Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

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West Hill House, Highgate Consulting Rooms, 6 Swains Lane, Highgate, London N6 6QS Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this adoption support agency

Susan Chantrell works in private practice as a child and adolescent psychotherapist. She offers therapeutic services to adopted children, young people and their families. Susan Chantrell is a member of the Consortium of Adoption Support Agencies and the Association of Child Psychotherapists. She is an individual operating as a sole practitioner.

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Overall experience and progress of

service users, taking into account: good

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Overall experience and progress of

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

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Overall experience and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experience and progress of

The adoption support agency provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experience and progress of

Date of last inspection: 12 October 2015 Overall judgement at last inspection: good Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

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Key findings from this inspection

This adoption support agency is good because:  Psychotherapy is offered by an extremely professional and experienced psychotherapist who understands adoption support work and attachment issues.  Children and young people make good progress in their adoptive families. Their health, educational and emotional needs are met, and they thrive in more stable and secure homes because of the psychotherapy they receive.  The agency places a high priority on keeping children safe. The sole practitioner understands her role and responsibility in safeguarding and clearly communicates this to families from the outset.  The agency works collaboratively with other partners to help ensure positive outcomes for children and their families.  The monitoring of the work of the agency is regular and robust. The practice is reflective and both informed and improved by feedback received.

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Key findings from this inspection

The adoption support agency’s areas for development:  The agency plans to send out revised copies of the statement of purpose and safeguarding policy to the host authority’s Local Safeguarding Children Board and designated officer. Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

This agency is providing a good service for children, young people and their families. The agency psychotherapist has a wealth of experience in her role and understands the process of adoption and what this means for children, their adoptive families, wider networks and birth families. One parent described the service as ‘remarkably efficient’, and ‘making a huge difference’.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

The input of the psychotherapist and her collaborative approach supports children and young people by ensuring that their needs are met. Examples of this are advocating for the provision of additional classroom support or securing specialist health assessments if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

The psychotherapist keeps her own training and understanding of research in her chosen field up to date. She continues to attend conferences and safeguarding training and supervises professional doctoral students undertaking their final dissertation.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

New referrals and returning referrals are given high priority. The response for services is immediate, and no one waits longer than a month without good reason. Usually services are agreed within a matter of days.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

The agency uses effective systems for monitoring work, mainly via the use of ‘goal- based’ outcome sheets, which are reviewed at regular intervals. The agency also ensures that feedback forms are regularly sent to professionals, families, children and young people. The psychotherapist receives regular and ongoing supervision for professional practice and casework reflection.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Children and young people make good progress from their starting points. Ongoing therapy support is often needed over a number of years to help manage and understand behaviours and support families to prevent breakdown. The goal-based outcome sheets show good progress in setting and reaching objectives and setting new goals. Regular adoption support fund assessments show a good level of understanding of the progress made and any future work required.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

The registered manager is aware of what the agency can offer and considers children’s needs and outcomes before agreeing to offer a service. She understands the limitations of the agency as a sole practitioner.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

The agency has a clear statement of purpose, which was recently updated and to which the agency is working well. The agency will share the statement of purpose and the safeguarding policy with the host local authority responsible for safeguarding in the borough. Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist Services are provided from local consulting rooms. The agency actively promotes tolerance, equality and diversity of service. In a situation where a response to a specific special need is required, the agency can make home visits or arrange separate and appropriate consulting rooms.

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good

Risks are clearly identified at the beginning of the therapy process and are reviewed regularly. There is excellent liaison and information sharing with parents, child and adolescent mental health services, general practitioners (GPs), schools and social work staff. Throughout the therapy, the agency is vigilant to increased risks and shares concerns appropriately with relevant professionals where needed.

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good

The agency thinks about potential risks prior to treatment starting, and the statement of purpose makes it clear to parents, carers and professionals what the expectations are for safeguarding. The agency has a good safeguarding policy and has shared this with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the designated officer of the local authority.

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good

Children and young people are encouraged through goal setting and throughout therapy to address risk-taking behaviours. They have opportunities in therapy sessions to self-identify and address risks, and therefore become increasingly safe.

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good

There have been no incidents where any allegations have been made or reported. The necessary processes are understood and in place should these become necessary. The agency understands the process of how to make notifications should there be a serious event, although there has not been occasion for any notifications to date. The agency has a clear complaints policy with a summary of information about how to complain contained within the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of this agency is a sole practitioner, offering expertise as a child and adolescent psychotherapist to promote the emotional health and well-being of adopted children and young people and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Each referral to the service is carefully but quickly assessed and an individualised care package formulated. The goal-based outcomes support progress and guide work going forward. Clear assessment and evaluation help local authorities and parent and carers to understand what is required and how this is to be achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds very positive relationships with professionals, children, young people and their families. Their individual needs are carefully considered, and the work that is needed to support progress is identified. Positive relationships support this. Children, young people and their families are supported to understand, change and manage complex behaviours. Surveys about the service identify that all Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist respondents are pleased with the services offered and all agreed the work is building stronger relationships in their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency ensures that there are good transitions when the work starts and again when it is planned to end. Clear assessments, positive communication and forward planning all support this process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No recommendations or requirements are made at this inspection. The registered manager met the one recommendation made at the last inspection in October 2015. This was in relation to ensuring that children and young people receive information that allows them to source independent advocacy services should they need them.

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Information about this inspection

During this inspection, inspectors looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, young people and adults. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children, young people and adults. They watched how professional staff work with children, young people, adults and each other and discussed the effectiveness of the help provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people, adults and their families. 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 children, young people and adults 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: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider address: West Hill House, Highgate Consulting Rooms, 6 Swains Lane, Highgate, London N6 6QS

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Adoption support agency details

Email address: susanchantrell@sc-cptpractice.co.uk

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, social care inspector Inspection report for adoption support agency: Susan Chantrell - Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist 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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