Mulberry Foster Care Statement of Purpose, May, 2025
Mulberry Foster Care,
Mulberry House,
Phocle Green Business Park,
Ross-on-Wye,
HR9 7XU
01989 550955
enquiries@mulberryfostercare.co.uk
This statement has been produced in accordance with Standard 16 of the National Minimum
Standards; Fostering Services 2011, Regulation 3 of The Fostering Service (England) Regulations
2011 and Chapter 4 of The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations, Volume 4: Fostering
Services and any associated guidance and amendments.
This Statement sets out the Aims and Objectives of Mulberry Foster Care and the Services and
Facilities provided by the agency. This Statement of Purpose is provided to Ofsted. Our Ofsted
Registration Number is 1236131
This Statement of Purpose is available on request to anyone working for the purposes of
Mulberry Foster Care, foster parents and potential foster parents, children placed with our
foster parents, their birth parents and their Local Authorities.
Mulberry Foster Care reviews and updates this Statement of Purpose as necessary,
It is available on Mulberry Foster Care’s website: Independent Fostering Agency Herefordshire |
Mulberry Foster Care
Legislative Context
This Statement of Purpose is written in accordance with:
•
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
•
The Children Act 1989 & 2004
•
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010
•
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
•
National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services (2011)
Contents
1. Key Values, Principles and Commitments
2. Aims and Objectives
3. Company Structure and Roles
4. Recruitment and Assessment of Foster Parents
5. Safeguarding and National Minimum Standards
6. Services Provided
7. Comments, Complaints and Allegations
8. Records
1. Key Values, Principles and Commitments
We provide a child centered service to support individual needs throughout childhood and into
independence, for vulnerable children and young people that is:
High Quality
Mulberry Foster Care aims for all its foster carers and staff to receive comprehensive training and
support, fostering a culture of continued learning and growth to deliver the highest standard of
care to children and young people
Safe
We strive to create a safe and secure environment for children while equipping our foster carers
and staff with the tools to prioritise safety and well-being in every aspect of their care.
Caring
Our team fosters a culture of compassion, kindness, and respect, embracing a culturally
informed approach that ensures every child, foster carer, and staff member feels valued,
understood, and supported.
Nurturing
We empower our foster carers and staff to provide a nurturing environment that encourages
children to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Therapeutic
Through specialised therapeutic training and support, we enable foster carers and staff to help
children heal, build resilience, and develop positive futures.
Mulberry Foster Care – A Systemic learning organisation committed to learning, reflection, and
continuous growth.
Our Commitments
The following shared commitments underpin how we operate every day to achieve the highest
standards in our service provision:
1.
We will maintain and promote our high standards of honesty, integrity and ethics.
2.
We will do our jobs diligently and professionally, in collaboration or jointly with colleagues
where appropriate. Working together is key to safeguard children and young people.
3.
We are committed to providing a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and
respect. We do not tolerate bullying, harassment and discrimination.
4.
We will always speak up about any actual or potential wrongdoing, including negligence
or a breach of our policies, within our organisation straightaway.
5.
We will always listen to the children themselves and take onboard their needs and
everything they raise with us.
6.
We will ensure that all foster carers are provided with opportunities to be trained in
delivering safer, nurturing, and effective support to children and young people.
7.
We will strive to ensure all Foster carers provide a safe environment to enable children
and young people to thrive to their full potential.
8.
We will always operate our business in a fair and transparent manner and in compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements.
9.
We will always adhere to all internal policies and procedures and will not circumvent
processes or share confidential information in respect of the information we hold.
10.
We will always conduct activities in a safe and environmentally responsible manner,
through complying with all relevant legal requirements, and actively encouraging colleagues to
raise issues, learn lessons and continually improve.
11.
We will always identify opportunities to operate in a sustainable way, by minimising the
use of energy and resources, and reducing waste in how we operate.
Each of us has a personal responsibility to read our Code, understand what it means in the
context of our own roles and apply it consistently in the work that we do. We are all equally
accountable for fulfilling our values and commitments to ensure we have a workplace where we
feel we belong and can thrive, and we are able to successfully achieve our excellent standards of
service.
Our commitment to inclusion means that every child is treated as an individual, with their rights,
wishes and best interests guiding every action we take.
2. Aims and Objectives:
Mulberry Foster Care Ltd works in partnership with all Local Authorities to promote Corporate
Parenting and with a wide range of partner agencies in order to achieve the best possible
outcomes for children in care. In addition, Mulberry Foster Care Ltd aims to continually develop
and improve services and ensure high standards of service, with the primary aim to provide the
highest quality of substitute family care for children in care.
