Psychology Associates

Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates Psychology Associates Psychology Associates Limited Psychology Associates Ltd, 41–43 Lower Fore Street, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6JQ Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this adoption support agency

This adoption support agency provides specialised psychological interventions for adoptive families. The agency employs 17 clinicians who are employed in-house, plus 111 self-employed associate psychologists across the country who accept work from this agency. The agency provides adoption support as part of a wide range of therapeutic consultation and training services. In the last 12 months, the agency has provided 133 adoption support packages for individuals and families.

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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 good

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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: 20 May 2016 Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Overall experience and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Key findings from this inspection

Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates This adoption support agency is outstanding because:  The quality of the individualised support provided by the agency is excellent. The agency provides very high-quality, effective therapy. It offers creative and innovative therapeutic interventions to adopted children and their families. Consequently, children make significant progress and family relationships are strengthened. The agency is staffed by a range of therapists who are highly qualified, skilled and experienced in achieving excellent outcomes for adopted children.  The agency responds swiftly to referrals. It offers individualised support following a comprehensive individual assessment of need that identifies the most effective therapeutic approach. The extensive range of therapeutic interventions available at the agency and the expertise of the therapists ensure that children and families receive the most suitable therapeutic

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Key findings from this inspection

interventions.  The agency implements innovative, creative and research-based practice effectively. Therapists are passionate about their work and have a commitment to improving outcomes for adopted children and their families. All therapy offered is evaluated throughout the sessions to ensure that it is effective, and that it is benefiting and improving outcomes for children and families.  The agency is exceptionally well-led and managed by a management team whose members are passionate about improving the lives of adopted children and their families. Their commitment to improving and evolving the service ensures that the service continually develops and expands without diluting its quality. Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates

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Recommendations

None. Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Adoptive parents reported that prior to receiving a service from the agency they were experiencing many difficulties in parenting their adopted child and the family was at risk of breakdown. Parents reported that their involvement with the agency has made a significant difference to them, and has enabled their family to stay together. Sensitive and thoughtful therapeutic life story work is undertaken with children and young people. This work enables them to understand their history and gain insight into how their early life experiences may be impacting on them. Life stories are documented in book form, but therapists also creatively use music, comic strips and video, depending on the needs and interests of each individual child.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Creative work, underpinned by research, is being undertaken at the agency through the development of a sensory gym. The sessions in the sensory gym help children who have experienced early trauma to develop and experience feelings of safety. Use of the gym improves their ability to build a positive relationship with their parents, and eventually to self-regulate their emotions. The sessions also effectively support children to improve their balance, body awareness and fine motor skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Multidisciplinary assessments offered to adopted children by the agency are a strength. A lead clinician is appointed for each family. The assessment aims to provide a holistic understanding of a child. Recommendations for individualised support or intervention are based on the findings of a multidisciplinary team which includes speech and language therapists, paediatricians, educational psychologists and occupational therapists. These assessments are particularly effective in considering a diagnosis in the context of trauma and attachment difficulties to consider differential diagnosis and identify a formulation, which may include autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder amongst others, to fit with a child’s presentation and which therapeutic interventions would be most effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Communication with families and other agencies is regular and comprehensive. Families enquiring about a service are swiftly and sensitively responded to. Staff support families to access the adoption support fund effectively. Feedback from professionals is very positive. They hold the agency in very high regard and comment on the positive outcomes that are achieved for children and families. They particularly value the accessibility of therapists, who are always willing to offer advice, support and strategies to help to support a child.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

The agency places great importance on being involved in current research and the development of therapeutic interventions to best support and achieve positive outcomes for adopted children and their families. For example, a highly specialist speech and language therapist is currently working on the clinical expert panel responding to government legislation around the link between language, trauma and Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Prior to a therapist starting work with children and families, a clear plan of work is agreed. The views of children and families are comprehensively gathered by the therapist and these views inform the plan of work. Therapeutic interventions are flexible and are adapted in line with the changing needs of the family or child.

