A REVIEW of East Renfrewshire Council’s fostering service has delivered top marks.

The Care Inspectorate heaped praise on the service after carrying out a short-notice inspection at Eastwood Health and Care Centre in October.

Experts spoke to children in foster care, as well as hearing from foster carers.

The report hailed the service as “very good” for both the quality of care and support on offer and the work being done by staff.

It concluded: “Children and young people were benefitting from the nurturing, loving relationships within fostering households.

“Foster carers promoted healthy, active lifestyles, with hobbies and interests promoted.

“The free and prioritised access to East Renfrewshire Council’s range of community-based events was providing impressive opportunities for engagement in the wider community.

“The need for safety and the management of risk was well balanced with the opportunity for children and young people to grow and develop.

“Staff members told us that morale was very good and that the team worked well together.”

One foster carer who spoke to inspectors commented: “All the workers I have dealt with, both social workers and supervising social workers, are professional, caring and mindful of the best interests of the child.”

However, another carer said: “Sometimes the information about the children could be provided quicker.”

The report listed no requirements for improvement.