The Children's Society

The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service

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Unique reference number SC067198 Inspection date 26-Oct-2010 Inspector Rosie Dancer Type of inspection Key Type of registration Adoption Support Agency

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Service address 91-93 Queen's Road Peckham London SE15 2EZ Telephone number 0207 732 9089

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Fax number

Email address psotadoption@childrenssociety.org.uk Website address www.childrenssociety.org.uk Registered person Lara Patel Registered manager Lara Patel Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 2 of 12

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Fax number

This document may be freely reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 3 of 12

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Not judged: this aspect of the provision was not judged Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 4 of 12

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Brief description of the service

The Post adoption and Care Service is run by the Children’s Society. The society has provided care for children who have been unable to live with their families since its formation in 1881. The Adoption and Post Care Service provides service users with: information and advice; access to records; a tracing service; counselling services; intermediary services and forums for people who were adopted. The agency also provides similar services to people who were in the care of the society between 1936 and 2005 and works with former child migrants and their descendants. The focus of this inspection is on the adoption work carried out by the service.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is Outstanding

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

This was an announced key inspection during which all of the relevant national minimum standards and regulations relating to adoption support agencies were assessed. The progress in meeting the recommendation made following the last inspection was also assessed. This agency provides an outstanding service to people affected by adoption.

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What the service does well

The services provided to people who were adopted through the Children's Society is of an outstanding quality. The arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of people using the service are of an exceptional quality as is the practice in relation to any concerns raised, during the course of the work, about children.

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What the service does well

Service delivery is of an excellent quality and achieves good outcomes for people using the service.

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What the service does well

There is strong leadership and management of the agency and the arrangements for monitoring and controlling the work is overall effective.

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What the service does well

The calibre of managers and staff are real strengths of this agency as all are very skilled, experienced and committed to providing the best service possible. Staff are very well supported by the managers and the organisation and this ensures staff carry out their roles effectively.

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What the service does well

Communication within the agency is very good as are the arrangements for working in partnership with external agencies; this ensures that people can access the help that they need. Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 5 of 12

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What has been improved since the last inspection

The manager was asked to ensure that the level of Criminal Records Bureau checks carried out on staff were clearly recorded; the manager now ensures this information is maintained on personnel files.

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What they could do better

The management of the agency should ensure that there is more frequent reporting to the organisation's standards committee. This is so that the committee have regular updates on the management and outcomes of the services and can best fulfil the monitoring role.

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What they could do better

There should be a disaster recovery plan developed in respect to the premises the agency operates from to ensure that, in the event of the building being seriously damaged, there are planned responses. Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 6 of 12

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Statement of purpose

There is a clearly written Statement of Purpose which sets out the aims and objectives of the agency. It provides the reader with a good view about what the agency can offer and is made available to all interested parties. It can be developed in a range of formats to ensure it is accessible to all. The statement is formally approved, on an annual basis, by the society’s standards committee. The work of the agency is underpinned by the statement and the agency’s policies and procedures accurately reflect the stated aims and objectives.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

This agency does not provide services directly to children. However, there are comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to children and vulnerable adults. These are accessible to staff and guide staff, in the event of a disclosure, in taking appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of the individual or individuals concerned.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

In the event of historical abuse the Children’s Society has a historical abuse policy and all such concerns are referred to the head of safeguarding who ensures that they are dealt with in accordance with the policy.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

The safeguarding practice is robust. Staff are extremely competent in recognising signs and symptoms of abuse and are equally competent in following up those concerns. In the event of an allegation being made staff, in consultation with managers, ensure that appropriate action is taken so that the issues can be properly investigated by the appropriate authorities.

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User focused services

Service users are provided with very good quality information. There are a range of useful leaflets, access to advice from the agency via a duty system, contact to and from the agency via email, post and a useful website about the services provided. These resources ensure that service users are clear about the services provided, clear about how services are delivered and are provided with support and advice when they need it. Comments from people using the services include, ‘My worker Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 7 of 12

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User focused services

explained what would happen.’ and ‘Everything was explained to me….I was able to understand it easily.’

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User focused services

Currently the service does not have a waiting list which means that services can be offered in a timely way. The agency also tries to ensure that all affected by adoption can access appropriate services. For example, if a person makes an enquiry but they do not meet this agency's criteria they are signposted to another service which can help them.

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User focused services

The services provided to people using the agency are of a very high standard. Safety and welfare issues are at the forefront of all work carried out. The wishes and feeling of all service users, be they adoptees or birth relatives are, wherever possible, adhered to. The fine balance between people's wishes and their safety and the safety of others is consistently achieved. Formal counselling and therapeutic input can be provided for those service users who would benefit from this work. The agency, where appropriate, also works in partnership with other adoption services and professionals such as health specialists. This helps to ensure that service users are provided with the support and guidance they need.

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User focused services

All staff who work for the agency, including non-social work staff and office staff, have a very good understanding about the specific needs of people affected by adoption. This ensures that a sensitive approach is taken at all times from the first enquiry to the final contact. Comments from people using the agency include, 'everyone I have dealt with had time and were very understanding and at all times I felt at ease'. Another stated ‘All I have come into contact with, from my allocated worker to the office staff have dealt with me in a professional and sensitive way.’

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User focused services

Practice is of an outstanding quality. All aspects of the agency's work is carried out in a professional and efficient way to ensure that the best outcomes possible are achieved. Services can be provided in the following way: face to face, including via the internet; in writing via the postal system; via email or over the phone. This ensures that whatever the person's needs or wherever they live geographically a service is provided to them and positive outcomes are achieved. One person using the agency commented, ‘The society have always treated me with the utmost respect finally through all their work I am able to rest all my fears, misunderstandings and doubts surrounding my adoption. I cannot thank the society enough for all their support.’ and another wrote 'I will be thankful for the rest of my life for this service and for the help they gave me.'

