Durham County Council Adoption Service

Durham County Council Adoption Service Inspection report for la adoption agency

p.1

SC055022 Unique reference number 15 November 2007 Inspection date Sean White / Marian Denny Inspector Key Type of Inspection

p.1

Durham County Council Address Adult & Community Services County Hall DURHAM DH1 5UG 0191 3833053 Telephone number

p.1

Email

Durham County Council Registered person Elaine Devaney Registered manager Meg Boustead Responsible individual 17 January 2008 Date of last inspection .

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007

p.3

Brief description of the service

This is a Local Authority adoption service that undertakes, or makes arrangements for, all statutory adoption responsibilities. In respect of adopters this includes their recruitment, training, assessment and approval. In respect of children this includes their matching and placement with adoptive families. The agency also provides adoption support, birth records counselling and makes arrangements for the support of birth parents through an adoption support agency.

p.4

Summary

This agency has a dynamic and committed approach to managing a well organised, efficient and focused adoption service. It is an agency that has a thorough and rigorous approach to the recruitment and approval of adopters who are able to meet the needs of local children. The planning and monitoring systems for children being placed for adoption are robust and aimed at avoiding delay and promoting the best possible outcomes. Arrangements for supporting adopters and placements are well managed and organised, with a range of specialist advice being either in place or available. Birth parents have ready access to a supportive organisation and they are encouraged to have a role in planning for their children's future, but life-story work is the least developed aspect of the agency's work. The management and organisational structures are very well ordered and provide a very efficient approach to operational and

p.4

Summary

strategic direction. Staff are skilled, knowledgeable and enabled to undertake their duties within a supportive and dynamic environment; this is further enhanced by efficient, well-coordinated administrative systems. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

This agency has made considerable strides in the two years preceding this inspection. The report of the last inspection detailed five actions to be addressed and eight recommendations to consider. These have been attended to satisfactorily. The management arrangements in particular demonstrate a more coherent direction, staffing levels have improved, and organisational and administrative systems are more efficient.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The agency has an active approach to the recruitment of adopters who can best meet the needs of children requiring placements. There are effective systems in place to identify the needs of children at an early stage which enables recruitment activity to be focused on the demands of the service overall. When potential adopters are identified as being able to meet particular or difficult circumstances they are prioritised accordingly. The recruitment strategy is clearly aimed at matching families with children both strategically and operationally. The management of matching and placing children is well coordinated through sophisticated operational systems that promote continuity and cooperation between the adoption service and children's services 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007 overall. The arrangements for the preparation and assessment of prospective adopters are very

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

thorough. Well structured training, which includes using skills and knowledge from a range of sources, provides applicants with a sound foundation from which they are able to pursue their aims to be considered as suitable adoptive parents. The assessment process is clearly aimed at ensuring that applicants have the necessary abilities and understanding of the needs of children. It is very thorough, is able to identify where applicants may not demonstrate ability, and effectively processes only those families that can provide safe and stable homes for children requiring adoptive placements. The thoroughness of the adoption panels (there are two) continues and enhances the work of the agency through a rigorous and detailed examination of the business placed before it. The proceedings are well managed and members give due consideration to all the information available; recommendations are only made when the panels

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are confident that they have given full scrutiny to the reports presented to it. The administrative arrangements for the adoption panel are efficient and well coordinated; reports are circulated in a timely way and detailed minutes produced soon after the business is finalised. The decision-maker clearly understands the importance of her role and exercises her final judgement in a sensitive yet robust way. Decisions are well considered and timely. Staff recruitment systems are thorough and demonstrated that workers and managers appointed are suitable to undertake their responsibilities; all checks are routinely undertaken. All are appropriately qualified and there is significant understanding, knowledge and experience of adoption demonstrated within the service.

