The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Graham
Hinchey (Cabinet Member Children and Families), Rachel Evans (Head
of Children’s Services, Vale of Glamorgan County Council),
Angela Harris (Regional Adoption Manager), Tony Young (Director
Social Services) and Irfan Alam (Assistant Director,
Children’s Services) to the meeting to present the report,
which the Committee indicated had been read and considered.
Members were invited to comment, seek
clarification or raise questions on the information
received. Those discussions are
summarised as follows:
- It is clear that collaboration in
this instance is working well, however, it is clear that it is an
area which is struggling particularly with staff shortages and
funding. It is not clear if the purpose
of the review is to recommend extra resources or restructure to
mitigate some of the problems. Members
were advised that it was a combination of both. The Service is making the case for increased staffing levels but have been told that
a business case needs to be made evidencing the resources required
and how the resources are to be deployed.
- Members noted that the review is
still ongoing, but is likely to be concluded and a draft prepared
by mid-November.
- Members requested an update on the
improvements and priorities for implementation referred to in the
2015-16 report and were advised that the aim for this report was to
provide a shorter report and weave some of the findings into that
report:
- the service has moved towards a more
specialised way of working and are required to allocate work across
the board if there is a need in a particular area;
- training has taken place on the new
tablets however there have been some technical issues and it is
anticipated they will be going live in the next few months;
- the website is now up and running
having gone live in July of this year and it has been a useful tool
for adopters to find out about the service;
- Ongoing work is being done to try
and streamline the family finding process and work on a 12 week
cycle once the referral comes in;
- Whilst a number of the processes
were now being conducted in Welsh, letters were sent in Welsh if a
preference has been notified and the website is bilingual, it is
accepted that there is still more to be done going forward;
and
- The development of opportunities for
engaging and obtaining feedback from services users is continuing,
it is a large piece of work.
- Members expressed concern at the low
update of counselling by Birth Parents and were advised that
Cardiff is not unique, the figures show that update is low across
Wales, and that often parents, at that early stage, do not want to
engage.
- Members raised a query concerning
the central list of Panel Members and the membership of the joint
regional panel bearing in mind the difficulties with
recruitment. Members were advised that
the independent chairs, of which there are 2 have to have some
background in adoptions and that there are currently 4 vice
chairs.
The independent
members are made up of foster carers, adopter parents and people
with a connection to adopters. Social
Workers also sit on the panel, they have to have a background in
adoption, childcare or fostering.
Because it is such a huge time commitment recruiting social workers
is difficult and more Social Workers are needed. It is very rarely that meetings are cancelled;
there are 4 panel meetings a month.
- Members requested information about
the number of adoption breakdowns and were advised that a review
has taken place internally over the last 4 years; it has provided
some evidence and some anecdotal information surrounding
adoption. Whilst it revealed a low
percentage of breakdowns, it was still too many and that it is
vital that adoption support is effective and needs to be full
resourced.
- Members sought clarification as to
why there has been an increase in the number of children being
placed for adoption. Officers advised
that there is a an increase in the number of children being
referred and then placed nationally and there has also been a
change in the Judicial approach; adoption has to be and is the last
resort. The Authority is now better
equipped to recognise and assess the situation involving the child
earlier.
- Members requested information about
Activity Days and were advised that they are normally run by a
private company, potential adopters can access a directory and look
for prospective children. It is an
activity that has been around for some time. There has been some
resistance to it, but the children have found it to be a fun day
which they enjoy. Both children and adopters who attend activity
days are prepared for the day fun is the main focus of the
day. Children are prepared on the basis
that they are meeting potential Mummies and Daddies, it is usually used for the harder to place
children.
- Members sought clarification of the
support received to ensure that the adoption does not breakdown and
were advised that all children have to have a support plan which
the adopters have in their possession.
There is support provided throughout the placement through to the
Adoption Order, however, if further support is required post
Adoption Order than can be provided.
The placing Authority is responsible for 3 years after the
Order.
AGREED – That the Chairperson, on behalf
of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member and the Head of
Children’s Services in the Vale of Glamorgan, conveying the
observations of the Committee when discussing the Way Forward.