Standards Covering Children Living in Foster Care and Children's Homes in Tameside

This page explains what Services for Children and Young People does to make sure that any child placed with a foster carer or in a children's home is provided with a safe and quality service.

• Children Looked After by Tameside Foster Carers
• Children Looked After in Tameside Children's Homes
• Children Looked After by Independent Fostering Agencies
• Children Looked After in Private or Voluntary Children's Homes
• What if Tameside's Services for Children and Young People are not happy with the care that children are receiving?
• What if a child, parent or representative is not happy with the care that they are receiving?
• What if a child needs someone to support them and speak for them?
• What if you would like further information?
• How can we work with you?

Children looked after by Tameside Foster Carers

We ensure that:

• Tameside Fostering Team trains and supports all foster families.
• A Fostering Panel (made up of representatives from the community, carers and professionals) meets to check that all potential foster carers are safe and honest; have the right skills and are the best people to be fostering children. If the potential foster carer passes these checks then the Panel will make recommendations to senior management. They then consider whether they give their approval for the person to foster.
• Tameside Fostering Service works to the Fostering Services Regulations , published by the Government. The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) inspects Tameside Fostering Service each year to ensure that it meets these regulations.

Children looked after in Tameside Children's Homes

We ensure that:

• All Children's Homes that Tameside run meet standards (Children's Homes Regulations ) set by central Government. These ensure that we look after children in a safe and proper way which meets their needs. Ofsted inspects the homes regularly to ensure the homes meet those standards.
• Tameside Services for Children and Young People managers carry out regular visits to the home. An Independent Reviewing Officer chairs children's reviews at the home.
• Tameside Councillors also do their own checks and visits.

Children looked after by Independent Fostering Agencies

Sometimes we need to place children with foster carers who are provided by independent fostering agencies.

We ensure that:

• All foster carers with agencies are subject to the same rules as foster carers who are supervised by Tameside. We check that all carers with the agency have the correct approval to care for a child and the placement is suitable to meet the child's needs.
• Agencies are registered with Ofsted or are on a schedule to be registered and inspected.

Children looked after in Private or Voluntary Children's Homes

Sometimes we need to place children in Children's Homes that private or voluntary organisations run.

We ensure that:

• Private and voluntary children's homes are registered with Ofsted when we place a child in a children's home that we match the needs of each child to the packages of care that each home can provide.

What if Tameside Services for Children and Young People is not happy with the care that children are receiving?

If the child, parent or representatives raise issues with us about the child's overall care, we will make sure we put matters right as soon as possible. This can often mean talking through issues with carers and agreeing what needs to change.

Sometimes there are more serious issues that we need to look at in a more formal way. If this happens we arrange a 'strategy meeting' immediately to which we will invite several different people depending on the circumstances. An independent person chairs the meeting. These meetings decide the best way to make sure we keep the child safe and cared for properly.

What if a child, parent or representative is not happy with the care that they receive?

We would want them to talk with the child's social worker about it straight away.

If a child or parent is still unhappy then they can make a complaint. There is a leaflet available from social workers which gives information about how to do this.

Alternatively they can follow our complaints procedure.

What if a child needs someone to support them and speak for them?

The Children's Rights Service (independent of Tameside Council) has the job of supporting young people in care and making sure that their views are listened to. If any child in care wants this support they can contact them on 0800 195 2978. The call is free.

What if you would like further information?

If you have any further questions, please talk with your social worker.

If you have any questions for Ofsted, please contact them at:

Ofsted, Royal Exchange Buildings, St.Anne's Square, Manchester M2 7LA
 08456 404045 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

How can we work with you?

We need your help to improve our services continually. We will ask for your views in various ways which may involve completing reviews or questionnaires. We appreciate your support.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Services for Children and Young People Tameside Fostering Service Union Street,Hyde SK14 1ND View local map
0161 366 8865
"0161 368 8642"