ADOPTION BARNARDO’S
Introduction
Barnardo’s has been registered as an Adoption Agency since 1947.
The Charity’s Head Office is at Barkingside, England but the main
office for the purpose of Adoption Agency registration and structure
is at Unit 13a Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle NE2
OQJ, House, Newcastle with branches in England and Wales. There is
also a service in Scotland registered SCSWIS for domestic adoption
services and for the provision of adoption support services across the
U.K. The Adoption service is part of the wider family placement
service which has fostering services throughout the UK. A separate
statement of purpose relating to fostering has been produced.
Aims and objectives
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The welfare of the child is our paramount consideration
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Our aim is to provide children with safe, secure and lasting
adoptive families and our policies and services are directed
towards achieving this outcome for children in need of
adoption.
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Our objective is to increase placement choice and to reduce
delay in the adoption process for children. The children most
likely to need our service are those of black and minority
ethnic backgrounds, sibling groups, school age children,
children who have additional needs arising from learning or
physical disability and children with emotional and behavioural
difficulties.
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The quality of the work of the agency will be assured by
seeking regular feedback from children and young people and
adult service users. The business of the agency is quality
assured through our internal management structures
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independent Adoption Panel representatives
and external
regulatory bodies – Ofsted and the equivalent bodies in Wales
and Scotland
Services provided
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We recruit, prepare, assess and support prospective adoptive
families. Potential adoptive families will be considered on the
basis of their capability to meet the needs of the identified
target group of children.
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We seek to provide a high level of emotional, practical and
legal support to children and families post placement. The
Agency seeks to support families in accessing the appropriate
adoption support.
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The Agency offers support and counselling to adults who have
an adoption connection and offers an intermediary service to
adults for whom Barnardo’s is the relevant adoption agency.
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Barnardo’s can offer a range of training and consultancy.
Ethos
Barnardo’s shares the aims of the Every Child Matters (England)
agenda to help children:
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be healthy
stay safe
enjoy and achieve
make a positive contribution
achieve economic well being
Also the aims of Rights to Action (Cymru) to help children:
 Enjoy the best possible health and are free from abuse,
victimisation and exploitation
 Have a safe home and community which supports physical and
emotional well being
 Have a comprehensive range of education and learning
opportunities
 Have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities
 Are listened to, treated with respect, and have their race and
cultural identity recognised
 Are not disadvantaged by poverty
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And the Getting it Right for Every Child agenda in Scotland that
Children should be –
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Safe
Healthy
Achieving
Nurtured
Active
Respected and Responsible
Included
We believe that children’s needs are most likely to be met as part of
a secure and loving family.
We believe that, where this is not possible within their birth family,
adoption should be considered for them. We recognise that the
children we seek to place are among the most vulnerable in our
society.
Children’s views, wishes and feelings will be acted upon, unless it is
contrary to their interests
Children placed with Barnardo’s have access to a complaints
procedure and children will be encouraged and supported to raise
any concerns and make a complaint when they wish to do so. An
advocate, either their Social Worker, adoptive parent or a children’s
rights worker, or a friend will help and support them in being heard.
Children’s personal wishes are taken into account, where appropriate,
as are their age ability and understanding.
All prospective adopters have access to Barnardo’s complaints
procedure and will be given information on how to contact /complain
to the relevant inspectorate body. In England and Wales they will
also have access to the Independent Review Mechanism through the
Panel Representation Procedures. (Copies of which are available in
branches)
Barnardo’s believes that good parents come from many different
backgrounds and are as varied as the children we seek to place.
Prospective adopters are required to demonstrate that they can
safely and skilfully parent a child to independence and beyond.
Adoption is a lifelong commitment and Barnardo’s is committed to
remaining responsive and supportive throughout.
Barnardo’s understands the importance of ethnic and cultural identity
in its family placement work and aims where possible to achieve
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placements with carers who reflect the ethnic origin, cultural
background, religion and language of the children to be placed.
We also understand the importance of achieving stability and security
for a child within a realistic timescale and therefore will seek to
recruit families from diverse backgrounds in order to avoid
unreasonable delay. In some circumstances a child cannot be placed
in a family that reflects his/her ethnic, cultural and religious origins.
We will therefore ensure that the prospective adopters have clearly
identified strengths in relation to caring for and supporting a child of
minority ethnic or mixed heritage origins who, growing up, may face
discrimination and racism. This applies equally whether a child is
placed with a black or minority ethnic family, a white family, or a
family which includes members of different ethnic origins.
