Agenda item

 Attendee:

-       Sally-Ann Jenkins (Head of Children and Young People Services)

The Head of Service presented a brief overview to the Committee and highlighted they key areas for consideration. It was explained that the reason for this report and the Fostering report has come to the Partnerships committee is that it part reflects the regional work. In relation to Adoption, it is an arrangement in statue, we can’t run our own adoption service, the terms are set out in legislation. South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS) neatly maps the same footprint as Health and Police colleagues in Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly and Torfaen. Members were then advised that all three Heads of Services are still in post within SEWAS, which shows consistency.

It was agreed to have a single employer - Blaenau Gwent, working from Mamhilad  We all contribute. Adoption effects a small amount of children but adoption is the most draconian and life change decision for a child’s life. Whilst there is a small group of children, there is a weight of decision making for children. It was advised that there are still things to iron out regarding government. There are o powers to enforce anything. She can guide and direct, can’t enforce, which can create tension.

SEWAS was set up as a partnership across Wales to improve services. We know England and Wales have a number of people wanting to adopt. The creation of service and collaboration to build healthier and greater adopters.

Within the report, officers have laid out background and laid out National Adoption Service report. Key data for Newport is included. Challenges are that there is a still struggle to recruit adopters for Newport, and sibling groups for older children. It is easier to adopt babies, 2 - 3 year olds is a challenge. Finding adopters for children who have disabilities is also a struggle too, as well as children who can be challenging to care for. Whist children post adoption can settle well, when they hit High School etc, they can raise questions about their identity, which can be flare points.

Members asked the following:

·                  Members commented that although it is a regional report, they were hoping to see a bit more in depth how it impacts Newport and is it value for money. The issues raised in the report are generically about regions, are we doing well in areas and how many people in Newport are adopting? Members were advised that it would be difficult to give an answer for how many people in Newport are adopting, as they could adopt in other places such as Cardiff and Bristol as well.

·                With Newport using the pool as much as everyone else, do you feel that allocation is fair? Members were advised that it is fair, as it is about matching carers to children. There is no incentive for them to place more children in one authority, there is nothing to gain. If the match is wrong and the adoption cracks, then it raises questions about the quality of work.

·                Is an Out of County placement considered to be outside of Gwent or Newport? Members were advised that it is considered to be outside of Gwent. Sometimes, the preference is to place a child a distance away. Examples were give where a number of minority families have been signed and we try to find relevant matches for those children with a ethnicity background. There aren’t many of these families in Monmouth of Blaenau Gwent, so we would need to look in Cardiff or Bristol.

·                 Do we track young people once they have been adopted? Members were advised that they aren’t tracked once adopted, we might not hear ever again what happens to the child, unless the adoption breaks down. When the adoption order is made, the child becomes the child of that family. We do however hear anecdotally how some children are doing.

Members then asked how performance is managed and how are breakdowns signalled? Members were advised that if an adoption breaks down, the children come back into care. Children phone to advise of any issues, and the local authority will also contact to get the history of the child. In regards to performance, Adoption have the lowest number of breakdown rates, which is roughly 4% nationally. The Head of Service didn’t have figures for Newport but can give the committee the figures from SEWRAS.

·                Are adopters given training for special needs? Members were advised that adopters have full information about the children. They also have assessments that aren’t for the faint hearted, it is very complex and demanding. It looks at the potential adopter’s lifestyle and relationships. There are various training available, such as Adoption UK offer peer to peer support and groups. SEWAS offer a psychology service. All children over 2 years old are offered a day when there is a potential match, the adopter will have a day with professionals working with the children and go through what the child’s life has been like, and their likes and dislikes. Getting to know a child is emotional for one day. Furthermore, if a child has medical needs etc, adopters would be given training.

·                 Can you describe what is meant by “embedding a performance culture”? The Head of Service explained that before adoption service become regional before 2014, there had been no performance information. Now, we have much better performance information that has now been collected and understood. When Members asked there is a pressure to meet timescales, it was explained that there are no penalties, it is understanding our own performance. Information was given about life story process for children, in which there is a clear sense that we should have the life story work completed by the second review. Newport is great at doing this, we can compare this to other regional collaborations and be proud of this area. If we do miss the second review it isn’t a big deal but it could be off key and might need to be looked at.

