The Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 2018

PART 11 Duties of local authority managers

Oversight of adequacy of resources

46.—(1) The local authority manager must report to the local authority provider on the adequacy of the resources available to provide the service in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations.

(2) Such reports must be made on a quarterly basis.

Other reports to the local authority provider

47.  The local authority manager must, without delay, report to the local authority provider—

(a) any concerns about the provision of the service,

(b) any significant changes to the way the service is managed or provided, and

(c) any concerns that the service is not being provided in accordance with the statement of purpose for the service.

Engagement with children and others

48.—(1) The local authority manager must put suitable arrangements in place for obtaining the views of—

(a) any child placed by the local authority provider,

(b) the parents of any such child, unless this is inappropriate or inconsistent with the child’s well-being,

(c) foster parents, and

(d) staff employed at the service,

on the quality of care and support provided and how this can be improved.

(2) The local authority manager must report the views obtained to the local authority provider so that these views can be taken into account by the provider when making any decisions on plans for improvement of the quality of care and support provided by the service.

Duty to ensure there are systems in place to record complaints

49.  The local authority manager must ensure that there are effective systems in place to record complaints.

Duty to ensure there are systems in place for keeping of records

50.  The local authority manager must ensure that there are effective systems in place in relation to the keeping of records, which include systems for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of records which must be kept under regulation 37.

Duty to ensure policies and procedures are up to date

51.  The local authority manager must put suitable arrangements in place to ensure that the provider’s policies and procedures are kept up to date, having regard to the statement of purpose for the service.

Quality of care review

52.—(1) The local authority manager must put suitable arrangements in place to establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and improving the quality of the service.

(2) The system established under paragraph (1) must make provision for the quality of care and support to be reviewed as often as required but at least every six months.

Support for raising concerns

53.  The local authority manager must ensure that the local authority provider’s whistleblowing policy is being complied with and that the arrangements to enable and support people working at the service to raise such concerns are being operated effectively.