Appropriate support will be offered to the family to enable them to
address the child’s particular needs. This will include enhancing the
parents’ ability to understand and promote the child’s positive self
esteem, confidence and identity. Barnardo’s has access to a wide
spectrum of support services which can be accessed to respond to
individual needs.
Structure of Barnardo’s Adoption Agency
Barnardo’s is registered as an Adoption Agency with Ofsted, under
the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Adoption Agencies Regulations
2005 (and subsequent amendments). Barnardo’s is registered in
England and Wales for domestic adoption and for the provision of
adoption support services to children and adults. Barnardo’s Scotland
Adoption Service (BSAS) is registered with SCSWIS for domestic
adoption services and for the provision of adoption support services
across the U.K. and complies with all the appropriate underpinning
legislation. The Agency does not undertake inter-country adoption.
It is a non-profit making voluntary adoption agency and has been so
since 1947.
Barnardo’s Board of Trustees, by way of the Family Placement
Scrutiny Committee, governs Barnardo’s Adoption Agency.
The
Scrutiny Committee is composed of three Trustees of Barnardo’s
(who are members of and report directly to the full Board) one of
whom acts as chair and three Assistant Heads of Business with lead
responsibility for family placement in their region or nation. Also in
attendance as non voting members are the Responsible Individual;
the Assistant Director for Family Placement and the Assistant Head of
Business- Adoption. This committee meets every four months and
receives reports from the Agency Adoption Manager and Responsible
Individual. An annual report is presented to Barnardo's Board of
Trustees with an overview of the agency adoption work. The
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Commercial Director coordinates the work of the Agency between
Head Office and the Family Placement Business Unit.
The Responsible Individual is
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Brenda Farrell Head of Business, Family Placement
The Adoption Decision Makers are
Carolyn Oliver, Assistant Head of Business, who is a qualified
Social Worker with a CQSW and B.A. in Social Studies (1977).
She also has a Certificate in Management (2004). She has
worked in Family Placement since 1977, specialising in
Adoption since 1981.
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Debbie Corns, Assistant head of Business, who is a qualified
Social Worker with a DIPSW (2004) & BA in Social Work
(2006) she has worked in Family Placement since 2006.
The Responsible Individual and Agency Decision Makers can be
contacted throughBarnardo’s Adoption
Unit 13A
Silver Fox Way
Cobalt Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE27 OQJ
Telephone 0191 2931401
This is the main office for registration in England and Wales and for
UK management purposes.
The Ofsted registration number is
SC048403.
In Scotland the Social Care and Social
registration number is CS2005095655
Work
Improvement
Branches- England and Wales
There are five branches that place children for adoption and an
additional branch offering a dedicated adoption support services. A
Children’s Services Manager or Assistant Director manages each
branch.
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The Adoption Branches are:
 Barnardo’s Adoption Service, South East, 54 Head Street,
Colchester CO1 Barnardo's Adoption Service. . This branch also
provides an adoption support service by contract to Kent Local
Authority and from an office base at 10 Jubilee Way,
Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD
 Barnardo’s
Adoption
Midlands,
Halesowen
Brooklands, Great Cornbow, Halesowen, B63 3AB
Office,
 Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption Yorkshire
Unit 6,
Pavilion Business Park, Royds Hall Road, Leeds, LS12 6AJ
 Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption North East, 1 Lumley
Court, Drum Industrial Estate, Chester le Street, Durham DH2
1AN
 Barnardo's Cymru Adoption and Fostering Service:
South: Trident Court, East Moors Road, Cardiff, CF24 5TD
North: 21 Wynnstay Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 8NB
 Barnardo’s Adoption Services – South West Barnardo's
South West Regional Office, Verona House, Filwood Road,
Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3RY
The Adoption Support Branch is:
Making Connections
Barnardo's Making Connections, 140 Balaam St, London E13 8RD
Registration number SC051840
Further details about each individual branch profiles are provided in
the service specific statement of purpose.
 The Barnardo’s Scotland Adoption Service (BSAS)
(incorporating both the Adoption Placement Service and
Adoption Support Service) is based at Academy Park, Building
10,000, Gower St , Glasgow G51 1PR
Monitoring and Evaluation
Each Adoption Branch/Service is managed in the Region or Nation in
which the service is located. An Assistant Head of Business has line
management responsibility for the branch/service and ensures that
the service is provided within the framework of Barnardo’s policies
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and Adoption Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
Representatives from each Region and Nation attend the Business
Development Team which meets every four months.