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Service delivery

The agency has clear criteria for offering a service. This is that any person who has been adopted through the society and/or their relatives is entitled to receive a service. Within this criteria all are welcomed, without prejudice, and if the service user has any needs relating to diversity the service ensures that these needs are Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 8 of 12

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Service delivery

met. This means that an inclusive approach is taken to all using the agency.

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Service delivery

There are sound polices and procedures that form a strong framework for the delivery of services; these are followed in practice. The manager supervises the staff carrying out the work and monitors the progress on each case. This means that she can ensure that: staff follow the policies and procedures; she is aware of the quality of work being carried out and she knows what stage each piece of work is at. This helps to ensure that the services are provided efficiently and in a professional manner.

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Service delivery

Some of the services provided are free and while there is a charge for some services, in certain circumstances, this is negotiable.

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Fitness to provide or manage an adoption support agency

The recruitment processes, in relation to managers, are robust and have ensured that the current managers are suitable people to manage the work of the agency. They exercise strong leadership and management of the agency which helps to ensure that the aims and objectives of the service are met to a high standard. The current managers are very knowledgeable about the needs of families and children, and of their client group. They have a very good understanding about the life-long affects adoption has on all parties which ensures services are tailored to the needs arising. There is an application pending for the person who directly manages the service to become the Registered Manager.

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Management of the adoption support agency

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The agency positively promotes equality and diversity in both its service delivery and its employment of staff.

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Management of the adoption support agency

This inspection has shown that the agency is run in accordance with its stated aims and objectives and that it is a particularly well-managed agency. This means that service users are provided with effective and efficient services that achieve excellent outcomes. The lines of accountability are clear and there is excellent communication across the service which ensures that there is a shared vision. Many positive remarks were made by people using the agency about the professionalism of the agency and these include, 'The service is most professional…..’ and ‘The service is exemplarily.’

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Management of the adoption support agency

There are sound arrangements for monitoring and controlling the service in terms of finances and employment issues. The work is overseen by the Children's Society committee and formal reporting takes place annually; formal reports should, Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 9 of 12

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Management of the adoption support agency

however, be presented to the committee, at a minimum, on a six-monthly basis. This shortfall has had no impact on the quality of the service provision.

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

A robust approach is taken to the recruitment of staff and this ensures that staff are suitable people. Records of checks are maintained on personnel files. The calibre of staff is high in all of the agency's departments and staff are deployed in the tasks that best suit their skills and abilities; this ensures that the agency's aims and objectives are met.

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

Staff are very well supported by the managers and the wider organisation. Staff report that the organisation invests in good quality: induction training; formal supervision; general training and staff care matters. This shows that the organisation understands the importance of having a well-supported and trained staff team. Peer support is also seen by staff as invaluable. This is achieved through practitioner meetings, team meetings and informal discussions between peers. Comments from staff about the team they work in include 'fantastic team' and 'We have a shared vision.' The arrangements for administrative support are outstanding; this helps to ensure that an excellent quality service is provided consistently. The organisation is seen by staff as a very caring organisation and one they are proud to work for.

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Complaints and representations

There is a clear complaints policy and procedure which ensures there are clear arrangements in respect to dealing with complaints. Service users are informed of their right to complain through written and verbal information provided to them. The manager deals with all formal complaints; however, there have been no complaints made about the service for over a year. Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 10 of 12

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Records

There are clear policies and procedures in relation to making and maintaining case records that are carried out in practice. This means that records made are kept up to date and are maintained to a high standard. The quality and content of files are audited on a regular basis to ensure that the content is both comprehensive and distinguishes between fact and opinion. Decisions made about cases are documented to ensure there is a clear audit trail. Records relating to current work with people are confidentially and securely stored.

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Records

The Children's Society was previously an adoption agency that arranged adoptions for children who could not live within their birth family. There are robust arrangements for the storage of the records made in relation to a person's adoption. The arrangements for access to these records are robust and ensures that only those people with a right to know receive the information.

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Records

There are sophisticated arrangements in respect to new IT systems that, for the staff who currently have access to them, have been described as being revolutionary to their work. These systems are about to be rolled out to all staff, following the successful pilot.

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Fitness of premises

The premises are suitable for their purpose; they are secure and provide privacy and confidentiality to visitors.

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Fitness of premises

There are appropriate safeguards in relation to electronic records to ensure that access to information is only gained by people who have a legitimate right to see it.

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Fitness of premises

There is a back-up plan in place which covers the IT systems and damage to records; however, there is not a plan in relation to the back-up of premises should the building be damaged .

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Financial requirements

The finances of the agency are governed by the organisation and a robust approach is taken to ensuring that its financial processes and systems are properly operated and maintained. In respect to this specific service there are monitoring systems in place which allow for appropriate action to be taken to address any shortfalls. The organisation's accounts are subject to annual external audit . Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 11 of 12 Inspection report The Children's Society Post Adoption and Care Service Page 12 of 12

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered provider(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Adoption Support regulations and the National Minimum Standards. The registered provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

These recommendations relate to the National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the registered provider(s) to consider carrying out.

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Recommendations

• ensure that the management committee receive written reports on the management and outcomes of the services of the agency every six months (NMS 8.4) • ensure that there is a disaster recovery plan developed in respect to the provision of premises. (NMS 22.4) • • • •

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