Yorkshire Adoption Agency

Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 1 Yorkshire Adoption Agency Yorkshire Adoption Agency Loversall Court, Clayfields, Tickhill Road, Balby, Doncaster DN4 8QG Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this voluntary adoption agency

This agency has charitable status and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The agency recruits, prepares, assesses and approves adopters, and it provides post-adoption support.

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Information about this voluntary adoption agency

At the time of the inspection, the agency was providing a range of adoption and support services to 63 domestic and intercountry adoptive families. Additionally, prospective adopters continue to be assessed. The agency is involved with several other voluntary adoption agencies as part of an alliance. The alliance offers services to regional adoption agencies in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

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outstanding

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

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The voluntary adoption agency provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the voluntary adoption agency contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children, young people and adults.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 24 October 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 2

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

This agency carries out all work with efficiency, thoroughness and a strong child focus. Practice is innovative and thoughtful, ensuring that all children and adults receive a high-quality service that enhances their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Adopters feel highly valued and welcomed. They speak positively about their initial contact with the agency and the comprehensive information they receive. They are fully involved and kept informed at every stage. The agency’s website is attractive and easy to navigate. It clearly communicates its inclusive approach of welcoming potential adopters regardless of ethnicity, faith, marital status or sexual orientation.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Well-trained social work staff carry out high-quality, thorough assessments. Adopters describe the assessment process as positive and say that it left them extremely well prepared for their new roles. Managers are committed to continuous improvement. They have recently enhanced assessments by incorporating clearer evidence of early consideration of attachment, trauma and the impact of fertility issues on the adoption process.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

The training offered to adopters is comprehensive and tailored to the individual needs of each family. This enables adopters to build their knowledge, confidence and capacity to meet their children’s evolving needs. As a result, adopters feel empowered in their parenting, and children benefit from being part of families who understand the impact of their previous life experiences. This is reflected in the agency’s low disruption rates.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Managers are actively involved in national discussions about the importance of children maintaining contact with their birth families. This topic is consistently explored and promoted through training, from the initial stages of interest through to post-adoption.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Children experience carefully planned and thoughtful transitions into their new homes. They develop secure and trusting attachments and thrive in many areas of their lives. Families work closely with other professionals to ensure that their children’s health, educational and emotional needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of service users: outstanding

Adoption support is effective and long-lasting. Some adopters continue to contact the agency years after adoption, demonstrating the enduring nature of the support offered. Feedback from adopters is overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the agency as supportive and the social workers as ‘amazing, professional, and compassionate’. Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 3

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outstanding

Managers understand their safeguarding responsibilities and have systems in place that enable them to provide strong oversight. This ensures that any emerging concerns are quickly identified and reported to statutory agencies, prioritising children’s safety. Where appropriate, managers and staff challenge the practice of external services to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.

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outstanding

Managers appropriately implement auditing and review procedures after all disruptions and safeguarding concerns. Patterns and areas for learning have been identified, and these have been disseminated through practice-sharing training with staff and panel members. This enhances practice, informs processes and further promotes the safety of children and adopters.

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outstanding

There is a comprehensive range of safeguarding training for prospective adopters, adopters, panel members, board members and staff. There are safeguarding events for staff and panel members that focus on new research and practice learning, for example the Become a Family Pilot and Purple Book model. This tool supports adopters in developing strategies to meet the needs of their children effectively by gaining an understanding of where they need support.

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outstanding

Additional systems have been put in place to improve safeguarding practice, such as disseminating learning from serious case reviews. The agency is quick to respond to such learning and to change its practice to introduce additional safeguards.

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, the agency has updated its safeguarding policies, and managers are involved in developing resources around safeguarding matters. For example, the safeguarding training for staff has been updated to level 3.

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outstanding

Managers and staff are proactive in sharing their knowledge and delivering training to other professionals. For example, a manager recently delivered training to education professionals to support their understanding of the impact of their work on the adoption process.

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outstanding

There are effective systems that support the recruitment of adopters, staff and panel members. Any safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and referred to the appropriate safeguarding professionals when necessary. These concerns are closely monitored by leaders and managers, and practice is consistently reviewed for any learning or training needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, the leadership and management of the agency have changed. This was a well-planned transition. The new manager and responsible individual are ambitious, dedicated and child centred in their approach. They are supported by the board and staff who foster a culture of high aspiration and Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 4 positivity. Together, they consistently maintain high standards in service delivery to adopters and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Senior leaders are proactive in reviewing internal systems effectively to inform a robust development plan. This enables timely responses to emerging trends such as efforts to reduce delays through case tracking.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The agency embraces feedback and uses it to drive continuous improvement. Action plans reflect the implementation of all recommendations from lessons learned, with staff receiving targeted training to address identified gaps.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Reflective practice, peer supervision and specialist champions ensure that there is ongoing internal development. Staff are highly motivated, supported by managers who drive forward child-centred practice. They receive regular supervision sessions focused on well-being, workload and professional growth, including opportunities for specialist training. All staff are trained in the preferred therapeutic model, and some are supported to become practice educators.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Decision-making in the agency is highly effective. The agency’s panel chairs are very experienced and give very close consideration to matters presented to the panel. Equally, the quality of the agency’s decision-making is exceptional. It demonstrates comprehensive reflection and consideration of all elements of the application and approval process of adopters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is exceptional. Feedback from other agencies is wholly positive. The manager is recognised as a sector expert, and the agency contributes nationally through workshops and knowledge sharing, including presentations at the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies conferences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Diversity and equality are embedded throughout the organisation from trustees to panel members, reflecting a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. One adopter noted the agency’s responsiveness and cultural understanding as key factors in choosing this agency. Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Voluntary Adoption Agencies and The Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003, The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005, any other relevant legislation, and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 6

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Voluntary adoption agency details

Registered provider: Yorkshire Adoption Agency

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Voluntary adoption agency details

Registered provider address: Loversall Court, Clayfields, Tickhill Road, Balby, Doncaster DN4 8QG

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Voluntary adoption agency details

Email address: smay@yorkshireadoptionagency.org.uk

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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Joanne Wallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for voluntary adoption agency - Yorkshire Adoption Agency 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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