Rated “Outstanding” in all areas, Ofsted drew specific attention to the fact that the cultural and ethnic needs of children and young people were met, and that their views, feelings and ideas were key to driving the development of the agency.
FCA Thames Valley supports vulnerable children and young people across the home counties, stretching from Bedford to Reading, to Hertfordshire to Milton Keynes, and incorporating North and West London.
Since its inception, the agency has had a strong focus on participation, ensuring the voice of the child is captured at every opportunity and feedback received is used to improve service delivery. From family events, support groups, achievement awards, and a wide range of children’s resources available in a multiple number of languages, inclusion has always been at its core.
FCA Thames Valley’s ‘safe and happy’ mantra – a pledge to build a service that is centred on children and young people feeling safe and happy whilst in care was praised by the inspection.
Read the full inspection report here >>
Ofsted consulted widely with local authorities, foster parents, and social work professionals who provided highly positive feedback about the professional working relationships, efficiency and commitment from FCA Thames Valley in delivering the best outcomes for children and young people.
The agency’s strength in providing Parent and Child placements was also highlighted. Ofsted commented: “The support is creative and practical. Foster carers are fully committed, going above and beyond to support parents to care for their young children. The parents are now motivated and ambitious about their life. The faultless quality of care from foster carers has taught parents the meaning of family life and parenthood.”
Kate Knight, Registered Manager at FCA Thames Valley commented: “This inspection highlights Thames Valley’s Journey. It recognises the ambition and passion that our staff and foster parents have for our children and young people. We place our children at the centre of what we do and they are actively involved in shaping the services we offer with opportunities to give feedback at every stage. Our children and young people are progressing with us and achieving fantastic outcomes.”
Kate concluded: “This result really is a testament to our hardworking team of professionals who go above and beyond every day to ensure faultless quality of care to all our children and young people in FCA Thames Valley.”
FCA Thames Valley is part of Polaris, one of the UK’s largest leading communities of children’s service providers, in which all of its wider services are now rated Ofsted ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.
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