Aims
•
To provide a safe caring environment with foster carers who will enable children and
young people to develop to their full potential
•
To provide a Fostering Service managed by professionals with appropriate skills and
experience and to provide a service effectively and efficiently
•
To recruit, support and train a diverse range of foster carers across the West Midlands
•
To provide supervision, support, and training for Foster Carers, to ensure they look
after the children and young people in their care, safely and appropriately
•
To provide a well-resourced foster service that is respected in the community, and
which delivers excellence by providing a model of good practice enhancing the
reputation and image of our foster carers
•
To ensure that foster carers are at the heart of arrangements for children in care
Objectives
•
To provide foster carer placements where each child will have stability, security, and
a warm, safe, nurturing environment in which they can develop and thrive
•
To carefully match the needs of children and young people with the skill of foster
carers ensuring the cultural and diverse needs of the children and young people are
adequately met
•
To enable all children in care to benefit from educational opportunities and are
prepared for independence where appropriate
•
To ensure a child’s physical and emotional health care needs are met and a positive
health
•
lifestyle is actively encouraged
•
To promote Family Time with the birth family and significant others during placement
and to encourage and facilitate this where appropriate
•
To ensure Placement Plans are acted upon
•
To work in partnership with Foster Carers, ensuring access to training, guidance, and
the support of a fully qualified, designated Supervising Social Worker always
•
To ensure provision for 24-hour support for Foster Carers, Children and Young People
•
A commitment to the development of the service, through service user/stakeholder
participation and consultation and the use of advocacy where appropriate
•
To ensure the emotional health and wellbeing of all children in care placed in foster
care
•
To ensure Foster Carers act as a responsible and reasonable parent in promoting the
interests and welfare of children and young people in care
•
To provide children and young people with a range of social opportunities and
experiences that they may not previously have been able to access
Measurable Outcomes
We measure our success as an Independent Fostering Agency through:
• Placement stability
• Educational progress
• Emotional wellbeing as evidenced through our children’s progress trackers
We also ensure children’s voices are heard by:
• Providing access to a children’s advocate
• Providing a mentor to all young people who want one, through Mentorlink
• Seeing children regularly and spending quality time with them
• Holding regular Young People’s Council meetings
Every decision we make is focused on listening to children and acting in their best
interests. We actively promote children’s rights and participation in their care planning.
3. Company Structure and Roles
"Mulberry Foster Care is supported by a team of qualified, skilled, and experienced professionals.
In addition to the senior leadership, the team includes a Systemic Family Therapist, Supervising
Social Workers, as well as dedicated Business Support and a Finance Officer."
Mulberry Foster Care is an Independent Fostering Provider. It is a Private Limited Company
registered under the Companies Act 1985.
Company Number: 09760723
In accordance with the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989, Mulberry Foster Care has a Board of
Directors, which meets on a regular basis and is responsible for the corporate governance of the
agency and other managers.
•
Managing Director and Responsible Individual – Andrew Robinson
•
Director and Registered Manager – Shaun Burnett
•
Director and Operations Manager – Jane Carver
•
Director – Commissioning & Placements Manager - Matthew Smith
•
Agency Decision Maker – Charles Nyamhotsi
•
Social Work Team Manager – Marc Heptinstall
4. Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Foster Parents
Recruitment
Applications to become a Foster Carer are welcomed from people across the West Midlands
area, regardless of gender, marital status, age, sexuality, race, disability, religion and culture or
employment status. Anyone over the age of 21 years may apply to become a foster carer. A
welcoming and professional response is given to all enquiries. There is immediate exclusion of
any applicant who has been convicted of an offence against a child or any serious offence against
an adult. There is no upper age limit for foster carers. However, applicants must be healthy and
active, to enable them to care appropriately for a child and meet their needs.
Any person contacting Mulberry Foster Care Ltd and expressing an interest in fostering will be
able to have an initial discussion with a fostering social worker. At this stage and following the
discussion if the enquirer wishes to continue an information pack will be sent out on the same
day or as soon as possible. Prospective foster carers may be invited to attend an information
event, where they can receive more information. Following this, an initial visit is undertaken to
assess motivation to foster and discuss the implications of fostering with the applicants and
other family members. Home conditions will be discussed and further basic information will be
collected to enable an initial evaluation of the application. If all parties agree that fostering could
be suitable for the family and the basic criteria are met, an invitation to a preparation-training
group is given.
Assessment
Applicants complete the Fostering Network - Skills to Foster Programme, covering key areas such
as safeguarding, fostering regulations, child development, handling allegations, separation and
loss, safer care, and working as part of a team. Prospective foster carers are trained and
supported to understand the importance of listening to children’s views and promoting their
participation in care planning and everyday decisions.
Mulberry Foster Care is committed to safe recruitment practices. All applicants undergo rigorous
checks and assessments, including those set out in fostering legislation and guidance.
