Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice Inspection report for la adoption agency

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SC057269 Unique reference number 10 January 2008 Inspection date Sean White Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Address Town Hall Elliott Street Tyldesley MANCHESTER M29 8EH 01942 404776 Telephone number

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Email

Wigan Social Services Registered person Paul Connolly Registered manager Cathy Nelson Responsible individual 14 June 2005 Date of last inspection .

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Email

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Email

You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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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. 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 outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008

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Brief description of the service

This is a local authority adoption agency that undertakes, or makes arrangements for, all statutory adoption work enshrined in current legislation. It recruits, prepares, assesses and approves adopters, and matches and places children with them. It provides or makes arrangements for support to be available to anyone affected by adoption. Inter-country adoption services are arranged through a voluntary agency.

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Summary

This was an announced, key inspection. The agency has a thorough and committed approach to keeping children safe. This is achieved by a rigorous and focused approach to the recruitment and assessment of adoptive families, and a considered and well coordinated approach to matching children with the most appropriate adopters. This is supported by a strong adoption panel and very experienced managers and staff. Adopters are well supported after approval and this enables placements to be permanent and stable. The agency also makes provision for support services to be available to anyone affected by adoption, either in-house or through arrangements with a voluntary agency. Complex support packages are undertaken and positive outcomes achieved. The agency is fully committed to working with birth parents and including them in the plans for their children's adoption; their views and wishes are taken seriously.

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Summary

Independent support is made available to all birth parents, either by the agency or through a voluntary organisation. Life-story books are always produced prior to a child's adoption and often earlier in their placement. The agency is well managed at all levels and has the support and commitment of the executive. The operational and strategic management of the agency is well structured and coherent. It is underpinned by good policies and procedures, which are informed by a Statement of Purpose that is clear about the aims and objectives of the service. Managers and workers are well qualified to run the service, there is significant knowledge and understanding of adoption and a committed and skilled approach to service delivery. The agency is administered efficiently and conscientiously. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The agency has made significant improvements since the last key inspection. The most significant area being in a more coherent management approach and a strengthening of the management structure and staffing establishment. There have also been great improvements in operational efficiency and practice. Following the last inspection there were five actions and 22 recommendations made. This has reduced to only four recommendations on this occasion. Specific areas of improvement are in respect of the adoption panel, policies and procedures and quality assurance of reports.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008 The agency has a thorough approach to the recruitment of adopters. Although there are few Wigan children placed with Wigan adopters, because of protecting anonymity within a small geographical area, the agency works closely within the consortium to ensure sufficient families are recruited to meet the needs of children requiring placements. The agency's recruitment strategy reflects this and children are placed with the most suitable families using stringent matching practices. The approach to preparing, assessing and approving adopters is thorough. There are preparation groups held at regular intervals throughout the year, which are structured to enable people to be fully informed about the processes and complexities of adoption, and the children who require placements. Assessments are undertaken with rigour and with a clear

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

focus on ensuring that the right people are recommended to become adoptive parents so that children have the best possible opportunities and outcomes. The adoption panel brings a well considered, thorough and committed approach to its work and responsibilities. It is governed by sound policies and procedures, is very well organised and administered, and undertakes its duties with children's safety and wellbeing as its paramount consideration. The panel is appropriately constituted, has an experienced and knowledgeable chairperson and is conducted in a way that encourages detailed discussion. Recommendations are made following a thorough analysis of the information available. Decisions are made in an equally determined way to ensure that children's welfare is promoted and protected. Decisions are also made in a timely way. Although, in the main, the information provided for the panel is thorough and well presented

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

there was some inconsistency in the quality of Child Permanence Reports (CPR), in that some were lacking in detail and analysis. The people managing and working in the agency are all appropriately qualified, very experienced and knowledgeable. Recruitment procedures and practices are sound and ensure that people working for the agency are suitable. Workers are able to demonstrate clear understanding of social work with children and adoption issues, including up to date knowledge of child care and adoption law, and current thinking in this field. However, the agency does not have 20% of its workers with a Post Qualifying Child Care Award. There is a corporate, multi-agency child protection policy and procedure in place that addresses children who are looked after by the authority. It does not, however, make specific reference to children in adoptive placements, children placed for adoption in another area,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

children receiving adoption support or allegations of historical abuse.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The agency has a strong approach to supporting the families it has approved. The adopters are fully informed about the children being considered for placement with them and when the match has been agreed, careful plans are made to ensure introductions are managed well. Social workers in all teams work closely to support families where a placement is made, including assistance with preparations to apply to adopt the child. There are adopters' support groups in place and facilities for new adopters to have informal contact with more experienced families. There are two medical advisors who share the role on the adoption panel. It was clear that both the agency and the panel benefit from sound and clear support from them as one or the other is present at most panels. Similarly, the agency has access to legal advice through the authority's legal department, which is readily available. Other specialist advice and support is accessed

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

from appropriate sources whenever necessary. Post adoption support is a developing aspect of the agency's in-house provision. There is clear expertise in the agency to undertake complex support work and assessments of need. Although much of the post adoption support has been carried out under contract by another agency until recently assessments have been undertaken by the agency and support packages put in place that reflect the need of the service users. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The agency has a clear approach to promoting adoption as a lifelong issue and that birth parents are important considerations when making plans that will affect children throughout their lives and into adulthood. Birth parents views are sought and recorded and if there are any wishes or considerations that the birth parents have, then these are incorporated into the planning process. All birth parents given the opportunity to read the Child Permanence Report and their views on what is written about them are taken seriously. The agency has an active approach to gathering information about children's backgrounds and a collective commitment to life-story work and direct work to prepare children for adoption. All children have a life-story book produced for them before they are adopted. Sometimes these are available when placements are made, or soon afterwards. All birth parents are offered the support services of an

