Adoption Inspection Action Plan Progress Report:- 12th January 2006
- Executive Summary
Work Strand / Performance / Comments
A. Adoption Service and Adoption Standards / Action plan in place for each of the standards and on track. Self-assessment form draft 3 completed by 13/01 for circulation. Archiving and secure storage of records in areas under review.
B. Adoption Procedures / Adoption procedures completed. Awaiting ‘sign off’ and publication on Connect.
C. Learning and Development / ACA (2002) implementation training commenced, but phase 1 poorly attended. Concerns about attendance levels for BAAF seminar on 30/01/06 and at locality based permanency workshops.
D1. Audit of Case Work (Process) / Audit of 32 cases completed and action plan in place - to be circulated to Heads of Care & CSMs.
D2. Audit of Case Work (Outcomes) / Key messages to be built into pre-inspection briefings for staff
D3. Audit of 200 approx cases (Areas – All files which may be inspected) / Work in progress. Meetings to be held to clarify cases that need auditing and establish a reporting policy.
E. Adoption bulletin and staff briefings / Bulletins published on schedule, with positive response, though some concerns about how widely it is being read. Next Issue Early Jan. ‘06
F. Preparation of adoption files / Work in progress. Priority is now 16 cases which CSCI inspection will focus on, ensuring that both adoption and case files are up-to-date
G. Recruitment and vetting procedures / Work is in progress to ensure that all staff with substantial access to children have been CRB checked and have references. Manpower now consulting with CSCI on whether self-employed staff need to register with them -
H. Performance and Management Information:
Balanced Scorecard / Scorecard in hand. First report presented to CSF Board on 13/12. BS needs streamlining and underpinned by a performance framework.
I) Audit of Review Meeting Minutes / Audit of all Reviews held in 09/05 highlighted some poor quality in casework, and contributed to action plan in D2. New Review Form awaiting ‘sign-off’ and impact will be monitored. Next audit of adoption reviews due 01/06
J) Preparation for Adoption Inspection / Pre-meeting held with Inspector and arrangements underway. Detailed action plan being prepared. Briefings to be set up with people involved. Pre-inspection material on track for submission to CSCI on 6/02/06.
Overview: Processes mostly on target, focus now on cases being looked at by CSCI and briefing of those to be interviewed
Key: White - Work not started / Green– Performance/task on target / Red-Targetnot being met / Amber- Task on target with concerns
Adoption Inspection Action Plan Progress Report – 5 January 2006
- Detailed Report
Work Strand / Main Issues / Actions / Deadline / Progress / Performance on target
A. Adoption Service and Adoption Standards
Lead
Brenda Simmonds/ Maureen Phillips / Adoption standards in place and being implemented / Detailed action plan in place for each of the standards / September 05 – February 06 / On track
Pre-inspection work / Complete self assessment questionnaires & documentation / February 06 / On track
File storage being arranged and will be in place by inspection. Archiving under review with Tony May.
B. Adoption Procedures
Lead
Brenda Simmonds/ Maureen Phillips / Ensuring that Adoption Procedures are updated to include Adoption and Children Act (ACA) 2002 requirements / Adoption procedures ready by launch of ACA training for managers / 16/01/06 / Adoption procedures completed and will shortly be published on Connect
Govt. are still producing information which can be incorporated later
C. Learning and Development
Lead
Paulette Bushay
(Louise Purser)
C. Learning and Development
(cont.) / ACA (2002) Implementation / DfES Seminar & ACA training for Managers & Practitioners / 30/01/2006 / On track. Dates mostly fixed & training organised. However Phase I seminars not attended by 25% of Managers and 50% of Practitioners – to be addressed
Training for Fostering & Adoption Panels / 23/01/2006 / Dates to be arranged for post February 2006
Adoption Implementation Procedures / Workshop in localities / January 2006 / Dates and venues fixed. CSM’s to publicise in areas
Permanency planning (including Permanency forms) / Two stage process (1) session with external trainer / 14/01/2006 / Two day programme (1)BAAF training day for key team managers/IRO’s on 30/01/06 – concern about numbers attending
(2) Follow up day in July
(2) locality based workshops / Only three staff signed-up. Email reminder to be sent to CSMs
Needs analysis for LAC training / (1) Identify training needs
(2) Workshops
(3) Coaching sessions in localities / To be picked up by Steering Group (questionnaire may not be needed if sufficient info. already available) / .