To ensure the suitability of applicants and safeguard children, Mulberry Foster Care Ltd conducts
comprehensive statutory checks, including:
•
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and Local Authority checks
•
Employer, NSPCC, and health visitor reports
•
Medical assessments and personal references (excluding family members)
•
Domestic violence and overseas checks (if applicable)
•
Health & Safety inspection and interviews with ex-partners/children (where relevant)
•
Form F Assessment
Applicants who complete training proceed to a detailed Form F assessment by a qualified Social
Worker, involving home visits assessing their parenting capacity, relationships, home
environment, and ability to meet children’s needs. This is a collaborative process requiring full
participation.
The completed assessment is presented to an independent Fostering Panel, which makes a
recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). Applicants can withdraw at any stage or,
if not recommended, appeal via the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) within 28 days.
Fostering Panel & Approval
The Fostering Panel, comprising professionals, foster carers, and individuals with lived
experience of care, ensures assessments meet National Minimum Standards and Fostering
Regulations. The Agency Decision Maker makes the final decision.
Once approved, a Supervising Social Worker provides ongoing support, supervision, and a
tailored training plan, especially during the first year of fostering.
All approved foster carers must complete their Training, Support & Development (TSD) Standards
within 12 months of approval. This ensures their continued development and adherence to best
practice.
5. Safeguarding and National Minimum Standards
Policies
Mulberry adheres to statutory safeguarding guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard
Children, and has clear procedures for reporting, managing, and investigating concerns. To
support this, we utilise Trix policies, a recognised framework providing legally compliant,
evidence-based policies and procedures used by local authorities and fostering agencies. This
ensures our safeguarding approach remains up to date, consistent, and aligned with national
best practices.
Safeguarding at Mulberry Foster Care includes actively seeking and responding to children’s
views about their safety and wellbeing. Their insights contribute to our assessments, planning,
and continuous service development.
Compliance with National Minimum Standards
Mulberry Foster Care is committed to meeting and exceeding the National Minimum Standards
for Fostering Services (2011), ensuring high-quality care for children and robust support for foster
carers. Our practices align with statutory requirements, fostering best outcomes for children in
placement.
To measure and review progress effectively, we use a Quarterly Child Progress Tracker, based on
National Minimum Standards. This tool enables us to monitor key areas such as:
•
Children’s wishes, feelings, and identity
•
Positive behaviour and relationships
•
Safety, welfare, and risk management
•
Health and well-being
•
Education and independence preparation
The tracker uses clear scoring criteria to evaluate whether children are making expected
progress, requiring additional support, or excelling. This structured approach ensures timely
interventions where necessary and informs our continuous improvement strategy.
By integrating this tracker into our regular supervision and review process, we ensure that every
child’s development is actively supported and aligned with the fostering standards, enhancing
their long-term outcomes.
6. Services Provided
Placements
Mulberry Foster Care Ltd. offers placements to all children in care and young people up to 18
years of age. Children and young people placed will not be expected to share a bedroom with
another child in placement or a child of the foster family. The only exceptions to this are subject
to an evaluation and risk assessment.
1. Emergency and short-term foster placements
2. Long-term and permanent foster placements
3. Parent and Child foster placements
4. Respite placements
5. Staying Put arrangements
Matching
Mulberry Foster Care ensures that every placement is underpinned by a robust risk assessment
and matching criteria which prioritises placement stability. This includes detailed analysis of
children’s needs and foster carers’ capabilities to promote successful long-term placements.
Mulberry Foster Care ensures that children and young people are carefully matched with foster
carers whose skills, experience, and specialisms align with their individual needs. Many of our
foster carers have expertise in supporting children with trauma, complex behaviours, or
additional needs.
The Referrals Officer manages placement referrals from Local Authorities, working closely with
supervising social workers, foster carers, and children’s social workers to identify the best
possible match. We prioritise attachment relationships, placement stability, and the child’s
emotional and practical needs, ensuring a thoughtful and well-supported transition.
The matching process involves reviewing the foster carer’s assessment, training, and strengths,
ensuring compatibility and positive long-term outcomes for the child.
Therapeutic Services
1. RAFT Model and Systemic Family Therapy
RAFT, which stands for Relational, Actions, Feelings & Thoughts, is both a model and a training
program that blends various therapeutic elements with a systemic approach. It draws on
concepts from
interpersonal neurobiology, mentalization, and cognitive theory, providing the theoretical
foundation for training and communication principles. Furthermore, RAFT training delves deeper
into nurturing parenting concepts, assisting foster carers in translating theory into practical skills
for everyday communication and nurturing caring responses.
Aims of RAFT training:
To increase self-regulation and to help develop/maintain a nurturing learning environment.
