Sefton Fostering Service aims to provide information on this website that is accessible to all who use it. Our website accessibility statement outlines improvements we will make to ensure we achieve these aims.

The statement covers only this website and our e-forms.

 

What is an accessible website?

An accessible website can be used by everyone, regardless of their abilities or the method they choose to access it.

 

Is this website accessible?

Most of this website is accessible using a wide range of devices, but we know that the following issues currently exist when using the site:

  • Difficulty skipping content on the site
  • Duplicated links, which can cause accessibility software to stop working
  • When using keyboard navigation, not all functions are available while many control functions aren’t highlighted
  • Contrast between text and background colour for headings and sub-headings, means it can be difficult for users with moderate visual impairments using the website
  • Not all links explain their purpose, while one link title will often lead to different destinations
  • PDFs often don’t have specified headings, while longer PDFs are difficult to navigate
  • Cookie Consent is difficult to zoom on very small screens

 

Feedback and contact information

Please contact us if you have an accessibility query including:

  • if you are experiencing issues with accessing information or using the website
  • if you find an accessibility problem not listed on this statement
  • if you have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made.

When you contact us there is a process in place that will acknowledge your contact, tell you who is dealing with it and give you a timescale by which you can expect a reply.

Get in touch by emailing fostering.adoption@sefton.gov.uk   and we shall try to find an alternative for you.

 

 

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) (external link).

 

Technical information about accessibility on this website

Sefton Fostering Service is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

 

This website is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA standard. The non-accessible sections are listed below:

  • 3.5 Identify Input Purpose: Identify the purpose of fields programmatically
  • 4.3 Contrast (Minimum): Ensure text has sufficient contrast
  • 4.4 Resize text: Ensure zoom to pinch is enabled
  • 4.5 Multiple Ways:  Ensure long PDFs use bookmarks to aid navigation
  • 4.7 Focus Visible: Ensure controls change appearance when they are selected

 

What we are doing to improve this website

The accessibility issues listed above are development and design issues. The Fostering Service is currently undergoing a strategic consultation and planning process. The evaluation, changes and if necessary, any redesign of the website will form part of the strategic development.

Following the consultation, it may be the intention to move the fostering site back to the Sefton Council website, which itself is undergoing a re-design in 2021. If it is decided to move the site back this would ensure any accessibility issues will be addressed in the 2021 corporate site redesign. If there is a decision to remain on the current site, we will further review accessibility issues, with a possible redesign being necessary.

 

Disproportionate burden

The redesign of the Sefton Fostering website is not feasible by September 23.

 

Preparation for this accessibility statement

This statement was first prepared on August 25, 2020

This statement was updated on September 3, 2020