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Appendix 1abcPublic ----Adoption Service Annual Report 2011-2012October 2012Authors:Nicky Hale, Interim Head of Service, Looked After ChildrenJames Lawrence, Programmes and Projects Manager3. Introduction3.1This report considers the work completed by Coventry Children, Learning & YoungPeople’s Directorate in respect of Adoption during the year 1 April 2011 to 31 March2012.3.2The Coventry Adoption Service is responsible for the recruitment, training,assessment and support of adopters and in home-finding for children with anadoption plan.3.3The Adoption Panel is responsible for recommending and reviewing adoption plansfor children, approving and terminating the approval of adopters and linking childrento adopters. It also considers learning points from any disruptions in adoptionplacements.3.4During 2011/12, there were 22 applications received from perspective adopters and25 children were adopted during the year. Furthermore, 48 children were placed foradoption during the year.4.AnnexesAnnex 1 – Adoption Case studyAnnex 2 – Coventry Adoption Panel8

5.Overall PerformanceThe following table sets out the performance of the Adoption ServiceKey performance indictors2011-2012ADOPTION APPLICATIONSGeneral Adoption enquiries received by Recruitment Team221 (224 in 2010/11)From telephone discussions, number of enquirerssent information packs88Initial visits made31 (41 in 2010/11)Applications received22 (25 in 2010/11)ADOPTERSNumber of Adopters approved over the period32 (26 in 2010/11)Number of Adopters awaiting matching with children22 by March 2012(21 in 2010/11)CHILDREN'S PROGRESSChildren's plans taken to panel50 (61 in 2010/11)Children confirmed with adoption need48 (56 in 2010/11)Children placed for adoption in year48 (27 in 2010/11)Children adopted during year25 (23 in 2010/11)Disruptions of placement16.Referrals/enquiries to the agency6.1221 general adoption enquiries were received by the Recruitment Team, CoventryFostering & Adoption Service. After initial telephone discussions, 88 requested andreceived an information pack.6.246 prospective adopters wished to take their interest further, but 7 of these werecounselled out before the initial visit and a further 8 after the initial visit. 31 initialvisits were made.9

6.3There were a number of reasons for counselling out prospective adopters with somechoosing to withdraw, others circumstances changing and others choosing to pursueother options. Reasons include:Before initial visit Concerns regarding mentalhealth Pursuing adoption inWarwickshire Going to university, couplewithdrew Not living together for 2 years Couple withdrew – maderedundant Moved out of area Counselled out – concernsregarding the needs of theirown children7.After initial visit Couple withdrew Decided not to proceed for specific child Withdrew Counselled out – work and othercommitments, lack of support network Language difficulties Lack of accommodation More fertility treatment Mental health issuesRecruitmentTargeting7.1Key target areas for adoption recruitment this year continued to be sibling groups,older children, black children and those of mixed heritage. These target groups arealso the hardest to place children throughout the UK.7.2Recruitment activity for adoptive parents continued to be targeted outside theimmediate Coventry City area, as there is an ongoing request from social workers forout of area placements to maintain the safety and anonymity of children.7.3During 2011-12, Adoption Information Evenings were held in May 2011, November2011, and February 2012. 45 prospective adopters were invited and 35 attended.Marketing7.4The Governance Board approved a Marcoms budget for adoption of 16,599 of the 30,000 in 2010-2011. The spend was 16,395. It had been hoped to expand out ofCity advertising following the success of, for example, advertising on buses acrossWarwickshire in 2009 – 2010. The focus would have been to expand on attractingprospective adopters who had already raised a birth family in order to place siblinggroups and older children.7.5All Marcoms activity currently takes place in areas outside Coventry but within anhour's drive. This includes Leamington, Warwick, Stratford, Rugby, Solihull, Hinckleyand surrounding areas. The number of towns within the catchment area provides awider choice of media – particularly local newspapers and magazines – but alsomeans that the budget has to stretch further to reach prospective adopters.7.6By advertising in these areas Coventry Adoption Service is in direct competition withneighbouring local authorities/voluntary agencies. Media relations are also morechallenging because local newspapers see Coventry stories as less relevant to theirreadership than adoption stories from their own council. Adoption enquiries increasedin November as is usual with the increased publicity of National Adoption Week.10

