A FOSTERING agency is celebrating after being rated outstanding by Ofsted for the third time in a row.

Priory Fostering Services, part of the Priory Group, was ranked outstanding both overall and in all three of the assessment’s categories.

In the inspection report, Ofsted said: “Foster carers feel extremely well supported by the agency’s managers and staff.

“Children make significant and sustained progress while in the care of their foster families. As a result, they are achieving outstanding personal outcomes. Children who historically have had very poor attendance are now achieving 100 per cent attendance and doing well academically.”

The management team and social workers at the agency, in Mathon, near Malvern, were described as “ambitious and innovative” by inspectors, who said: “They are motivated to keep learning and developing to improve the lives of the children.”

The report praised how well social workers and foster carers work in partnership. Inspectors also highlighted the fact that a large number of young people stay with their foster families after their 18th birthday.

“Managers and supervising social workers are proactive and use recent research to drive their practice,” it said. "Managers, social workers and foster carers are highly focused on the needs of the children in their care and prioritise their needs. The agency has excellent systems to monitor its performance.

“There is an excellent continuity of staff. This is a strength of the agency and results in a high level of consistency for foster carers and children.”

Tony Brooks, of Priory, said: “I am delighted with this report. I am thrilled the inspectors highlighted the success of the partnership between social workers and foster carers.”