SLACCS

SLACCS South London Adoption Counselling & Consultation Service LLP 4 Elliscombe Road, London SE7 7PY Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this adoption support agency

SLACCS is a limited liability partnership which provides an independent and confidential counselling service to people involved with or affected by adoption. The service is offered to birth parents, birth relatives, adoptive parents and adopted individuals. The agency is registered to provide a service to both children and adults.

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good

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

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 19 July 2016 Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

This adoption support agency is good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 It offers a fast and effective service to children and adults whose lives are affected by adoption.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Two competent and experienced therapists, who have extensive knowledge of adoption issues, are available to offer a service.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Those using the service appreciate the empathic and non-judgemental approach from the agency.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Service users make progress from their starting points and gain a better understanding about their experience of adoption.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The agency offers a professional and sensitive approach to everyone referred to the service.

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Key findings from this inspection

The adoption support agency’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 To ensure that the agency’s complaint policy makes it clear who service users would complain to if the complaint was about the registered manager.

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Key findings from this inspection

 To ensure that the wording of the agency safeguarding policy is not confusing to some service users. Explanations about protected characteristics require an example or better wording to improve understanding.

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Recommendations

 Ensure that entries in records are non-stigmatising and explain what they mean. (Adoption: National minimum standards 27.4) Specifically, in relation to some of the wording of the agency’s child protection policy at paragraph 1.6.  Ensure the agency’s written policy advises how to make a complaint against the registered manager should this situation arise. (Adoption: National minimum standards 25.10)

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Service users build strong and secure relationships with their therapists. Service users feel that they can trust their therapists and do not feel judged. They said that the service has helped them to manage their feelings, to improve their understanding of their situation or has helped with their parenting. One birth parent said, ‘They listen, make no form of judgement and are really supportive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Positive relationships are key to good adoption support. Positive relationships have been evident during this inspection, observed in video recordings and reported consistently by service users and by commissioners. The agency has good working relationships with most of the South London boroughs and provides a fast and effective service.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Following an initial evaluative session, service users are offered six therapy sessions. At the end of these sessions, a review determines ongoing need and plans for further work if necessary. The agency liaises with local authorities to organise and provide a seamless service. Occasionally, there is a delay with funding. However, the agency continues to provide an ongoing service to ensure consistency of care to service users. One adoptive parent said, ‘They are always very professional, always on time, never fail to attend a session. They even continued without me knowing they weren’t getting paid.’

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Children, young people and adult service users are helped via a range of interventions such as life story work, play therapy and psychotherapy. Most of the agency’s work is with adult service users, although both practitioners also work with adoptive parents and their children via play therapy. Service users are fully involved in planning and understanding how the work will be carried out with them. They have a say in how they want to use the sessions and there is flexibility about where and when they will meet. This individual approach helps service users to plan what suits them and thus encourages the best chance of engagement and attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: good

Service user’s views do have an impact on ongoing service delivery. This is evident from discussions with therapists, from point in time surveys and from records and feedback forms. All service users are asked for their feedback at the end of therapy. Sadly, many service users leave therapy prior to its conclusion. However, all feedback received is carefully considered and informs future service delivery.

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good

The partners in this agency are experienced and understand the processes for ensuring that children and vulnerable adults remain safe and are protected. The agency’s policies reflect the need to ensure safety over and above confidentiality in circumstances where there is a serious and direct risk to children and vulnerable others. In these circumstances, the agency has good links with safeguarding partners and is aware of its duty to report concerns.

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good

Processes at the point of referral identify any areas of risk that need to be considered. The partners think about their own and service users’ safety when planning sessions. All service users sign a consent and agreement form informing them about confidentiality and safeguarding issues before they attend for therapy sessions.

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good

Effective interventions help adoptive parents who are often parenting children with developmental trauma. This helps to ensure a better understanding of the behaviours that children present and supports good parenting. One adoptive parent said, ‘They have been fantastic in supporting and helping my children. I’m 100% happy with the service.’

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good

The agency has a complaints policy which advises service users what to do if they are unhappy about the service that they receive. The first point of contact for a complaint is the registered manager. However, the policy does not set out who to complain to if the complaint is about the registered manager.

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good

The agency has a policy that promotes tolerance, equality and diversity. Its safeguarding and vulnerable adult policy also reflects on service users with specific vulnerabilities. Despite this, the wording of this policy could present confusion for some service users as it lacks clarity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency consists of two therapists working together in a limited liability partnership. Both are experienced adoption practitioners who are also qualified counsellors and psychotherapists. The therapists are both accredited and registered with the relevant professional bodies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure a speedy response to referrals and prioritise providing a service to children and adults who want and need such support and intervention. The agency offers a range of counselling and therapy, including life story work and play therapy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency has high expectations about how its service can help and support people to understand past trauma and difficulties arising from adoption. It understands the impact that adoption can have not only on those adopted but on wider extended family in both the birth and adoptive families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency no longer commissions the services of associates or other therapists. The partners ensure their own personal supervision and development through registration with their professional organisations. There is an expectation from the professional organisations that members maintain regular supervision and personal development as a condition of their registration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency’s manager understands the limitations and strengths of the work that it can undertake as a small support agency and partnership. Both partners prioritise practice and have found compliance with registration and regulation difficult at times. Despite this, they have made the necessary changes to comply with the standards and regulations and have met all the requirements from the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency is meeting its stated aims and objectives. The statement of purpose is updated and now available on the agency website. In addition, service users are provided with an informative leaflet telling them what the agency offers, who provides services and what their qualifications and experience are in adoption.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency continues to show a strong commitment to providing a service to all those referred to and using the service. This continues to be the agency’s priority. Effective, well-planned work demonstrates how the agency is improving the lives of those using it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The agency works closely with partner agencies. It holds service level agreements with most of the South London boroughs. In addition, the agency is also a member of the consortium of adoption support agencies and leaders and managers attend these meetings. The registered manager is involved in a South London borough birth-mother group and regularly meets with commissioning managers. Positive feedback was given from social workers who commission the agency’s services. One social worker said, ‘They worked very well in partnership with me and offered good support to my service user.’

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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.

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider: South London Adoption Counselling & Consultation Service LLP

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider address: 9 Midmoor Road, London SW19 4JD

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Inspector

Christine Kennet: social care inspector 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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