CMB Counselling

Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling CMB Counselling CMB Counselling Haimes Cottage, 19 Dairymore Road, Wickham, Hampshire PO17 5JR Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this adoption support agency

CMB Counselling was established in 2000 and the proprietor operates as a limited company offering counselling support services to adopted adults, adoptive families, birth parents and other relatives, local authorities and anyone affected by adoption. The service is operated and delivered by a single individual.

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Information about this adoption support agency

Inspection dates: 12 to 14 September 2017

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Overall experience and progress of

service users, taking into account: outstanding

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Overall experience and progress of

How well children, young people and adults are helped and protected outstanding

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Overall experience and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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Overall experience and progress of

The adoption support agency provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the adoption support agency contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for service users.

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Overall experience and progress of

Date of last inspection: 16 July 2015 Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 The provider is exceptionally skilled and experienced in supporting adults who are affected by adoption, and also at offering contact to family members.

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 People who use this service highly value the help they are given. The intermediary work is of the highest quality and many service users report that the outcomes they achieved by far exceeded their expectations.

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 There is a high level of satisfaction from people using this service and they are empowered by the provider to become fully involved in developing the aims and objectives of the work.

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 Service users’ safety and well-being are seen as paramount, and the provider has an excellent awareness of how to deal with matters of a safeguarding nature.  The service is provided with sensitivity and flexibility and is tailored to meet the individual assessed needs of each service user.

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 The arrangements for working collaboratively with partner organisations are a strength of this agency, and the provider’s monitoring and development of the service are of an exceptionally high standard.

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This adoption support agency is outstanding because:

 Service users have gained a better and clearer understanding of their own situation and that of birth relatives, and many have been able to meet birth relatives in a safe way. The service offered by this agency has a lifelong positive impact on service users. Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

The agency provides exceptionally high-quality counselling and support to adopted adults and birth family members. Adults who have used this service describe the support they have received in glowing terms. Many people spoke about the efficiency of the service provided, the timeliness of the responses they received and sensitivity of the provider. In particular, they spoke about the consideration and respect given to the wishes and feelings of all parties involved. Unequivocally, service users described the provider as efficient and highly professional and the service as incredible, life changing and far beyond expectations. One service user described the service he received as one that completely changed and enriched his life.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

The provider is professionally qualified and highly experienced and receives ongoing professional supervision from an independent member of her own professional body. The provider ensures that her training and professional development are constantly updated, and keeps abreast of relevant studies and research through attendance at relevant conferences.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

The provider responds to requests for information and support in an efficient and very timely manner. Service users report that their initial contact with the provider is carefully considered, and the information with which they are provided is clear and that this provides them with a full account of the service they are to receive. A sensitively prepared and comprehensive statement of purpose is available on the provider’s website, which sets out the aims and objectives of the service, in addition to how any complaints about the service can be made. Service users report that the service they receive is specifically tailored to their own needs and circumstances. One service user spoke extremely positively of her own experience, and in particular how the provider had demonstrated knowledge and understanding of her own particular background, and the sensitive way in which this was incorporated into the service

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

One service user said that the support provided had enabled him to gain a clearer understanding of the impact of his past experiences upon his emotional well-being, and in particular had provided him with strategies to support the development of relationships with his birth family members. He had been meticulously prepared by the provider for the journey of becoming reunited with his birth family, and describes the preparation as extremely thorough, realistic and empowering.

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outstanding

The provider has undertaken training in relation to safeguarding and historical abuse and has a comprehensive safeguarding policy which explains the process that will be followed in the event of an allegation of historic abuse or a safeguarding concern. Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling The provider has strong links with the local authority designated officer and LSCB. She works across several local authorities and is aware of how to access other local authorities’ procedures should there be a need to do so.

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outstanding

Adults who have used the service report that they are made aware of the provider’s safeguarding policy and are very clear of any actions which may need to be taken should concerns of a safeguarding nature arise. One service user said, ‘The provider is very professional. She puts the needs of her service users at the centre of everything that she does, and our safety and welfare is paramount. In particular, if she had any cause for concerns about a child or young person, I know that she would act upon this, quickly and professionally to protect the interests of a child. She has always been very clear about her stance on keeping people safe.’

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outstanding

All service users are provided with a copy of the provider’s complaints procedure. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. The provider ensures that she elicits feedback from service users at all stages of intervention, in order to ensure that the service is flexible and able to meet changing needs.

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outstanding

The service provider is a sole agent and renews her Disclosure and Barring Service check every three years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership and management of this agency are outstanding. The provider has a complete and sustained commitment to supporting adults affected by adoption and service users are absolutely satisfied with the quality of the service they have received, even though the outcomes may not have been quite what they expected. One service user said, ‘Neither me nor [provider’s name] could have ever predicted the outcome of my search for my daughter, but with her expert support and guidance, I achieved the best outcome possible. [Provider’s name] was with myself and my family every step of the way, and her professionalism and support will have a lifelong positive impact upon my family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The provider receives regular clinical supervision, during which she is provided with suitable challenge and a forum within which she is able to reflect upon her practice. The provider is an expert in her field, and is effective in maintaining her own professional development. She utilises every opportunity to develop and improve upon her practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Service users are provided with an individualised agreement about the service they will receive, are consulted about the impact of the service at every point in their journey and the service they receive is tailored accordingly. Arrangements for recording and monitoring the service are impeccable. Records are compiled in a manner which is meaningful to service users should they wish to access these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The provider has developed collaborative arrangements with a number of local Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling authorities. The commissioner for one local authority reported that the service provided by this adoption support agency is of the highest quality. She commented on the timeliness of responses to service users, and the clarity of service user expectations. The commissioner also commented on the relationship between the local authority as a referring agency and the provider, highlighting how the provider is able to tailor the services to the needs of each individual, ensuring a highly effective bespoke service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Service users complete an evaluation report at the end of their involvement with the provider and this is used by the provider to inform the business development plan for the agency. The agency is an extremely well-organised limited company which is financially viable. Suitable insurance arrangements are in place which include employer’s liability insurance, which ensures that service users are protected from the impact of any unforeseen difficulties which may arise.

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Information about this inspection

During this inspection, inspectors looked closely at the experiences and progress of the adults who use this service. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of these people. In addition, inspectors have tried to understand what the adoption support agency knows about how well it is performing and what difference it is making for the people whom it is trying to help.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, to assess the effectiveness of the adoption support agency, how it meets the core functions as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Adoption Support Agencies (England) and Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider address: Haimes Cottage, 19 Dairymore Road, Wickham, Hampshire PO17 5JR

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Adoption support agency details

Responsible individual: Ms Carolynne Bull

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Inspector:

Jacqueline Georghiou, social care inspector Inspection report for adoption support agency: CMB Counselling 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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