7.7The website continued to generate the largest number of responses however many ofthese are generated by adverts which promote the adoption web address and drivevisitors to the site.8.Preparation Groups8.1Preparation Groups, run by the Recruitment and Adoption Support Teams, areoffered to prospective adopters and 4 sets were run in May, June, October 2011 andJanuary 2012. The groups take place over 4 days, and include presentations andexercises for applicants on issues to consider in adoption, including anxieties foradopters about contact with birth relatives.8.2A total of 29 sets of applicants attended these groups. Of theseEthnicity26 sets of applicants were White British1 WB / Irish1 WB / African Caribbean1 WB / PakistaniSexuality27 were heterosexual couples (of whom 4 sets werefoster carers wishing to adopt children already inplacement with them),1 single heterosexual woman1 female same sex coupleLocationAll live outside the cityParental status22 sets of applicants were childless couples7 sets of applicants were already parents / step-parentsOf the 29 who went to groups 2 couples withdrew (leaving a pool of 27 couples)9.Adopters9.1The Service seeks to recruit a pool of adopters to meet the needs of a wide range ofchildren. However, throughout the country there is an over supply of potentialadopters who are childless seeking younger children. Often there is a mismatchbetween the aspirations of adopters, their capacity to care for children with complexneeds and the needs of children awaiting a family. Annex 1 has a case study ofadopters of two boys with complex needs.9.2Other factors that mitigate against matching include: Children often needing to be placed out of City for their welfare.A number of adopters not able to take older children, sibling groups.The ethnic mix of children and adopters being diverse.Adopters being able to refer themselves to the National Adoption Register as soonas approved.Adopters not necessarily being available at the exact time we wish to place a childfor adoption, as recruitment is constant and we cannot delay plans for children.11

9.3Adoption Panel approved 32 Adopters during the reporting period of which 25 weregeneral adopters and 7 were approvals with specific children in mind. This is 6 morethan 2010/11. Annex 2 includes details about the Coventry Adoption Panel.9.422 Adopters were awaiting matching at the end of March 2012, 1 less than 2010/11.10.ChildrenChildren placed for Adoption10.1 48 children were placed for adoption in the year, compared to 27 in 2010/11.10.2 50 children had their adoption plans recommended by Panel. Of these: 5 plans changed to long-term fostering (some in the next reporting period)5 returned to grandparents3 were rehabilitated to their mother3 remained with the foster carer on Special Guardianship Orders2 moved abroad with their grandmother2 returned home and 1 is possibly being placed with a grandparent10.3 This left 29 children with an adoption plan for family finding.Children Adopted during the year10.4 25 children were adopted during 2011/12 including 21 White British children, 1 WhiteAsian and 1 White Caribbean child.10.5 Of the 25 children, 4 were placed with interagency adopters and 21 with Coventryadopters.Type of adoption4 with Interagencyadopters21 with CoventryadoptersEthnicity 3 White British children placed with3 White British couples 1 White/Caribbean child placed with a WhiteBritish couple 1 White/Asian child placed with a W/B couple17 WB children placed with W/B couples1 White British child placed with aWB/Irish/Spanish couple2 White/Caribbean children placed with a WBcouple10.6 There was 1 disruption of a placement for adoption 8 weeks after placement in thereporting period, and child matched with adopters who withdrew just prior to linking.10.7 The Disrupted case was of a child of nearly 2 years old, placed with Coventryadopters. There was good preparation for this placement, adopters were managedwell but one of the adopters was not able to make the adjustment to adoption. Therewere also difficulties in reconciling the needs of the adopted child compared to their12

