Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee support both the National Adoption Service and North Wales Adoption Service Annual Reports; and

(b)       That feedback on ensuring that future National Adoption Service Annual Reports be formatted to ensure that they were iPad friendly

The Senior Manager Resources introduced a report to inform of the Annual Report of the North Wales Adoption Services (NWAS) and National Adoption Service (NAS) for 2014/15. 

The Senior Manager Resources provided background information and advised that the NAS Annual Report (2014/15) was the first annual report of the fully constituted NAS and set out its role, functions, objectives, performance and future plans.  He reported that evidence indicated that the NAS was seeking to establish a more collaborative approach between the Local Authority/Regional services and third sector providers.   The report also identified the key requirements of the type of adopter to meet the needs of children and the increase in post adoption services recognizing local authority fiscal challenges.

                        Referring to the NWAS Annual Report and Quality of Care Review, the Senior Manager Resources advised that the report provided comprehensive and detailed analysis, evaluation and recorded activities conducted by the NWAS for 2014/15.   He outlined the key considerations in the report and advised that the NWAS continued to be overviewed by a Management Board of the six Local Authorities and was jointly chaired by the Heads of Service for Wrexham and Anglesey with third sector partners co-opted onto the Board.  As concluded in the report the majority of children are placed into Welsh settings and the demand for sibling/baby placements remains a key priority for  service development.

                        The Chair thanked the Senior Manager Resources for his overview and invited questions.

                        Councillor Dave Mackie referred to the formatting of the NAS report and said that the use of columns to present data created difficulty for ‘ipad’ users.      It was agreed that the Senior Manager Resources would take this problem forward to the NAS. 

           Councillor Mackie expressed concern that whilst the report contained significant information obtained from surveys in his view it lacked managerial detail around service performance and the achievement of objectives and timescales.   The Senior Manager Resources responded to the comments and explained that the information required was contained in the report and he agreed to extract the data and provide a summary to Councillor Mackie following the meeting.   He also said he would look at anonymising the management information to send to Councillor Mackie.

Councillor Mackie also commented on the negative feedback which some adopters had made about the quality of the service provided by the NAS.     The Senior Manager Resources advised that the majority of pre and post adopters had not reported any negative feedback on service provision.  Although unable to comment on case specific issues during the meeting he welcomed the opportunity to address any concerns directly in the first instance. 

Councillor Hilary McGuill expressed the view that there was a lack of collaboration between local authorities which slowed down the adoption process and cited the example of where a child was placed for adoption in one local authority and the adoptive parents were placed in another.  She also asked what support was in place for the adoptive parents during the first six months following the placement of a child.  Councillor McGuill asked about the timescales involved in releasing the responsibility of a child from the birth parents to the adoptive parents.   The Senior Manager Resources responded to the comments and questions and explained that the release of responsibility of the birth parents of a child was made by Court determination.  He advised that when a child is placed for adoption an Adoption Support Plan is put in place to ensure the child and adoptive parents receive the relevant support from the Authority and partnership agencies.

In response to the specific concerns which had been raised by Councillors Dave Mackie and Hilary McGuill, the Senior Manager Resources agreed to speak to both Members following the meeting.

Councillor Peter Curtis commented on the increase in the number of children  being placed in adoption, the Senior Manager Resources explained that the increase was due in part to raised awareness of the needs of children who could no longer live with their birth parents and improvements in service delivery.  Councillor Peter Curtis congratulated all involved on their hard work and achievements.  The Senior Manager Resources said he would pass this back to the relevant authorities.

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin commented on the work of the Fostering Panel and said that adoptive parents were encouraged to provide feedback on their experience of the adoption process to inform and improve service  was encouraged.  Councillor Mackie reiterated the comments expressed by Councillor McGuill that some prospective adoptive parents may not wish to make a complaint as they felt this could inhibit the adoption process.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) referred to the significant improvement in service delivery which was evidenced within both NAS and NWAS reports.  Members were advised that the NAS and the NWAS were subject to inspection by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) which identified any shortcomings in service delivery.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee support both the National Adoption Service and North Wales Adoption Service Annual Reports; and

(b)       That feedback on ensuring that future National Adoption Service Annual Reports be formatted to ensure that they were iPad friendly