Caritas Adoption Support Service

Inspection report for adoption support agency

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Caritas Adoption Support Service

Unique reference number SC411743 Inspection date 20 September 2011 Inspector Sue Winson Type of inspection Key Type of registration Adoption Support Agency

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Caritas Adoption Support Service

Service address The Diocese of Salford Cathedral Centre 3 Ford Street Salford M3 6DP Telephone number 01618172250

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Fax number

Email address rosaleen.griffin@caritassalford.org.uk Website address www.caritassalford.org.uk Registered person Mark Wiggin Registered manager Rosaleen Teresa Griffin Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 2 of 9

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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 Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 3 of 9

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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 Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 4 of 9

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Brief description of the service

Caritas Diocese of Salford is a small adoption support agency based in the North West of England. It is a charity managed by a board of trustees. It provides advice, support and therapy to children and adoptive parents and counselling and support groups for adoptive parents. Birth records counselling, access to information for adult adoptees and intermediary services are also provided. Support and counselling for birth parents where children have been placed for adoption is carried out on behalf of six local authorities.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was the first announced key inspection of the service since its registration. The outcomes for individual service users are good with many saying that they have received an outstanding service. Staff and managers are very well qualified, skilled and experienced for the work undertaken. Policies and procedures provide a sound basis for practice.

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What the service does well

The service provides a good quality service to a range of service users, which are tailored to individual need and delivered in a sensitive manner. Service users commented very positively about the services they received and valued the skills of the staff, their professional approach and sensitivity. Those using the agency are welcomed without prejudice. The agency is committed to ensuring that the welfare of service users and others, who have been affected by adoption, are effectively safeguarded and promoted.

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What has been improved since the last inspection

This is the first inspection since registration.

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What they could do better

Children and adults affected by adoption do not consistently receive a written assessment of their support needs. Monitoring systems lack analysis to identify patterns and trends. Records do not always hold full information. Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 5 of 9

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Statement of purpose

The agency has a clearly written Statement of Purpose which accurately reflects the areas of work undertaken. It is regularly reviewed and updated. Children are able to access the child friendly guide for under 18's services, which is available in three formats dependent on age and understanding. Older young people were consulted about their version. Should it be necessary, the documents can be translated into different languages and formats.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

The safety of children and vulnerable adults is central to the work of the agency. There is a safeguarding policy which ensures the safety and protection of service users and includes procedures on professional abuse. The policy on working with service users under 18 years of age, cross references to the safeguarding policy and states clearly that families will be advised that safeguarding takes precedence over confidentiality.

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User focused services

The agency has written policies and procedures which accurately reflect and support the services provided. Equality and diversity and non-discriminatory practice run through them all. All services are tailored to meet the individual and different needs of people affected by adoption and are thoughtfully and sensitively delivered.

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User focused services

Prior to re-organisation as an Adoption Support Agency, the service was an adoption agency. It has made a lifelong commitment to support children and families placed and this commitment is shared by the wider organisation. The support service for under 18’s and their families was described by adoptive parents as 'a lifeline', and some commented that they would not be together as a family if they had not had the support. A flexible and responsive service is provided to adoptive families and children. Whilst it is clear that support packages are individually tailored to meet needs, there are no formal written assessments.

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User focused services

Adopted adults and birth relatives are assisted to obtain information and contact is facilitated where it is appropriate and safe to do so. As part of the process, the identity of service users is routinely checked and recorded. They are given clear information and approximate timescales. The agency presently has a waiting list and Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 6 of 9

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User focused services

informs service users about this on first contact. Adult adoptees are positive about the information, help and support they receive and feel empowered to make decisions and regulate the pace of the process. Birth relatives say that they value the openness and feel they are given information to prepare them for all eventualities.

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User focused services

The agency provides a high quality counselling service to birth parents where children have been placed for adoption. A trained and experienced counsellor employed by the agency undertakes the work, and uses a variety of venues in different locations to meet individual needs. Birth parents were highly complimentary about the support they receive.

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User focused services

Where services are commissioned by local authorities, these are supported by a written agreement which is reviewed and monitored. Those using the agency’s services are informed of their rights to make representations and complaints. The children’s rights policy recognises uniqueness and individuality of heritage and circumstances, and makes clear that the agency will always seek to consult young people. Meetings with people using the service and questionnaires confirm that the agency is clear about the service they provide, welcoming on first contact and fully consults with them about decisions. They described the service as professional and of an extremely high standard. Their comments to describe the staff they had met include, ‘fantastic’, ‘kind’, 'thoughtful’, ‘always helpful’, ‘ never runs out of ideas’, 'doesn’t judge me’ and ‘makes me feel better.' They said that workers are easily contactable and will always ring back if a message is left.

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Service delivery

The children and service users receive a service from staff who are extremely well qualified, experienced and skilled in adoption work. The agency employs an adoption support manager, one social worker, one social worker/therapist and contracts in a counsellor for birth parent support. In addition, the administrator, who is often the first point of contact for service users, has a good understanding of adoption issues. All staff are well supervised and supported and regular team meetings allow for discussion of practice issues. The therapist has access to appropriate clinical supervision. Training is undertaken as necessary. The social workers benefit from links with other local practitioners and receive information from national organisations.

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Fitness to provide or manage an adoption support agency

Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 7 of 9

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Fitness to provide or manage an adoption support agency

The current Registered Manager holds a social work qualification and National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 5 in management. She has considerable experience in social work, management and adoption.

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Management of the adoption support agency

The service is well managed and informed by a clear ethical code and sound values. The manager has the necessary skills, experience and professional qualifications. She provides information about the service to the board of trustees. Staff are positive about her availability and approachability. Auditing and monitoring is ongoing in respect of records, serious incidents, allegations, compliments and complaints; however, there is little analysis to identify patterns and trends to drive service improvement.

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

The manager and staff are appropriately qualified and experienced and demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding of adoption issues, legislation and practice. Recruitment is robust and checks are undertaken to ensure that people employed are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. Staff are well supported and supervised and undertake training as part of ongoing professional development.

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Complaints and representations

Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 8 of 9

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Complaints and representations

The agency has received no complaints; however, many service users have sent in compliments about the service they have received. Written policies are in place and service users are given information about how to complain. Leaflets include the contact details for the Children's Rights Director.

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Records

Case records maintained are up to date and are stored securely to ensure confidentiality and to minimise the risk from fire, water or other disaster. The records do not reflect the quality of service provided and do not contain full information. For example, there is no record of service users being advised that safeguarding issues take precedence over confidentiality. Not all services users have an assessment of adoption support needs .

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Fitness of premises

The agency is based in well equipped offices which have good reception facilities and security measures. In addition, it uses several bases which are less formal and in different locations, so that service users do not have to travel long distances. Several of the venues have wheelchair access.

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Financial requirements

The adoption support service is subsidised by the wider Caritas organisation and it is anticipated that this will continue. There is a strong commitment to supporting those families where adoption was facilitated when the agency was an adoption service. The Chief Executive met with a group of families who receive support to explain the changes and reassure them. Some income is generated from work done on behalf of local authorities. Inspection report Caritas Adoption Support Service Page 9 of 9

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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

User focused services ensure that children and adults affected by adoption receive an assessment of their adoption support needs (NMS 15) Management ensure that the manager regularly monitors all records to identify patterns and trends (NMS 25) Records ensure that records are clear, accurate and up to date. (NMS 27)

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