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Helping children make a positive contribution

independent Adoption Support Agency (ASA). There is good information provided for birth families about the process of adoption and recent changes to the law.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisational arrangements in the agency are robust, clear and enable users of the service to receive a well considered and efficient approach from a committed and well managed service. The agency's operations are governed and informed by a suitably presented Statement of Purpose that is reflected in and underpinned by policies and procedures that are written in a way that provide a clear framework for the service. The children's guides are well presented, informative and interactive, and provide an appropriate, child-focused overview of what adoption is and what a child can expect. Similarly, the information pack provided to prospective adopters and enquirers is a well considered set of documentation that enables the reader to be informed about the agency's approach. It is clear, welcoming and encouraging to people considering adopting a child. The management structure is clearly defined and lines of accountability and

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Organisation

communication are well established and understood throughout the agency. Managers are very experienced, qualified and carry out their responsibilities with commitment and energy. The manager of the agency demonstrated significant knowledge and understanding of adoption issues, law and practice. The operational and strategic management of the service is guided by sound policies and procedures. The Statement of Purpose underpins these and provides realistic and appropriate aims and objectives. Workers are well supported in undertaking their duties and responsibilities. Allocation and workload is carefully managed and duties are delegated and prioritised efficiently. Administrative support is of a very good standard, efficient and supports the work of the agency. The executive of the agency is committed and supportive and the authority supports its staff well. The agency is fully staffed and there are sufficient

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Organisation

workers to undertake the current range of responsibilities, although there are some 'acting-up' duties being undertaken to cover operational management responsibilities. Training is encouraged throughout the service and a range of development opportunities have been available to workers, these have included specialist training in specific areas. The management of administration and case recording is of a good standard. Adopters' and children's case records are well maintained. They include all required information and there is an audit system in place. However, although there is a corporate filing policy in place, it does not reflect the needs of 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008 the adoption service. The agency maintains separate records for workers and panel members. The panel members' records have many omissions and do not meet the required standard. The

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Organisation

premises used by the agency, although cramped and short of storage facilities, are suitable to be used for an adoption agency and they are secure.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • make arrangements for 20% of staff to obtain the Post Qualifying Child Care Award. (NMS 19.8) • include, in the child protection procedures, specific reference to adoptive placements, adoption support and historical abuse. (NMS 32) • produce a policy on case recording for adopters and for children whose plan is for adoption. (NMS 27) • maintain records on panel members that include all required information. (NMS 28) 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• Ofsted considers the key standard to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the agency matches children with adopters (NMS 2) • the agency assesses and prepares adopters (NMS 4) • adopters are given information about matching (NMS 5) • the functions of the adoption panel are as specified (NMS 10) • the constitution and membership of adoption panels are as specified (NMS 11) • adoption panels are timely (NMS 12) • adoption agency decision is made without delay and appropriately (NMS 13) • the manager is suitable to carry on or manage an adoption agency (NMS 15) • staff are suitable to work with children (NMS 19) • the agency has a robust complaints procedure (NMS 24 voluntary adoption agency only) • the agency safeguards and promotes the welfare of its service users (NMS 32)

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• the adoption agency provides support for adoptive parents (NMS 6) • the agency has access to specialist advisers as appropriate (NMS 18) • services are tailored to meet the needs of people affected by adoption (NMS 33) Ofsted considers 6 and 33 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• birth parents and birth families are involved in adoption plans (NMS 7) • birth parents and birth families are involved in maintaining the child’s heritage (NMS 8) • the adoption agency supports birth parents and families (NMS 9) • Service users receive good quality services based on their needs (NMS 34) Ofsted considers 7, 8, 9 and 34 the key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

Ofsted considers none of the above to be key standards to be inspected.

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The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• there is a clear written statement of the aims and objectives of the adoption agency and the adoption agency ensures that it meets those aims and objectives (NMS 1) 8 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008

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Annex A

• the agency provides clear written information for prospective adopters (NMS 3) • the manager has skills to carry on or manage the adoption agency (NMS 14) • the adoption agency is managed effectively and efficiently (NMS 16) • the agency is monitored and controlled as specified (NMS 17) • the staff are organised and managed effectively (NMS 20) • the agency has sufficient staff with the right skills/experience (NMS 21) • the agency is a fair and competent employer (NMS 22) • the agency provides training for staff (NMS 23) • case records for children and prospective / approved adopters are comprehensive and accurate (NMS 25) • the agency provides access to records as appropriate (NMS 26) • the agency’s administrative records processes are appropriate (NMS 27) • the agency maintains personnel files for members of staff and members of adoption panels (NMS 28) • the premises used by the adoption agency are suitable for purpose (NMS 29)

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Annex A

• the adoption agency is financially viable (NMS 30 voluntary adoption agency only) • the adoption agency has robust financial processes (NMS 31) Ofsted considers 1, 3, 16, 21, 25 and 27 the key standards to be inspected. 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Adoption Serice, 10 January 2008

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