birth children.10.8 In the other case the female adopter did not attach to the child despite full preparationand large amounts of support. The Adopters were fully briefed but changed theirminds.10.9 There were no particular learning experiences for Adoption Panel with regard to thisplacement which disrupted or the one that did not go ahead. Factors such as theage of child upon placement for adoption and capacity to attach as a result of earlylife experiences are risk factors in making placements for adoption. However theAdoption Service is committed to careful matching, avoidance of drift and hasexcellent adoption support services for all placements for adoption. Coventry has agood record of minimal disruptions and higher risk placements are identified and wellsupported11.Financial IssuesSee Cabinet Report 16 October 2012 for details.12.Complaints, compliments and comments No complaints were received during the reporting period April 2011 – March 2012. 12 compliments were received during the reporting period April 2011 – March2012. 10 were in relation to the work of individual staff in the Adoption Team and 2were general compliments for the Adoption Team and Post Adoption Team.13

13.Statutory guidance timescalesThere are prescribed timescales for progressing plans for adoption for children, approvingprospective adopters and placing children for adoption. The table below indicates howCoventry is meeting these timescales:Statutory Guidance TargetsPROGRESSING PLANS FOR ADOPTION FOR CHILDRENStatutory GuidanceMeasureBaselinePerformance"Children's adoption plans arepresented to Adoption Panelwithin 2 months of the reviewrecommending adoption"2 months48 children24 children out of 48within 2 months (50%)50 childrenbrought toPanel, 2childrenrecommendedfor long termfosteringNote35 out of 48 within 3 months46 out of 48 within 6 monthsAll within 10 months"National Minimum Standards12 months(Standard 13) Timescalebetween agency decision forthe plan for adoption to the dateof placement – Standard is 12months"48 childrenplaced withadopters27 children placed within 12months of the decision foradoption (56%)"Notification to Birth Parents ofa Plan for Adoption, Linkingwith Adopters – orally within 48hours of Decision and in writingwithin a further 5 days (7days)"--LAC Social workers haveresponsibility for informingBirth Parents orally followingthe Panel meetingDecision maker – AdoptiondecisionsNotification Adoption7 daysdecisionsfrom50 plans fordecisionadoptionNotification Matching7 daysdecisionsfrom50 plans fordecisionadoptionDecision maker – Matchingdecisions56% adoptions decisionscommunicated within 7working days61% of matching decisionscommunicated within 7working daysRECRUITMENTStatutory GuidanceMeasure14BaselinePerformance

"Written information about theadoption process should be sentwithin 5 working days to theprospective adopter in responseto their enquiry"5workingdays"The prospective adopter shouldbe invited to an adoptioninformation evening meetingwithin 2 months of their enquiry".2 monthsfrom initialenquiry33 familieswho requesteda visit (initially46 familieswereinterested inpursuing theirinterest)33 families who requesteda visit were visited within10 days88 packs sent out sameday as the enquiry5 daysnoneTarget was metAfter telephonediscussion, 88familiesrequested aninformationpack Information evening held every3 months Prospective adopters offeredinitial visit within 10 days(internal timescale)"From receipt of an initial enquiryform being received (afterreceiving an information pack) –to be allocated within 5 days".221 generaladoptionenquiries15