The adoption services operate in line with the wider framework of
Barnardo’s policies and procedures including:
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the Equal Opportunities Policy;
Safeguarding/ child protection;
Health and safety;
Recording policy;
Access to Information and Data protection;
Complaints
A comprehensive range of employment policies that ensure a
safe and high quality service for users.
Financial Management
Barnardo’s Adoption Agency is a member of the Consortium of
Voluntary Adoption Agencies and has agreed to charge the CVAA
inter- agency fee for adoption placements, as a minimum. This fee
level is reviewed annually by CVAA.
Barnardo’s accounts are audited and published annually in Barnardo’s
annual report. The Adoption Agency accounts are published annually
in the Adoption Agency report having been approved by the Adoption
Agency Scrutiny Committee.
Constitution
Barnardo’s is a company limited by guarantee (registered in England
under number 61625) and a registered charity (numbers 216250 and
SC037605). It was also registered as a trust corporation on
16/12/1926. Its governing instrument is the Articles of Association,
most recently amended by special resolution passed on 21/7/2011.
Values
We believe that every child deserves the best start in life and the
chance to fulfil their potential.
We use the knowledge gained from our direct work with children to
campaign for better childcare policies and to champion the rights of
every child.
We believe that with the right help, committed support and a little
belief, even the most vulnerable children can turn their lives around.
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Legislative framework
England and Wales
 The Adoption and Children Act 2002 and associated
Regulations, Standards and Guidance.
 The Children and Families Act 2014 and associated regulations
and guidance
 The Children Act 1989
 The Data Protection Act 1998
 The Human Rights Act 1998
 The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child
 The Care Standards Act 2000 (and accompanying Adoption
National Minimum Standards)
 The National Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of
Inspection) (Adoption Agencies) Regulations 2003 – England
 Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies
(Miscellaneous Amendments)Regulations 2003
 The Adoption Agency Regulations 2005- and as amended 2011
 The Adopted Children and Adoption Contact Regulations 2005
 Adoption Support Services Regulations 2005
 The Adoption Agencies and Independent Review of
Determinations (Amendment) Regulations 2011
 The Adoption Information and Intermediary Services (PreCommencement Adoptions) Regulations 2005
 The Disclosure of Adoption Information (Post Commencement
Adoptions)Regulations 2005
 Working Together to Safeguard Children (Under Associated
Child Protection Guidance)
 The Adoption and Children Act Register Regulations 2014
 The Adoption and Care Planning (Miscellaneous Amendments)
Regulations 2014
Scotland
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The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child
The Children (Scotland) Act 1995
Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001
Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007
National Care Standards Adoption Scotland
The Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 2009
Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003
Looked After Children(Scotland) Regulations 2009
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Other relevant Legislation and Regulations and Guidance which
highlights good practice relating to services provided by both the
Statutory and Voluntary Sector.
Contact points for regulatory bodies:
England:
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
Telephone: 0300 123 1231
Ofsted | Contact form
Scotland:
Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland,
Compass House,
11Riverside Drive,
Dundee.
DD1 4NY
Telephone: 01382 207100
[email protected] 0845 6009527
Additional useful contacts
The Ombudsman
Complainants have the right to contact the Inspecting body for
adoption work OFSTED (see below) or the Local Government
Ombudsman if they remain dissatisfied. The Ombudsman can be
contacted at
Local Government Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
COVENTRY
CV4 0EH
Email [email protected]
Phone 0300 0610614 Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
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A further source of help for a child or young person may be found
through the Children’s Rights Director
The Children’s Rights Director
OFSTED
Alexandra House
33 Kingsway
LONDON
WC2 6SE
Tel 08456 404040
Website www.Rights4me.org.uk
Appendices:
1) Adoption Agency Structure
2) Children's guide template
added.
Service specific information to be
3) Complaints and Panel representation procedures
4) Having Your Say (English) and Having Your Say (Bilingual)
5) Your right to be heard (English) and Your right to be heard
(Welsh)
6) Summary of approval process
7) Information about Adopting with Barnardo's
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Appendix 6
The Process of Adopting a Child
This process should be seen as a general guide to how to adopt.
There may be some variations to meet local need or to fit with your
circumstances.
