Our Statement of Purpose

Organic Fostering Ltd is an independent fostering agency based in Manchester. It provides foster placements for children and young people who are looked after by local authorities.

Our stated values are acceptance, empowerment and excellence.

The full Statement of Purpose must be maintained in accordance with current applicable legislation, regulations and statutory guidance. The controlled document should be checked against, at minimum:

• Children Act 1989;
• Care Standards Act 2000;
• Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, as amended;
• Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards 2011;
• Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010, as amended;
• current statutory guidance on fostering services and care planning;
• Equality Act 2010;
• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018;
• Working Together to Safeguard Children, current edition.

Organic Fostering aims to:

• safeguard and promote the welfare of every child placed through the agency;
• provide safe, stable and nurturing foster homes;
• listen to children and help them participate in decisions that affect them;
• respect and support each child's identity, culture, faith, language, sexuality and relationships;
• support health, emotional wellbeing, education and preparation for adulthood;
• recruit a diverse range of foster carers able to meet different needs;
• make careful, evidence-informed matching decisions;
• prepare, supervise and develop foster carers throughout approval;
• work openly with local authorities, families and other professionals;
• monitor quality, learn from feedback and address concerns.

The agency seeks to ensure that children and young people:

• are protected from harm and treated with dignity;
• understand why they are living in foster care as far as possible;
• are listened to and know how to raise a concern;
• can maintain important relationships when this is safe and part of their care plan;
• receive support for health, emotional wellbeing and education;
• are helped to enjoy interests, friendships and community life;
• have their culture, faith, language and identity respected;
• are prepared for future moves or adulthood in a planned way;
• experience as much stability and continuity as circumstances allow.

The full document should describe current arrangements for:

• allocation of a supervising social worker;
• supervision frequency and recording;
• announced and unannounced visits;
• out-of-hours advice;
• training and personal development plans;
• support groups, peer support and household activities;
• annual foster carer reviews;
• placement planning and disruption support;
• allegations, complaints and independent support;
• record keeping and access to policies;
• support for carers' own children;
• respite or support care, where available.

Organic Fostering seeks to provide a service free from unlawful discrimination. Differences in race, culture, faith, language, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and family structure should be respected throughout recruitment, employment, matching and care.

Children should be supported to understand and take pride in their identity. Carers should receive learning and practical help where they are caring for a child whose identity or lived experience differs from their own.

The full Statement must explain how a child, carer, parent or professional can:

• report a safeguarding concern;
• make a complaint or representation;
• access advocacy and independent help;
• contact Ofsted;
• receive an accessible version of relevant information;
• understand how whistleblowing concerns are handled.

The controlled Statement of Purpose must include an accurate organisation structure, the Registered Manager and Responsible Individual, relevant staff qualifications and experience, staffing arrangements and use of independent professionals.

The Statement of Purpose should be reviewed at least annually and whenever significant law, guidance, leadership or service arrangements change. The website must always link to the current approved version and archive withdrawn copies internally.

Alternative formats should be available on request.

Organic Fostering Ltd
Beaumont House, Office 4
455 Chester Road
Manchester M16 9HA

0161 241 1332
info@organicfostering.co.uk