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The agency has a strong and committed approach to supporting the adopters it approves. There is a range of systems in place to ensure that families have the opportunity to continue to develop their understanding and knowledge and it is clear that these are appreciated and well attended. The arrangements for providing support and assistance are well established and are developed through a systematic approach to analysing the needs of adoptive parents and the issues they may experience. Support is provided 'in-house' by dedicated workers or by gaining access to a range of specialist services available in the county. There are appropriate protocols in place to make referrals to these services and support packages could include the input of a range of different specialists. Legal and medical advice is of a very good standard. The commitment and input of those providing this aspect of the service is demonstratively positive

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and provides an invaluable asset to the overall processes of adoption and adoption support.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The agency has a clear approach to including birth parents in the planning for their children's adoption. They are invited to participate in all reviews and their views and wishes are actively sought and recorded. There is a clear commitment to developing a coordinated and efficient approach to the production of life-story work and preparation for adoption; a working group has been established to achieve this. The production of life-story work, however, is not consistent across the board; some good examples were noted but in other circumstances there was some delay in gathering information in a timely way. The arrangements for contact, both direct and through the 'letterbox' system, are well managed and coordinated. The recording and organisation of contact arrangements are efficient and well established. The arrangements for providing independent support to birth parents are through an arrangement with an adoption

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

5 of 9 Inspection Report: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007 support agency (ASA). There are clear arrangements in place to monitor the effectiveness and value for money of this arrangement. Support available through this agency is of a good quality and is highly appreciated by birth parents who accept the service.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The statement of purpose and underpinning policies and procedures, which have been recently reviewed and revised, provide a clear framework for the operation of the agency. They are well written, are designed with a strategic emphasis and demonstrate a purposeful management approach to the agency's duties and responsibilities towards children. The children's guide is well produced, interactive and provides those being adopted with a relevant, colourful and approachable reference. The information provided to enquirers and prospective adopters is very well produced and gives a clear outline of adoption generally and more specific information on the agency and how it undertakes its duties. The management arrangements, the organisational structures and operational activities are undertaken by people who clearly demonstrate energy, commitment and skill, at all levels in the organisation. The systems in

p.6

Organisation

place are carefully considered, efficient and aimed at promoting the best possible outcomes for children. Everyone involved is clear about their roles, lines of accountability and communication. The executive is committed to the adoption of children as a positive choice for permanence and is kept fully informed of the agency's activities. The agency is fully staffed with a group of workers who are able to demonstrate significant levels of skill, knowledge and experience of working with children in general and adoption in particular. They are very well supported and encouraged in their work by committed managers through regular, high quality supervision. Although the agency is very busy, there are sufficient staff resources to undertake the range of work required. There arrangements for staff to undertake a wide range of training and professional development opportunities are very good indeed. Workers showed their

p.6

Organisation

commitment to improving their skills and knowledge and managers are committed to enabling staff to enhance their capabilities through formal and informal training. There is a high incidence of training undertaken. The management of case records is very good. Files are well ordered, include all required information and are audited on a frequent basis. Case recording is thorough, detailed and shows clearly how decisions are reached. Arrangements for accessing records are clearly laid out in procedures, which are adhered to in practice. The overall administration is efficient, well managed and appropriately structured to provide support to a busy agency. Administrative records are well maintained, stored confidentially and securely kept. Personnel files demonstrated a rigorous approach to recruitment and selection; all files included required information, were well ordered and securely stored. Panel members' files are similarly well

p.6

Organisation

ordered and kept. The premises are very well resourced. There is space, storage, good IT equipment and access to adjacent facilities that provide resources for meetings, adoption panel and storage. They are accessible, have sufficient parking and can be accessed by people with a disability. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007

p.6

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.

p.7

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop a more efficient and consistent approach to life-story work. (NMS 8) 7 of 9 Inspection Report: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007

p.7

The intended outcomes for these standards are:

• Ofsted considers the key standard to be inspected.

p.8

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)

p.8

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.

p.8

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.

p.8

The intended outcomes for these standards are:

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

p.8

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: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007

p.8

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)

p.9

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: Durham County Council Adoption Service, 15 November 2007

p.9