Fostering service given plaudits

A team from the Government's children's services watchdog visited Barnsley Council's fostering services department at the end of September and the findings have just been published.

Inspectors said the service overall warranted a good rating but added that some areas of the service were deserving of outstanding, the highest possible classification.

In a report to Barnsley Council's ruling cabinet, which will meet later this week, officers say: "The last inspection of the fostering service was in September 2007.

"Inspectors noted that the recommendations from 2007 had been effectively addressed, and the recommendations from this inspection on will be addressed in a similar timely manner.

"The outcome of the inspection is that Barnsley Council provides a good fostering service with outstanding features and the inspector leading the inspection made it very clear that the service was on the cusp of being an outstanding service overall.

"The fostering service is described as a well-managed service which is providing good outcomes for children and young people in its care.

"This result recognises the hard work of staff, foster carers and the improving care being offered to young people."

Ofsted told fostering workers that they needed to ensure that health and safety checks at households of foster carers required improvement, but said in general checks carried out were good.

They also said that one of the authority's two residential homes for children and young people was good with three areas outstanding, while the other home was outstanding overall.

The report adds: "This was an absolutely superb outcome and a real reflection of the quality care being offered."