld.

13. Financial Position Banya ensures that it is financially viable at all times, and in a position to fulfil its obligations. Its financial systems are properly operated and maintained in accordance with appropriate accounting standards. The accounts are maintained by Willis Burnell, Chartered Accountants.

8 14. Recruitment and Approval of Foster Carers

Banya follows recommended procedures, both legislative and in terms of established good practice. There is initial publicity, including advertising as appropriate, addressing specific needs for foster carers. Following an expression of interest in fostering, a pack is sent. On the basis of the replies received, a decision whether to proceed further is made. If positive, an initial home visit follows. Should that be satisfactory, there is an invitation to attend a training to foster course. From this starting point of selection, Banya has built up a group of long- serving, flexible and committed foster carers. The selection process, once the training to foster course has been completed satisfactorily, takes the form of a rigorous assessment, within the framework of the BAAF Form F, by an experienced social worker. In accordance with both legal and checking requirements, the assessment includes checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Social Services, and other agencies, in particular on any previous work involving children. On completion, the Form F is considered by Banya’s Fostering Panel, which may then recommend approval to foster. Once approved, each carer is reviewed annually, or more frequently if there is a change of circumstances. The Fostering Panels considers reviews periodically. Each foster carer is allocated a Banya social worker, who provides supervision on a regular basis. There is full emergency cover in support of placements. Foster carers undertake continuous training including TCIF (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families). We have facilitated many of our foster carers in their achieving the NVQ Level 3 course ‘Health & Social Care’. There is also an annual training programme within Banya, and in addition foster carers are encouraged and enabled to attend specific events and courses. Trainers have expertise on particular topics, for example on children with autism, parent and child placements and caring for unaccompanied minors/asylum seeking children. Some of these courses lead to accreditation as specialist carers. Banya’s Fostering Panel is duly constituted in accordance with relevant legislation. Independent members, experienced social workers, a foster carer from another agency, a former service user, an educationist and others, together with specifically qualified individuals, make up the panel. Both recommendations for approval to foster and review of foster carers fall within the aegis of the panel, including any variation of approval. There is regular panel training, including shared staff-panel sessions. The Fostering Panel meets regularly, with applicants invited to attend in person.

9 A Sense of Belonging BANYA FAMILY PLACEMENT AGENCY

Registered Provider, Responsible Individual and Registered Manager Address:Units 1, 6, 7 Croxted Mews, 286A-288 Croxted Road, London SE24 7DA Tel: 020 8678 5330 Fax: 020 8678 5343 Email: [email protected] Web: www.banya.co.uk

Registration Authority: Ofsted. Address: Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD Tel: 0300 123 1231 Email: [email protected]