Issue - meetings

To consider the  OFSTED inspection report on the Adoption service and the service improvement plan.

The Committee considered the adoption service improvement plan developed following an Ofsted inspection in July which had rated the service as satisfactory. The plan encompassed not just the actions identified by the inspectors but was aspirational in setting out the improvements required for the service to transition to an excellent classification. The improvement plans for both the fostering and the adoption services would become part of the wider strategic improvement plan being developed for the whole of the Children’s Services directorate to reflect the shift to a whole service approach for LACs. It was agreed that the LAC element of the service improvement plan would be submitted to a future Committee meeting for consideration. Assurances were provided that the performance of the adoption service and implementation of the action plan would continue to be reported to the Committee on a regular basis.

The impact of national policy drivers in relation to adoption were discussed and it was requested that a summary be produced to provide a context to the planned future consideration of the Permanency Strategy by the Committee.

The Committee queried the reference in the inspection report of the need to ensure staff recruitment procedures were more robust to ensure suitability to work with children and service users. It was explained that this had arisen from a one off incident where a small step in the recruitment process for a staff member had unfortunately not been fully recorded.

RESOLVED

·      That the report be noted.