Additionally, to assist foster carers in cultivating a heightened awareness of how their emotional
and communicative responses affect another. To support foster carers in co-regulating children
under their care, utilising skills to enact what interpersonal neurobiology terms as integrative
actions/responses. These actions aim to alleviate distress, enhance engagement, and promote
their development.
Mulberry Foster Care have access to therapeutic services through Therapeutic Packages that are
on offer to Local Authorities placing children with Mulberry. This includes the following
accessible services:
As an agency we are supported by our in house Systemic Family Psychotherapist, Shakira
Nkanang. By delivering RAFT training and reinforcing our Supervising Social Worker Team with
Systemic interventions, we can ensure a genuine therapeutic fostering model.
Our therapeutic model emphasises attuned listening and relational safety, helping children feel
heard and validated as they make sense of their experiences
2. Play Therapy
At Mulberry Foster Care, we understand the profound impact of play therapy in helping children
express themselves, process emotions, and heal from past trauma. Under the guidance of an
experienced therapist. Play therapy becomes a transformative tool for our young residents. Judith
brings a wealth of expertise and compassion to her sessions, creating a safe and supportive
environment where children feel empowered to explore their thoughts and feelings through play.
Through carefully selected activities and interventions, Judith helps children develop coping
skills, build resilience, and form healthy attachments. Her dedication to each child's individual
needs ensures that they receive the personalized care and attention they deserve on their journey
towards healing and growth.
3. Equine Therapy
At Mulberry Foster Care, we recognize the powerful healing potential of equine therapy, which is
why we've partnered with Hayswood Equestrian to offer this unique form of therapeutic
intervention. Led by experienced professionals, our equine therapy program provides children in
foster care with the opportunity to connect with horses in a safe and nurturing environment.
Through interactions with these majestic animals, children learn valuable lessons in trust,
communication, and emotional regulation. Under the guidance of the skilled team at Hayswood
Equestrian, participants develop essential life skills, such as empathy, responsibility, and self-
confidence, as they engage in activities like grooming, riding, and groundwork exercises. The
bond formed between children and horses fosters a sense of connection and empowerment,
contributing to their overall well-being and personal development. Equine therapy at Mulberry
Foster Care offers a unique and enriching experience that complements our holistic approach to
fostering, helping children thrive and reach their full potential.
4. Mentoring
At Mulberry Foster Care, we understand the importance of positive role models and supportive
relationships in the lives of children in foster care. That's why we've partnered with Mentor Link to
offer a comprehensive mentoring program aimed at providing children with the guidance and
encouragement they need to succeed. Through one-on-one mentoring sessions with trained
volunteers, children in our care have the opportunity to develop meaningful connections with
caring adults who serve as role models and advocates. Mentor Link's team of dedicated mentors
provides individualised support, helping children set goals, build confidence, and navigate life's
challenges. Whether it's academic support, career guidance, or simply someone to talk to, our
mentoring program offers a safe and supportive space for children to explore their interests,
discover their strengths, and unlock their full potential. At Mulberry Foster Care, we believe that
every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and our partnership with Mentor Link reflects our
commitment to providing comprehensive support and resources to help children succeed in all
aspects of life.
5. Sensory Room
At Mulberry Foster Care, we recognise the vital role that sensory rooms play in supporting the
emotional well-being and regulation of children in foster care. That's why we've invested in a
state-of-the-art sensory room right here at our offices. Sensory rooms provide a safe and calming
environment where children can explore their senses, regulate their emotions, and find comfort
and solace during times of stress or overwhelm. Our sensory room is equipped with a variety of
sensory tools and equipment, including soft lighting, tactile surfaces, soothing sounds, and
interactive elements, all designed to engage the senses and promote relaxation. Whether a child
needs a quiet space to unwind, a place to release pent-up energy, or a sensory-rich environment
to stimulate their senses, our sensory room offers a sanctuary where they can find peace and
comfort. Our dedicated staff are trained in sensory regulation techniques and are on hand to
support children in utilising the sensory room to meet their individual needs. By incorporating
sensory experiences into our care approach, we empower children to self-regulate, manage
stress, and build resilience, ultimately fostering a sense of security and well-being in their foster
care journey.
5. Art & Music Therapy
We recognise that some of our Looked After children need something different, given their
creative interests. Art Therapy and Music Therapy are creative therapeutic approaches that help
individuals express emotions, process experiences, and improve mental well-being through
artistic and musical expression. Both therapies can be particularly beneficial for individuals who
find it difficult to articulate their thoughts and feelings verbally.
6. Further services and support
•
Mulberry provides activities and events each year for children, young people, foster
parents, children who foster and wider families. These provide opportunities to build
supportive relationships for both foster parents and children.
•
All foster parents and Local Authorities have 24-hour support from a qualified social
•
worker.
•
Mulberry Foster Care undertakes careful matching, demonstrating how the foster parent