Decision details

Adoption Report

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To review adoption service performance and approve related documents.

Decision:

THAT:

(a)  the performance of the adoption service as outlined at appendix a to this report be reviewed, any risks to achievement of objectives noted and relevant mitigating actions approved;

(b)  that the statement of purpose attached at appendix b to this report be approved; and

that the children’s guide attached at appendix c to this report be approved.

Reasons for the decision:

1              The NMS are issued by the Secretary of State under sections 23 and 49 of the Care Standards Act 2000 and detail the conduct and standards required for Adoption Services and as such are taken into account during inspections by Ofsted.

 

2              Standard 25.6 states that the executive of the council:

 

·         receive written reports on the management, outcomes and financial state of the agency every six months;

·         monitor the management and outcomes of the service in order to satisfy themselves that the agency is effective and is achieving good outcomes for children and/or service users;

·         satisfies itself that the agency is complying with the conditions of registration.

 

3              Standard 18.3 states that:

·         the executive of the council formally approves the statement of purpose and children’s guides and reviews them at least annually.

 

Alternative options considered:

Under the National Minimum Standards for Adoption 2014 (NMS), Cabinet should receive updates on the management, outcomes and financial state of Herefordshire Council’s adoption service; it is open to Cabinet to identify additional or alternative actions to improve performance, but in doing so regard must be had to the resource implications of additional actions.

 

Publication date: 21/07/2017

Date of decision: 20/07/2017

Effective from: 27/07/2017