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good

Staff promote children’s safeguarding needs and have a thorough understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures. Therapists are clear about the action that they should take in the event of a safeguarding or child protection concern. All therapists benefit from receiving regular safeguarding training. Safeguarding incidents are rare, but when they do occur, for example when a child makes a disclosure or allegation, appropriate safeguarding action is taken. All incidents are recorded in a centralised safeguarding log which aids management oversight of any incidents.

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good

Children and families know how to raise a complaint. They are given clear information about how to make a complaint when they first begin receiving a service. The agency has a clear and comprehensive complaints procedure which ensures that any concerns are taken seriously by managers and a prompt response is given. No complaints relating to the adoption support service have been received since the previous inspection.

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good

Health and safety checks on the premises are comprehensive and regularly undertaken. Clear guidance is in place about the action that should be taken in the event of a fire. Fire protection equipment is regularly checked to ensure that it is effective. Confidential records are securely stored. Security procedures ensure that only necessary staff members have access to these records.

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good

Leaders and managers take all of the necessary steps to ensure that only suitable people are employed at the agency. Comprehensive recruitment procedures are undertaken by managers, in line with safer recruitment guidance. All therapists hold an up-to-date registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council and associate therapists hold appropriate insurance.

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good

Therapists promptly identify and record any risks that become evident during therapeutic sessions. These risks are documented in therapy plans, which detail what action will be taken to minimise them. Therapists offer parents effective practical strategies to use with their child to minimise any identified risks. If necessary, therapists will make referrals to other agencies, such as mental health professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates Leaders and managers have a clarity of vision, documented in the agency statement of purpose, in respect of what they intend the agency to provide and achieve for adoptive families and children. They understand the challenges of parenting often very traumatised children and succeed in offering practical and emotional support and strategies to adoptive families. The agency has recently expanded in response to increased demand for its services. This expansion has been carefully managed and has not diluted the quality of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The agency employs associate therapists who are based around the country. This is managed well by the agency. The agency uses robust quality monitoring systems that ensure that the associates are providing a good-quality and effective service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recently, the registered manager left the service. A new manager, who has the necessary relevant experience and qualifications, has been swiftly appointed and their application for registration has been received by Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers implement continuous improvements through a comprehensive development plan, and through gaining feedback from families and children. This is a learning organisation that is aware of its strengths and areas for future development. The company board of directors provides the agency with strong governance. Regular reports on the functioning of the agency are submitted to the board for scrutiny.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recent successful innovative projects undertaken by therapists include working with local schools to promote an awareness and understanding of how best to support the education of adopted children. Therapists also provide guidance for school staff on understanding how they can access the adoption support fund. Therapists provide free workshops for education staff on topics such as understanding early trauma. The agency has strong links with voluntary, private and local authority organisations and professionals value the therapists’ expertise and knowledge. Therapists regularly provide these organisations with bespoke, high-quality training and consultation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The progress that children and families make is monitored closely by the agency. Progress and outcomes for children and families are closely evaluated and data is produced to evaluate the benefit of the therapeutic interventions and support offered by the agency. Children and families are encouraged to provide feedback and this is used to inform future service development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff reported that they are very well supported by leaders and managers, and really enjoy working for the agency. All therapists working for the agency benefit from receiving regular clinical supervision and can access a comprehensive training programme that ensures that they maintain their record of professional development. Additional specialist supervision in particular areas of expertise, such as Theraplay, is also available if required. Informal supervision from managers, who offer an open- door approach to support staff, is always available. Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates

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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: Psychology Associates

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider: Psychology Associates Limited

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Adoption support agency details

Registered provider address: 51 North Hill, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8HZ

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Adoption support agency details

Registered manager: Doctor Molly Bodinetz

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Adoption support agency details

Email address: enquiry@psychologyassociates.org.uk

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Inspector

Tina Maddison: social care inspector Inspection report for adoption support agency: Psychology Associates 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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