You can also access information about adoption from the National
Gateway to Adoption funded by the Department for EducationFirst4Adoption
Initial enquiry
After you’ve made an enquiry about adopting a child we will respond
and take your initial details to ensure that you live within our
geographical recruitment area.
Initial home visit and/or information meeting
If we agree with you to continue with your enquiry you will be
invited, within ten working days, to an information session, a visit or
pre-planned telephone call with an adoption worker.
This is an opportunity to find out about the adoption process and
enable you to consider better whether you want to proceed with the
approval process and to reflect on the parenting needs of the children
awaiting adoption. After this you will have time to consider whether
adoption is right for you at this time.
If you wish to move to the next stage you will need to formally
complete the registration of interest form to enter Stage One of the
approval process.
STAGE ONE
Stage one begins with your completion and return of the Registration
of interest form
Registration of Interest
You will need to return this when you can be available for a contact
in the following week and able to begin the process
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Registration of Interest form and preliminary checks
The form will ask you to consent to us making a number of checks
(once we have accepted your registration). –
o Police checks to obtain information about criminal behaviour
and convictions. (Not all offences will create difficulties with
regard to an application but we suggest that you discuss with
us any concerns when we take up your Registration of Interest)
o references from other agencies such as
Local Authority
Children’s Services (social services), your mortgage provider or
your landlord and employer.
You will be asked to give details of at least 3 personal references
You will also be required to consent to completing a full medical
check.
When you have registered your interest we will respond within 5
working days and if accepted we will expect you to be in a position to
commence the Stage One preparation
Stage One – The Pre-Assessment Process
It is expected that Stage one will normally be completed in two
months. During this stage you will be exploring the extent of your
interest in and capacity for adoption, prior to a firmer decision on
whether to proceed to Stage Two. For this reason, Stage One will
focus on initial training and preparation, and on ascertaining, through
prescribed checks and references, whether there is any absolute
reason why you should not proceed further.
Part of this stage will involve you completing tasks in our workbook
such as describing your family, learning about children who may be
adopted, sharing your experience with children etc. We will help and
support you with this. We recognise that people come to adoption
from many different circumstances and kinds of life experience. We
will guide you fully so that you can discover the strengths and
vulnerabilities you may bring to the task of adoptive parenting. We
will together draw up a Stage One Agreement which will clearly set
out what needs to be done in a way that feels right for you.
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Preparation training
During this stage we’ll invite you to start a preparation course.
This involves a series of sessions with other prospective adopters and
specialist staff. This will to give you information and opportunity to
thoroughly explore your expectations of adopting.
You will meet other people at the same stage of the process, meet
people who have already adopted, and be given the chance to think
more about the children needing adoption. This is a compulsory part
of the adoption process.
During stage One we will complete the formal checks and also ask
you to visit your GP for a medical check. We will keep in touch with
you throughout stage one and towards its completion will review
progress with you and highlight any concerns or need for further
enquiries.
Stage One ends with the agency decision as to whether you are
suitable to proceed to Stage Two. If so, and you wish to continue,
you will be asked to confirm your acceptance of our invitation to you
to proceed to stage 2 within 6 months and will need to be fully
available to engage in this stage at that point
Application to STAGE TWO
When we receive your acceptance of our invitation to stage 2 a social
worker will meet with you and together you will complete a Stage 2
Plan (Agreement). This will indicate a timeline for undertaking your
individual assessment and this stage would normally be completed
within 4 months
Adoption assessment process
During the assessment process your worker will spend more time
with you, getting to know you better and exploring your life story and
family history.
If you have children at home your social worker will also need to get
to know them as part of the family unit.
Towards the end of this stage the worker will complete a Prospective
Adopter’s Report (PAR) to be presented to the Adoption Panel. You
will have an opportunity to see and comment on this report before it
is presented to the panel
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The Adoption Panel is made up of experienced individuals from a
range of professions working with children and may also include
someone who has previously adopted.
The panel will consider the information provided and you will be
invited to meet them in person after which they will make a
recommendation as to whether you are suitable to adopt. The final
decision is then made by the Barnardo’s Adoption Decision Maker
Family Finding /Matching
Children needing adoption are referred in a number of ways and your
social worker will support you at looking at profiles and expressing an
interest in a child or group of brothers and sisters who interest you
and whose needs you feel you can meet. If the child’s social worker
feels that you may be the right family then meetings will take place
to discuss the child in more detail allowing you to get as much
information as possible.
