New Leaf Adoption

Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - monitoring visit: New Leaf Adoption 1 New Leaf Adoption

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2a Railway Street, Pocklington, York YO42 2QZ Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this voluntary adoption agency

New Leaf Adoption agency was registered on 20 January 2014. It is a small, non- faith-based, stand-alone voluntary adoption agency. It recruits, prepares, assesses, approves and supports adopters for domestic adoption only, and works with local authorities to place children who need an adoptive family.

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Information about this voluntary adoption agency

Date of previous inspection: 20 to 24 February 2017

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This monitoring visit

This voluntary adoption agency was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 20 to 24 February 2017. Two of the seven requirements were escalated to compliance notices. One compliance notice related to recruitment checks for staff and anyone working for the purposes of the agency. The second compliance notice related to obtaining all the required information on prospective adopters in stage one, before progressing into stage two. The monitoring visit identified a number of improvements, and as a result both notices are met. No new staff have been appointed since the inspection in February 2017. The agency has ensured that full and satisfactory information is now in place for all the existing staff. This improvement safeguards children. The agency has a much clearer understanding of the process, and has developed a system to monitor the receipt of checks. However, there is still a shortfall in relation

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This monitoring visit

to undertaking interviews with referees in stage one. As the provider cannot be assured that the previous manager carried out all the required checks on adopters prior to their approval, he is in the process of verifying these. This promotes the safety of children placed in adoptive families. The agency is currently without a manager, which limits its capacity to develop further. Furthermore, not all staff supervision is consistently done by someone who is trained to carry out this role. This does not assure the delivery of effective and high-quality services that provide positive outcomes for children. However, staff feel Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - monitoring visit: New Leaf Adoption 2 well supported by the responsible individual and their morale is strong. They are working effectively as a team, thus contributing towards a safer service for children. Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - monitoring visit: New Leaf Adoption 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003, the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 or any other relevant legislation, and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The adoption agency must: Obtain a written report of each of the interviews with the persons nominated by the prospective adopter to provide personal references for the prospective adopter. (‘Adoption agencies miscellaneous amendments regulations’, 2013, regulation 26(c)) 31/10/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure staff have access to support and advice, and are provided with regular supervision by appropriately qualified and experienced staff. (National Minimum Standards, standard 24.4, page 71)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the voluntary adoption agency since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - monitoring visit: New Leaf Adoption 4

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Voluntary adoption agency details

Registered provider: New Leaf Adoption Ltd

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Voluntary adoption agency details

Registered provider address: New Leaf Adoption, 2a Railway Street, Pocklington, York YO42 2QZ

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Inspector(s)

Ms Jacqueline Malcolm, social care inspector

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Inspector(s)

Ms Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - monitoring visit: New Leaf Adoption 5 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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