·                Comment was made that some figures can be concerning if you don’t understand them. Query was then made about how many younger children were in waiting? Members were firstly advised that it Is concerning that the number of people wanting to adopt are smaller number than the children waiting to be adopted so there are children that are not able to be placed anywhere. It was then advised that there aren’t any issues with under 2 year olds being placed. The difficulty is for those over two years old, especially siblings. Members then asked if there are targets set for these, which was advised there are. It starts with SEWRAS for 6 months, then they get signed onto the National Adoption Registrars. .There are a couple of schemes in Wales and additional support that we are on the cusp of using. It was also advised that there are plans being looked at to recruit adopters for older children. There are also “Link Maker” days and adoption parties, which have also helped to get children to be adopted.

·                Does Newport still have the ability to be creative? Members were advised that there are five Heads of Children Services offered a day of in house psychology which is a consultation service attached to SEWRAS, which is being used as an example of best practice across Wales. The five Heads of Service’s Local authorities work well together and meeting up regularly, normally monthly and adoption is always on the agenda. 

·                Is there a reason why adopters aren’t coming forward? Members were advised that society has changed, and suspects that significant improvements in IVF does impact. Years ago childless couples normally adopted however there had been horror stories about older children and those with challenges.

·                Members queried are BAME children matched up to BAME families? The officer advised that they try ot match families with a happy child and an identity to grow with. Comment was made that it was hoped that in this day and age racism had reduced. The officer advised it has diminished but they want a child to have a family they can identify with.

·                Can you give an example of where you have listened to adopters and children and the changes that resulted from it? The officer advised adopted children come back to talk to SEWRAS, however there is a

·                How many children in Newport need to be adopted, and is the number going up? It was advised that it varies year by year, however it isn’t going up, in the last six months numbers had dropped off. There are around 50 children on placement orders but some will have already been matched. There are always some children waiting. When asked if the children can go back to their natural parents, it was advised that assessments with their families are taken beforehand. Adoption is a last resort.

·                Members commended the mention of the budget being handled effectively. Could services be better in relation to finance pressures?  It was advised no, adoption is hard work. It was advised that the Service Manager in SEWRAS is excellent and there is no sacrifice in service. Grants have been given by SEWRAS for adoptions service in order to help support the services. There is also a good push from Welsh Government for adoption support.

·                Members commented that earlier in the presentation it was noted that the National service look down but have no ability to make changes to enforce. Does the officer see that changing in future?  Members were advised that there was a large report last about changes which included views from Welsh Government, Councils and families. It doesn’t look like it’ll change in future, however people involved in Adoption work together regionally and are committed to work in the same way. There is no real tension and everyone knows each other.

·                Within the regional side, is the relationship mature and are there any challenges? It was explained that the relationship is five years old, there has been some fraught meetings and difficult discussions about information received. Overall it is a mature relationship. There was a risk of it previously set up with no signed partnership agreements, but there was a level of trust involved that allowed that to happen.

·                Are staff experienced, and is there is any way of mitigation of future planning. The officer advised that Adoption and Fostering do tend to hold onto experienced staff as they are desirable social worker jobs. Staff have built up a wealth of knowledge.

·                Are resources being maximised, and it is cost effective? Members were given example of the psychology service which was pooled for the regional service. Partners were very quick to agree that should be a single service with staff being on single service. There is no friction and all prepared to work with each and end with an agreement. In regards to being cost effective, Members were advised that the scope of where we can place children has increased as there is a pool of 5 Local Authority adopters instead of 1. We’d be paying per placement if not for the regional service.

·                Has anything been done about promoting Adoption within the Public Services Board? It was explained that Adoption is a statutory right, we do not do anything extra. Sally Ann Jenkins is going to the Public Service Board to discuss Looked after Children so adoption may be discussed. There has been work done regionally.

·                If there are any big argument, who comes out on top? Members were advised that there is too much common ground, the objective is the same for all of us and share the same values. The buy in is too much.

The Chair thanked the officers for attending.