Falkirk Council Fostering Service
Recorded Key Question grade range: 3–4 — Adequate View on Care Inspectorate
Key Question scores
Requirements & recommendations
1. By 1 April 2026 the provider must ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people is robustly supported by effective carer training. This should include but is not limited to: a) ensuring carers attend all mandatory and refresher training, particularly that relating to the protection of children and young adults. b) work to achieve consistent engagement of carers in continuous learning through flexible learning opportunities This is to comply with Regulation 4(1)(a) (welfare of users) of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210). This is to ensure that the quality of care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard which state that: 'I have confidence in people because they are trained, competent and skilled, and are able to reflect on their practice and follow their professional and organisational codes' (HSC2. By 1 April 2026 , the provider must develop and implement effective processes in relation to the admission and matching of children and young people to caregivers within the service. This is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and stability of care arrangements for children and young people. To do this, the provider must as a minimum: a) Ensure the comprehensive assessment of children and young people's needs in conjunction with the skills and capacity of caregivers within the service. b) Ensure caregivers' strengths and vulnerabilities are identified and recorded, along with any supports required to meet the identified needs of the child. c) Ensure that the views of caregivers, birth children and other children or young people living within caring households are consistently sought and used to inform decision-making. To do this, the provider must as a minimum: a) Develop a cohesive policy in relation to all premature endings, including interim, long term and permanent placements. b) Ensure practice is consistent with the revised policy. c) Ensure the process for reviewing premature endings is timely. d) Utilise quality assurance mechanisms to support a clear overview of young people and carers experiences of unplanned endings throughout their involvement with the service. This is to comply with Regulation 4(1)(a) (welfare of users) of the Social Care and Social Work improvement Scotland (Requirements for care services) regulations 2011 (SS1 2011/210) This is to ensure that the quality of care and2. By 1 April 2026 , children and young people’s wellbeing and rights should be supported by a good concern and complaint handling system. To do this, the provider must, as a minimum: a) ensure that there is an effective system within the service for the management of concerns and complaints that is reflective of the ethos and vision of the organisation. b) develop clear systems for recording concerns and complaints which also charts how they have been addressed. c) ensure a shared understanding across the staff team of the concerns and complaints system and processes, including any changes made because of this requirement. d) ensure that all caring households have an understanding of this process and can access a wr3. By 1 March 2026 the provider should ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by always applying a consistent approach to protection matters. To do this, the provider must as a minimum: a) Ensure practice is in line with national guidance and good practice. b) Ensure staff and caregivers are clear as to their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protection matters through training, supervision and team learning opportunities. c) Ensure comprehensive recording tracking and outcomes monitoring of all safeguarding and protection matters. d) Ensure all incidents and protection concerns are appropriately notified to the care inspectorate within legal timescales. This is to comply with regulation 4 (1)(a) of Social Care and Social Work Improvement (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/2010). This is to ensure that
1. The service should provide high quality support which consistently meets the needs of caring households. To do this, the service should, as a minimum: a) Identify vulnerabilities and support needs at an early juncture. b) Ensure supports are provided in a timely manner. c) Ensure the consistent provision of regular high-quality supervision to caring households which is well recorded. This is to comply with Regulation 4(1)(a) (welfare of users) of the Social Care and Social Work improvement Scotland (Requirements for care services) regulations 2011 (SS1 2011/210). This is to ensure that the quality of care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standard which state that:1. The service should seek to improve the consistency and quality of recording across key documentation, including supervision records, case notes, safer caring assessments and unannounced visit records. This should include ensuring all key records are safely stored and accessible. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the health and Social Care Standards (HSCS which state that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes' (HSCS 4.19). 'I experience high quality care and support because people have the necessary information and resources' (HSCS 4.27).