Integrate Families

Inspection report for adoption support agency

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CAATTCH

Unique reference number SC068832 Inspection date 23 June 2011 Inspector M. D. Denny Type of inspection Key Type of registration Adoption Support Agency

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CAATTCH

Service address Croft Head Business ParkDale Lane Skelmanthorpe Nr Huddersfield HD8 9BQ Telephone number 01484 862211

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Website address

Registered person Renee P. Marks Registered manager Renee P. Marks Inspection report CAATTCH Page 2 of 10

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Website address

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 CAATTCH Page 3 of 10

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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 CAATTCH Page 4 of 10

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Brief description of the service

Renee P Marks is a small adoption support agency providing specialised therapy based on children's individual needs and focuses on issues of attachment and trauma. Work is carried out with the whole family. The service comprises the registered provider, a part-time administration manager, a member of administrative staff and a number of sessional therapists.

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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 is an outstanding service because it provides a high quality service and achieves excellent outcomes for young people and their families.

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What the service does well

The agency provides an excellent specialist and personalised therapy service for children and their adoptive parents in order to keep them in their homes. This was clearly illustrated in the comments made by a number of families, ‘they kept our family together’ and ‘we do not know what we would have done without the service.’ Staff working for the agency are well-qualified and very experienced and skilled. Its assessments are thorough and of an impressive quality. The therapeutic work is relevant and highly valued. The agency is very good at consulting with families about the service provided. It excels in effective partnership working with families and other professionals involved with them. Feedback from those using the service is extremely complimentary. The service is well managed, provides a high quality service and excellent outcomes are achieved.

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What has been improved since the last inspection

At the last inspection an action was made to implement a robust recruitment procedure. The selection and recruitment policy and procedures have been revised and fully meet the adoption national minimum standards and regulations. A robust approach is taken to the selection and recruitment of all staff.

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What has been improved since the last inspection

A recommendation was also made in relation to the development and implementation of written quality assurance procedures. This has been achieved and the agency has a robust quality assurance system.

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What has been improved since the last inspection

Another recommendation was made regarding the development and implementation Inspection report CAATTCH Page 5 of 10

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What has been improved since the last inspection

of a staff appraisal scheme. This has been achieved and an effective system is now in place.

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What they could do better

Two recommendations were made in this inspection. One recommendation relates to the children’s guide; it did not contain information about how a child can find out about their rights and secure access to an independent advocate. A further recommendation was made in relation to the agency's written case recording policy; it did not cover the purpose and content of the record to be kept on the agency's files. However, these shortfalls had no impact on those using the service.

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Statement of purpose

The agency has a Statement of Purpose which clearly details the services and facilities that the agency provides. It is available and understood by staff, children, young people and all those using the service. Its aims and objectives are outcome focused and effectively address how the service will meet the outcomes for all those using the service. The agency very effectively follows its Statement of Purpose.

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Statement of purpose

The children's guide is in a variety of appropriate formats to meet the differing needs of children and young people using the service and is given to all those using the service. However, the guide does not contain all the information outlined in the national minimum standards; for example, how a child can find out about their rights and secure access to an independent advocate.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

The agency places a real emphasis on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of service users, as well as others whose lives are affected by the provision of its services. It has a written safeguarding policy and procedures, which have been submitted to the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the local authority's designated officer (LADO) for their comment. The agency was waiting for their formal response. The Registered Manager is the designated person responsible for managing allegations and liaising with the LADO. Both the manager and staff are fully conversant with the agency's safeguarding policy and know what to do if they receive an allegation, or have suspicions that a person may harm a child. They have Inspection report CAATTCH Page 6 of 10

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

good, up-to-date safeguarding knowledge, are well aware of changes in practice and this ensures the welfare of all those using the service is actively promoted.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

The agency has a very good safeguarding recording system, which provides a clear and comprehensive summary of any allegations made against prospective adopters, members in the household or staff. This ensures excellent quality information is provided to the local safeguarding team for them to deal with the matter effectively. There is written guidance regarding the support available to any person subject to an allegation. The service has written procedures for dealing with allegations of historical abuse and staff are fully conversant with these.