Once you are approved by the agency as suitable to adopt’ we will
assist you in family finding. WE will meet with you and complete a
Matching Plan Agreement which outline the process in identifying a
child/ ren for whom you may be suitable
You will also be provided with information about the Adoption
Register which acts to link approved adopters with the agencies who
are seeking placements for children for whom they might be
appropriate
Adoption Register for England and Wales
When you and the workers are agreed that all seems right a formal
‘matching' approval recommendation will go to the local authorities
Adoption Panel. This will also involve recommendations about any
additional support you may need.
If the ‘match' is agreed then a meeting will take place with you to
plan the introductions and placements. At Barnardo’s we will work
closely with you throughout these processes and also support you in
settling the children into your family.
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PART 2
Barnardo’s Adoption Agency – Midlands Region of England
Background
Barnardo's has extensive experience in providing good quality
childcare services in the Midlands. Our Regional Management Team is
experienced in developing new initiatives and encouraging strong
relationships with other agencies.
There are 50 services across Barnardo’s Midlands region in a
catchment area that takes in Shropshire in the west across to
Lincolnshire, and from Derbyshire in the north down to Oxfordshire
and all counties in between.
We are working to improve the lives of 19,000 children affected by
poverty, family breakdown, homelessness, educational disadvantage,
sexual abuse, life limiting illnesses and disabilities. Barnardo's shops
also offer services to deprived communities, and opportunities to
volunteers, while raising money for the development of children's
services.
Throughout, our focus on greatest need has remained at the
forefront of our work here. Our staff and volunteers work closely with
families, parents, their communities, and carers to ensure children
and young people receive the necessary care and support needed for
successful growth and development.
Children are the starting point of our thinking and we endeavour to
involve them in our developments and delivery of services, to reflect
their cultural, racial, social and spiritual needs. It is also imperative
that we continue to increase our influence in local and national policy
arenas to ensure that all children and young people have a right to
inclusion of services in their communities.
Family Placement Services
The Midlands provides a range of family placement services - short
break care for children with disabilities; short, long term and
permanent fostering services and a remand fostering project. The
adoption service in the Midlands has undergone a merger with the
fostering service and remains registered with Ofsted but is not
currently recruiting new adopters or placing children
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The Adoption Service
The adoption service is therefore providing
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Post placement support to families approved by Barnardo’s
who have children placed pre adoption order
Adoption support to adoptive families approved by the project
Adoption support for birth relatives of children who have been
placed by Barnardo’s and who are resident in the Midlands
Adoption support for adopted adults who were placed by the
service or by Barnardo’s and now live in the region
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Barnardo’s Adoption in the Midlands intends to
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Offer services which create stable placements for children
through adoption.
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Achieve better outcomes for children in health, education and
employment, thus creating better life chances by promoting
stability of placement.
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Promote secure attachments of children and young people
placed with adoptive families by the service.
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Provide adoption support to new placements
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Provide adoption support services and signpost to additional
services where appropriate, following adoption
Provide adoptive families with access to training.
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OBJECTIVES
Children –
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Children will have a family in which they felt safe and secure.
The child will have an understanding of their history and a positive
sense of identity
The child will feel listened to and that their point of view had been
heard and taken into account.
The child will feel that he or she could look to his/her adopters and
service staff for advice and support.
The child will be helped to establish a relationship of trust.
The child will be nurtured, encouraged and cared for physically and
emotionally.
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The child will have been able to capitalize on opportunities provided
to develop their skills and talents.
The child will have a network of supports, which stay with them as
they move into adulthood.
Adopters
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Adopters will feel that staff are respectful towards them as
individuals and as working in partnership with them.
Adopters will have had preparation and counselling which gave
them an understanding of the task they were undertaking and
assisted them in exploring the implications for them and their
family.
Adopters will have felt enabled to work with the emotional,
behavioural and developmental needs of the children placed with
them. They would have developed supportive relationships with
staff and other carers, on which they felt they could rely.
Structure of service
The Assistant Director Children’s Services is responsible for the
management of the Adoption and other Family Placement Services in
the Midlands.
The Operations Manager is responsible for the management and
development of the Adoption and Fostering services based in Dudley
Supervision with Social Work staff is on a planned monthly basis for
up to two hours and is recorded. The Children’s Services Manager
oversees all appraisals of social work staff on an annual basis and
completes a Learning and Development Profile for the Service as a
whole.