D1. Audit of Case Work (Process)
Lead
(Previously Jacki Rothwell) / Audit of case files to review quality of work/timescales/ recording practice etc. / To undertake an external audit of 21 case files to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Care Planning process / Audit report available week beginning 05/11/2005 / Audit(s) completed on time and first report published 21/11
Report to be circulated to Heads of Service and CSMs
D2. Audit of Case Work (Outcomes)
Leads
Lydia Whelan/Peter Andrews and CSMs / Audit has highlighted serious concerns about:
- Culture and attitude
- Processes and systems
- Basic knowledge / skills / practice
- Management oversight
- Case assessment and analysis
- Quick wins
- Medium to longer term actions
Three year training plan being updated by John Richards / Action being implemented – await evidence of improvements
See Specific audit action plan
D3. Audit of 200 Cases (Areas – all files which may be inspected)
Leads
Lydia Whelan/Peter Andrews and CSMs / Audit of case files to review quality of work / decision making /timescales/ recording practice etc. / CSMs to audit 150 files, using simplified audit tool. / Original deadline (Audit and resultant actions to be completed by 31/12/05) will need to be re-scheduled, as a result of uncertainties about which files to audit / Work in progress. Audits underway. MP to meet CASAMs to check and finalise lists and establish a reporting policy
E. Adoption Bulletin and Staff Briefings
Lead
Alice Moore / Keep staff informed about inspection
Encourage participation and feedback from Social Workers
Embed adoption in the work of CSF / Publish initial print newsletter / 24/10/2005 / Newsletter published on schedule
and well received,
Fortnightly e-mail bulletins. / 14/11/2005 / 2 bulletins published. Concerns about how widely it is read to be addressed.
Next issue early Jan. ‘06
Publication following inspection report. / After inspection report received / Not yet started.
F. Preparation of Adoption Files
Lead
Sue Zacharias/
Alan Noyes
F. Preparation of Adoption Files
(cont.) / An adoption file is required for all children once adoption is decided on. / Ensure all children adopted over the last 3 years and those for whom adoption is the plan have an adoption file. / 30/01/2006 / Focus now needs to be on the 16 cases which CSCI will look at.
Action: EMcB to convene meeting on 16/17 January to review these files involving relevant staff and managers
Longer term work: review files of all children adopted over 12 months ago
G. Recruitment and Vetting Procedures
Lead
Steve England
G. Recruitment and Vetting Procedures (cont) / Recruitment procedures have been followed for the employment of HCC staff in the Adoption service. / Ensure procedures followed in respect of all permanent & temporary staff / 30/01/2006 / On track. HR are checking files for adoption staff
All Sessional & Agency staff have been satisfactorily checked / To ensure that anyone having substantial access to children is CRB checked:
(1) Check current list of Sessional workers
(2) Clarify arrangements for use of sessional workers / 30/01/2006 / On track. S/T solution agreed with Manpower.
HR e mail to staff awaited.
Requirement that self-employed staff will need to be registered with agencies is being checked out with CSCI (by Manpower)
Initial verbal response is that this is not needed.
H. Performance and Management Information
(Balanced Scorecard)
Lead
Karen Noble / Provide regular management information about performance on a range of indicators on adoption.
Provide managers with up to date information on the service. / Balanced Scorecard being developed. Data being collected and collate
Review and establish management reporting arrangements / First draft with some data by December 6th, ready for Leads to make their judgements and ultimately to Board on 13/12 / Scorecard in hand. First report was due to be presented to CSF Board on 13/12. BS needs streamlining and underpinned by a performance framework. It will not be fully operational in time for the inspection.
I. Audit of Review Meeting Minutes
Lead
Dawne Brent
I. Audit of Review Meeting Minutes (cont) / Ensure first and second reviews cover key areas including views of child’s birth family. / New Review Form being launched in December ‘05
Further report on reviews in January ’06 and on going updates to Adoption Project Group / January ‘06 / September Audit outcomes contributed to analysis of key issues and action plans set out in D2.
Revised formats for SW and Adoption Worker reports with John Richards for authorisation
Adoption Reviews to be audited in January 2006
J. Preparation for Adoption Inspection
Leads
Maureen Phillips / Brenda Simmonds / Focus of Inspection:
1) Are HCC is meeting minimum standards?
2) Are HCC implementing requirements of ACA 2002? / 1) Meeting held with CSCI inspector set out who they will want to see.
2) Briefings to be organised with key people
3) List needed of all children placed for adoption in 2005 / Pre-inspection material to be with CSCI by 6/02/06 / Arrangements for inspection discussed by project group on 5/01/06 and detailed action plan to be developed
Issue 8 5/1/06 Page 1 of 8