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

The agency is extremely child focused and works extremely hard to promote a child's safety and welfare and ensure children are protected from abuse and other forms of significant harm. Children feel safe and this is underpinned by the agency's policies and procedures. Risk assessments are undertaken to determine and minimise the risks to children suffering significant harm. There is excellent written information about the dangers of the internet and social media available to both children and their families. This enables children and young people to keep safe. The basis of the agency's therapeutic input is to help children deal with their difficulties and to keep them safe. Children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe, including when outside the household. One mother interviewed stated that 'the agency had helped her child to understand the risks outside the home and can now keep herself

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Safeguarding and promoting welfare

safe.' The service works effectively with other agencies dealing with child protection, for example, the local authority, schools, and general practitioners. This was clearly evidenced in a recent case, as well as several other cases, which related to allegations of historical abuse. This was also confirmed by referring agencies, who were highly complimentary about the agency’s safeguarding knowledge and practice.

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User focused services

The agency welcomes all service users regardless of their individual differences in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexuality or religion. High quality written information is provided to social workers, parents and children about the services offered by the agency. This information is written in a manner that can be easily absorbed by professionals and families under stress.

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User focused services

The service ensures both children and adults affected by adoption receive a comprehensive assessment of their needs and the support required to meet their needs. The agency is commissioned by local authorities, as well as parents and works effectively in partnership with them. Written agreements support all the work carried out by the agency, which ensures all parties are clear about the service that is to be provided.

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User focused services

People’s wishes and feelings are obtained and where ever possible, they are taken Inspection report CAATTCH Page 7 of 10

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User focused services

into account. Sometimes though it is not possible to do this and in these circumstances the agency always ensures the reasons for this are fully explained. People using the service have influenced and effected improvements in the agency’s service.

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User focused services

The agency, the children’s parents and where appropriate the local authority actively support children with any issues that are troubling them. Staff understand children’s communication needs and enable children to discuss their problems in a meaningful way.

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User focused services

Children and young people confirmed that the agency had helped them 'with their muddles', enabled them to 'get a lot sorted out' and to 'feel more relaxed, understood and happy'. Several parents said that the agency 'had effectively met their needs' and 'had kept the family together'. Families also confirmed that the agency always asks them about the effectiveness of the service and their views regarding all aspects of the service are always taken into account. Those using the service are also regularly asked for feedback by their funding organisations.

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Service delivery

The agency provides therapeutic services which are highly valued. Those using the service fully understand the service they will receive and also any financial support that might be available to them from their local authority.

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Service delivery

The agency carries out very thorough and detailed assessments before deciding whether therapy will be of benefit to a family. Clear agreements are made regarding the nature and frequency of therapy. Regular reviews are undertaken and the views of families receiving support are taken into account. The agency works closely with any local authorities involved with its families, which ensures services are provided in a way that has regard to any wider support provided. It will also if necessary renegotiate work to be undertaken with the funding body to ensure that the service provided is appropriate to people's needs.

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Service delivery

Families understand the support they are receiving and all those spoken with stated that the agency provided an excellent service. A number of parents said that 'the therapist is always available and incredibly supportive and helpful.' One parent said 'I feel totally informed and aware of my children's experiences and how to continue to help them outside sessions.' Another said 'this service should be available to all adopters from day one.' Parents commented on the flexibility of the service with several stating that 'the service goes over and above what would be expected.' A number of parents stated that they did not know how they would have managed without the service.

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Service delivery

Local authorities commissioning a service from the agency said 'it is a very efficient agency and provides a service that is highly valued by users and referrers alike.' Inspection report CAATTCH Page 8 of 10

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Service delivery

Also, ‘it is a very professional agency, which provides an excellent therapeutic service with extremely good outcomes achieved for children and their families.'