APPROVAL OF ADOPTERSStatutory GuidanceMeasureBaselinePerformanceAdopters must be approved, 8months from application torecommendation by AdoptionPanel8 months32 adoptersapproved toadopt15 completed within 8months (47%)9 completed between 9-11months8 took over 12 months6 weeks from completion ofAdopters Report to AdoptionPanel6 weeksnoneTimescale was achievedNotifying Adopters of Decisionfor Approval, within 24 hours ofthe Panel recommendation(National standards)24 hours32 letters ofnotification17 sent out letters sameday or within 1 day15 within 2-7 daysStatutory Guidance 48 hoursCoventry – all adopters notifiedof the Panel's recommendationswithin 24 hours of attendingpanel by Social Worker & PanelChair, and receive letterAll adopters notifiedverbally.Progressing Plans for Adoption for Children13.1 50 children were brought to Panel with a plan for adoption, 2 of which wererecommended as long-term fostering. Approximately half (24) of children's adoptionplans were presented to Adoption Panel within 2 months of the review recommendingadoption. Over three-quarters of children's plans (81%) for adoption were presentedto Adoption Panel within 4 months. This is a better outcome than 2010 – 2011 when68% of children's plans were presented to Adoption Panel within 4 months of thereview.13.2 Adoption Panel monitor the reasons for delay and the most common are delays inreceiving background medical information, time taken to transfer cases to the LookedAfter Service Teams (this has been substantially helped by the co-working betweenthe Neighbourhood and Looked After Children Teams) and the complex needs ofchildren and sibling groups. The latter often require further work to establish whetheradoption is the right plan and whether siblings should be separated or not.Sometimes family and friends come forward for assessment late in the process. All ofthese reasons pertain to this group of children.13.3 Of the 48 children placed with adopters, 27 (56%) were placed within 12 months ofthe decision for adoption. The 21 that took longer were for a variety of reasonsincluding the complex needs of the child, children requiring therapy prior toplacement, breakdowns and financial issues. The specific challenges are includedbelow:16

Timescale Challenges12 – 20months3 lots of 2 siblings1 placed with sibling’s adopters in Wales, delay in finalising the plansand linking1 complex needs1 initial identified adopter requested further information, said no to childand was ruled out20 – 30months1 sibling group of 2 required therapy prior to placementSingle child disrupted 3 weeks into adoptive placement and secondadopter withdrewSingle child 1 year delay to achieve Placement Order30 – 40monthsSibling group of 3 breakdown in introductions at the point of placementwhen this group was being placed as part of a group of 5 childrenSibling group of 2 children with considerable health needs. Problemswith funding and arrangements for extension/house move40 months1 child placed for adoption later went on to be made the subject of aSpecial Guardianship Order.1 sibling group of 2, older children harder to identify adoptersStatutory Guidelines - Recruitment13.4 Recruitment operates a duty system and an information pack is usually sent out thesame day as the enquiry. Of the 221 initial enquiries, following telephone discussion88 information packs were sent out within the statutory guidelines of 5 working days.Of the 46 families who, on being contacted, wished to pursue their interest, 33requested a visit and were visited within 10 days of receipt of Local Authority checks.Statutory Guidelines - Approval of Adopters13.5 In 2011-12, 32 adopters were approved to adopt, 15 within the 8 month statutorytimescale, 9 within 9-11 months and 9 over 12 months. There were a variety ofreasons for delay including Social worker absence (due to personal circumstances,sickness or annual leave), delays in accessing medical information, and Policechecks.13.6 Once an application has been accepted an adopter now has the opportunity toaccess either the Council's Representative Procedure (if they are not recommended)– or the Independent Reviewing Mechanism. One set of adopters requested a reviewof this Agency's "Qualifying Determination" by the Independent Review Panel. ThisPanel made the same recommendation as this Agency.17

14.Future direction of the Adoption Service14.1 In July 2012 the Adoption teams amalgamated with the Fostering teams in line withthe recommendations made by the full service review completed earlier this year. The'Adoption Service now forms part of the larger 'Family Placement service'. Thisservice has been divided in to functional groups: Recruitment and Assessment Family Finding Placement SupportThese three teams will carry out all the functions of the previously split service.14.2 In bringing the service together it is anticipated that there is greater scope forprocessing assessments more quickly, 6 months for adoption assessments fromenquiry to approval.14.3 The development of a Family Finding team will mean that the information aboutchildren needing adoptive placements will be available to the service at a muchearlier point in a child's journey this will influence recruitment strategies and lead togreater number of specific assessments.14.4 The service as a whole has revised all its twin track and parallel planning processesfollowing Coventry's apparent low adoption score card in order to ensure that childrenwho can be placed as soon as possible are.14.

abc Public report Cabinet Member Report 16th October 2012 Name of Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member (Children, Learning and Young People) - Councillor J. O'Boyle . The Adoption Service regulations require the Statement of Purpose to be reviewed, updated and modified where necessary at least annually. In the case of Local Authority Adoption .