The team consists of qualified social workers and support workers
who share extensive experience of family placement. There is a
social worker who works part time on referrals for adult
intermediary and access to file work
All staff have undertaken a wide range of in service training courses.
All staff attend annual Child Protection training and have individual
learning and development plans. All staff have IT skills.
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STAFF
(i) Registration Information
Branch Manager: Sara Castro
Experience in Childcare:
Management of this specific type of service:
2010 – Current
Children’s Services Manager
West Midlands Fostering and Adoption
2008 – 2010
Children’s Centre Manager for Barnardo's
2005 – 2008
Team Manager
Adoption and Fostering Development Team
Worcestershire Country Council
2004 – 2005
Senior Practitioner
Support Care, Day Care and Overnight Accommodation
for children aged 5 – 15 years
Worcestershire City Council
2000 – 2004
Social Worker
Recruiting preparing and supervising Foster Carers
Worcestershire County Council
Qualifications:
Date
Qualification obtained
2009 Birmingham City University
National Professional Qualification
in Integrated Chidlren’s Centre
Leadership (NPQICL)
2004 University of West England
Practice Teaching Award
2004 University of Birmingham
PQ1 in Social Work Award
1993 – 5 North East Worcestershire Diploma in Social Work (DIPSW)
College, Bromsgove
Registered Provider: Barnardo’s Adoption Midlands
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(ii)
Staffing/Qualifications
Job Title
Name
Qualifications
Commenced work
with Children
1992
Operations
Manager
Team
Manager/Senior
Practitioner
Team Manager
Sara
Castro
Tracey
Johnson
As above
CQSW
PQ1
1990
Bridget
Puddepha
MA
CQSW
1992
Senior Practitioner
Denise
Longhi
1990
Senior Practitioner
Michelle
Rice
Dip SW
PQ1
PQSW
Dip SW
Social Worker
Jane
Courtney
Diploma in Social
Work/MA
1993
Social Worker
Simon
Blythin
2002
Social Worker
Claire
Nicholls
DipSW
PQ1Child Care
Award (PQ 2-5).
BA Hons Applied
Social work
Service
Administrator
Christine
Fereday
AAT Intermediate
A Level Accounts
RSA 3
2000 (in
Administrative role in
Children’s Services)
2002
2013
Statistical Information
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The Service currently has ten approved families – one household
with one child placed pre order; one household with sibling
group placed pre-order; two families with links; and further six
families undergoing family finding.
The service currently provides post adoption support.
There has been one complaint within the last 12 months.
Presentation to Panel
Our Adoption Panel for the Midlands meets ten times per annum.
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Decision Making
The Agency Decision Maker receives all the information that is
presented all the branch adoption panels along with the minutes of
the panel which include panel’s recommendation and its reasons in
order to make a decision about whether or not the applicants are
suitable to adopt. All applicants are notified of the agency decisions
in writing.
If the agency decides not to approve applicants as suitable to adopt,
applicants can make representations to the agency and ask the
agency to review its decision or apply to the Secretary of State for an
independent review via the Independent Review Mechanism.
Contact details for IRM:
Contract Manager
Independent Review Mechanism (IRM)
Unit 4
Pavilion Business Park
Royds Hall Road
Wortley
Leeds
LS12 6AJ
Updated 2015 08-04
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BARNARDO'S COMPLAINTS AND REPRESENTATIONS
PROCEDURE SUMMARY
Notwithstanding prospective adopters’ rights to have redress to the
IRM if appropriate, there are two distinct procedures regarding
complaints within Barnardo’s.
Firstly the complaints procedure, a summary of which is provided
below, and also the Carers Representation Procedure which is
accessible to carers following approval at Panel.
Who is the Complaints Procedure for?
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Prospective carers before consideration by panel
Children and young people who are unhappy with the way they
have been treated by Barnardo’s
Other adult service users
Who are complaints made to?
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To a worker or manager in the service – verbally or in writing or
To a senior manager in the region – verbally or in writing or
To the complaints officer at the national headquarters – in
writing (a stamped addressed contact card is available from the
service)
What happens next?