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Fitness to provide or manage an adoption support agency

The registered provider is a highly qualified and experienced therapist, with a background in the provision of the therapeutic services provided by the agency. She is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has all the necessary qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills to manage an adoption support agency. Staff speak extremely highly of her and are very positive about her leadership role and style. Her skills and experience ensures the agency is exceptionally well-managed.

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Management of the adoption support agency

The agency is managed ethically, effectively and efficiently and provides an excellent qualitative service to children and their families. There are robust quality assurance systems in place to monitor and control all the activities of the service, with great care taken to ensure all staff's work follows the adoption national minimum standards and regulations. On rare occasions a shortfall is found and this is immediately addressed by the registered provider. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities. Lines of accountability, responsibilities and levels of delegation are in place and are known to the staff. The registered provider regularly reviews the activities and performance of the agency to ensure that the service is effective and positive outcomes are achieved for those using the service.

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

The agency is very effectively managed. It has robust recruitment and selection procedures and all checks are routinely undertaken. This ensures all workers appointed are suitable to undertake their responsibilities. All staff are appropriately qualified, extremely knowledgeable, as well as being very skilled and experienced in their work. They are also extremely enthusiastic about their work and are open to new ideas. Staff constantly strive to provide a qualitative service and achieve the very best possible outcomes for those using their service.

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

Staff are extremely well supported and supervised in their work. There is an Inspection report CAATTCH Page 9 of 10

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Employment and management of staff and volunteers

appraisal system in place, with staff appraised on an annual basis. This ensures staff’s performance is carefully monitored and an exceptionally high quality service provided. The agency’s administrative support is of an excellent standard and enables staff to carry out their work in a highly effective and efficient manner.

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Complaints and representations

The agency has a clear and easily understood complaints policy and procedure that sets out the different steps in the process, timescales and independent avenues to make a complaint. The documentation contains clear information about how to access the registration authority about a complaint. Staff have a good understanding of the complaints policy, procedure and its operation. Families spoken with were aware of the complaints documentation and process. However, the agency communicates effectively with its service users and as a result, minor difficulties are resolved before they become complaints. Families spoken with knew how to make a complaint about the service and all were confident if they made a complaint, they would be carefully listened to and the matter effectively dealt with. The agency has not received a complaint to date.

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Records

The agency has a written records policy, however this does not cover the purpose and content of the record to be kept on the agency's files. Staff though have a good understanding of the purpose of records, managing confidential information and dealing with requests for access to or disclosure from adoption case records. Consequently, this shortfall has no impact on agency practice. Case records are comprehensive, legible, clearly expressed, signed and dated. Assessment reports are extremely detailed, well written and provide clear information about the work being carried out by the agency. There is a separate recording system for complaints, allegations and personnel matters.

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Fitness of premises

The provision is outstanding. Inspection report CAATTCH Page 10 of 10

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Fitness of premises

The agency's offices are in modern premises based in a small business park. There is ample parking and the offices are on ground floor level and well able to meet the needs of those who have disabilities. The premises are secure, pleasant, relaxing and extremely suitable for the provision of adoption support services. All the service users interviewed commented positively on the quality and ambience of the premises.

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Fitness of premises

The administrative systems in place are very efficient and robust. Additional safeguards are in place for the storage of electronic records. Written case records are securely stored are stored securely and in a manner to minimise the risk from fire, water or other disaster. The premises and contents are fully insured.

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Financial requirements

The financial processes and systems are properly operated and maintained in accordance with sound and appropriate accounting standards and practice. Financial accounts are audited on an annual basis by an independent external auditor. The agency is financially viable for continuity of service. The agency has clear and transparent scale of charges for its services. However, the agency recognises that the fees may be difficult for some service users and some concessions may be negotiable according to individual circumstances.

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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 the Children's Guide contains all the information required under the national minimum standards (NMS 18.6)  ensure the case records policy contains all the information required under the national minimum standards. (NMS 27.1)

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