Stage 1 – Local resolution of the complaint
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The complainant is contacted to clarify the complaint
The complaint is investigated by an appropriate person within
the service or another worker from Barnardo's Midlands
The investigator and complainant meet to discuss the conclusion
and any action that may be advised to put things right
If the complainant is unhappy with the outcome they have the
right to have their complaint re-examined under Stage 2 of the
procedure
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Stage 2 - Resolution, using someone independent of the
Service to investigate your complaint
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An independent person is appointed by a senior manager within
the region to work with an investigating officer from Barnardo's
(not the investigator from Stage 1)
They re-examine the complaint after speaking to the
complainant
They produce reports for the Director of Barnardo's Midlands,
who after considering them will contact the complainant to
inform them of his decision concerning the outcome and any
action if needed.
The Director’s decision is final for any adult complainant and any
child or young person who is not looked after by an LA or is a
care leaver under 21
If a looked after child or care leaver is unhappy with the decision
they have the right to have their complaint looked at under
Stage 3 of the procedure
Stage 3 - Independent Complaints Review Panel
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The independent complaints review panel meets to review the
papers relevant to the complaint and interview people involved
in the investigation
Their decision is sent to the Director of Barnardo's Midlands, who
writes to the complainant.
The response of the review is final
What timescales must be observed?
Stage 1 - The investigation will normally be completed within:
14 days if complainant under 21
42 days if complainant is an adult
Stage 2 - The complainant has 28 days after being informed of the
outcome of Stage 1 to request a Stage 2 investigation
The investigation will normally be completed within:
28 days if complainant under 21
56 days if complainant is an adult
Stage 3 - The complainant has 28 days after being informed of the
outcome of Stage 2 to request a Stage 3 review
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The Panel must meet within 28 days of the request being
received. It must record its conclusions and recommendations
within 24 hours and send them to the Director of Barnardo’s
Midlands, who must write to the complainant after consulting
with the Chair of Panel within 28 days of their meeting.
CARERS REPRESENTATIONS PROCEDURE - SUMMARY
Who is this process accessible to: relevant to the statement of
purpose this process is accessible to Adoptive Parents, that is
adopters approved via the Adoption Panel.
As with the Complaints procedure this process allows for early
resolution of any issues at the most informal level if possible. This
would ordinarily be between the carers supporting social worker and
themselves. Occasionally, resolution at this stage is not possible the
following process would follow
First Formal Stage
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The carer will write to the Children’s Service Manager outlining
the nature of their complaint, and why it has not been possible
to resolve the matter informally.
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The Children’s Service Manager will reply to the carer in writing
within one week of the complaint and will make arrangements
to meet with the carer at the earliest convenience.
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The Children’s Service Manager will review the information
regarding the case, and having done so will respond in writing
to the Carer within two weeks of completion of their
investigation. This response will include the outcome of the
investigation and the reasons for any such outcome.
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At each stage the Children’s Service Manager will keep their
immediate line manager appraised of progress and outcome.
Final Formal Stage
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If the carer is still dissatisfied and does not consider the
complaint to be resolved they can make a final representation
to the Assistant Director who has responsibility for the service.
This request to review the decision made at stage one, should
be made in writing, outlining why the carer continues to feel
dissatisfied, and in their view why it was not resolved at the
earlier stage.
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The Assistant Director will respond in writing within one week
of the carer’s request, and make arrangements to meet with
the carers as quickly as is reasonably practicable.
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The Assistant Director will review the information in relation to
the case and meet with any additional parties as is appropriate.
After review of the necessary information the Assistant Director
will make a decision which will be a final decision, and
communicate this in writing within two weeks.
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This marks the end of any appeal process using this procedure.
Are there other routes of complaint?
Where services are registered with Ofsted complainants may
approach the relevant regulatory body direct at any stage. The
regulatory body has the power to investigate complaints itself or to
require Barnardo's or the relevant local authority to do so. Ofsted
can be contacted at:
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
Telephone number 0300 1231231
Email [email protected]
Service Development
The merger of the West Midlands fostering and adoption service did
result in some period of uncertainty and staff recruitment difficulties.
There is however a high level of skill and experience in the service
and a determination to develop and grow its work on a firm
foundation. Barnardo’s is keen to work in partnership with other
services and local authorities to best meet the needs of children and
families
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Copies of this Statement are given to people using the
services provided by the Adoption Service
Additional copies can be obtained from the Service main office
in Dudley.
A Children’s Guide to our services is also available.
Sara Castro
Branch Manager,
Barnardo’s Adoption Midlands
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