Adoption Statement of Purpose - Blackburn with Darwen Children's ...

version 6.2.21
Published July 2013
Blackburn with Darwen
Children’s Services
Statement of Purpose for the Adoption Service

1. Introduction page 3
2. Adoption Service Manager page 3
3. Structure page 3
4. Adoption Services Staffing page 4
5. Functions page 4
6. Council Policies page 4
7. Aims and Objectives page 6
8. Principles page 7
8.1 Children page 7
8.2 Parents page 8
8.3 Adopters and applicant Adopters and their families’ page 8
9. Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Adopters page 9
10. Timescales page 11
11. Monitoring and Evaluating Service Quality page 12
12. Safeguarding Personal Information page 12
13. Complaints page 13
14. Review of Statement of Purpose page 14
15. Inspection and Registration of the Adoption Service page 14
16. Independent Advocacy for Children page 14
17. Qualifications and Experience of Staff page 15
18. Adoption Service Structure Chart page 19
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Statement of Purpose
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Service
1. Introduction
The Adoption Service is regulated in accordance with the Adoption and Children Act 2002, Children
Act 1989, Local Authority Adoption Service (England) Regulations 2005, Adoption Support Services
Regulations 2005 and the National Minimum Standards for Local Authority Adoption Services.
These regulations and standards form the basis along with the Care Standards Act 2000 for the
inspection of adoption agencies in England by Ofsted.
Standard 1 of the National Minimum Standards require the Local Authority Adoption Agency to have
a Statement of Purpose which provides details of the aims and objectives of the adoption agency
and details of the facilities and services provided.
This is reviewed regularly and agreed at executive level and a copy can be made available to users
of the service and Ofsted inspectors.
2. Adoption Service Manager
The manager of the Adoption Service is Karen Barrick, Service Leader, Placement Services. The
manager holds both Social Work and Management Qualifications and has extensive experience of
work with children and families. The manager is based at the following address:
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Childrens Services
The Exchange
Ainsworth Street
Blackburn
3. Structure
Overall management of the adoption service is the responsibility of the Service Leader (Placement
Services).
The Service Leader reports to the Director of Children’s Services.
The Adoption Team Manager manages the day to day operation of the adoption service. Please see
the service structure chart at the end of this document.
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4. Adoption Services Staffing
The Adoption Team Manager manages both the Adoption Team and the Fast Track Permanence
Adoption Team. The Adoption Team comprises of a Principal Social Worker, 6.5 Mainstream
Adoption Social Workers and 1.5 Post Adoption Support Social Workers. The Fast Track
Permanence Adoption Team comprises of one Child Support Officer and one full time equivalent
Child Psychologist (employed by the health service).
A Recruitment Officer works across both the Fostering and Adoption Teams. All social work staff
holds appropriate qualifications and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. A
summary of their qualifications and experience is appended to this document.
5. Functions
The functions of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Adoption Service are to:
Provide comprehensive and high quality recruitment, training and assessment processes
to prospective Adopters.
Operate an adoption panel which makes appropriate recommendations about children’s
suitability for adoption, the suitability of prospective Adopters and the matching of
children and approved Adopters.
Offer support and training to approved Adopters.
Provide a counselling service to adopted adults who are seeking information about their
birth family.
Provide advice and guidance about adoption issues to social work teams within the
Council.
Maintain an Adoption Mailbox that supports information exchange in adoption
placements.
Provide access to an inter-country adoption service.
Provide post adoption support services.
Provide independent support to birth parents
Family Finding
Provide an intermediary service for birth relatives
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6. Council Policies
It is Council Policy to:
Prioritise support for children to remain in the care of their own or their extended family.
Place children who require alternative care within a family wherever possible.
Make every attempt to keep siblings together, where appropriate.
Consider the contact needs of every child/young person.
Provide every child in need of an alternative family with a holistic, multiagency assessment
in order to determine individual need and inform placement choice. The assessment will
consider the linguistic, cultural, religious, health and educational needs of the child and the
wishes and views of the child and his/her family.
Place children in families of the same race and culture wherever possible, where this does
not cause undue delay.
Promote secure and enduring attachments between children and their carers through legal
permanence - with their own families, their extended families or through adoption.
Treat everyone with whom it deals with in a fair and respectful manner ensuring that service
users and Adopters are not disadvantaged in their contact with the department on the
grounds of age, disability, gender, language, race, ethnic origin, culture, sexual orientation,
social class, religion marital or medical status.
Respect the ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic needs of each child/young person
looked after and respect the needs arising from a child's gender, sexuality or disability.
Recruit sufficient range and numbers of Adopters to meet the individual needs of each child
requiring an alternative family and provide placement choice.
Recruit fostering for adoption carers and consider a fostering for adoption placements for all
children with an adoption plan or where adoption is the likely outcome.
Minimise the effect on a child/young person of any disability and assist him/her to lead as
normal a life as possible.
Monitor the ethnicity of all children and young people it looks after, its pool of carers and the
appropriateness of placements made.
Work in partnership and consult with the child/young person, the parent(s) and Adopters in
decision making and care planning for the child/young person in so far as it is consistent
with the safety and well being of the child.
Consult with children, parents and Adopters in order to improve the quality and performance
of the adoption service.
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Blackburn with Darwen Council recognises that in order to provide services which reflect the
lifelong implications of Adoption, social care services, education, health services and other
organisations must work collaboratively in addressing and developing services which are
informed, responsive and effective in supporting Adoption and meeting the needs
experienced by those affected by Adoption.
When commissioning agencies to provide adoption services on our behalf we will work
closely with them to ensure that the needs of service users are met effectively and these
arrangements will be subject to formal and regular review
The Adoption Service will work towards the five outcomes for children set out by the government in
‘Every Child Matters’ and the Children Act 2004. These are for children to:
Be Healthy
Stay Safe
Enjoy and Achieve
Make a Positive Contribution
Achieve Economic Well-being
The service is a key part of the Council’s strategy to ensure that children who are unable to live with
their birth family are well cared for and have the security of legal permanence in stable placements.
The Adoption Service makes an important contribution in relation to the Council’s performance
against departmental targets and performance indicators.
7. Aims and Objectives
The Council's Adoption Service aims to:
Provide a service which is managed ethically and efficiently by those with the appropriate
skills and experience and who are suitable to work with children, and which responds
promptly to requests from service users
Welcome prospective service users without prejudice and give them clear information about
the services provided
Provide a service, which encourages the consideration of and promotes the potential of
relatives or friends as permanent carers through Adoption, Special Guardianship or
Residence Order for those children unable to live with their parents.
Provide a range of Adopters which ensures placement choice and the placement of children
and sibling groups in families who can meet their assessed needs in terms of culture,
religion, ethnic origin, gender, disability language or sexuality.
Identify adoptive families for children according to their needs and within appropriate
timescales
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Operate the Adoption Panel in accordance with the requirements of the Adoption
Regulations and the National Minimum Standards (Adoption).
Consider all prospective adopter applications equally and with equal rigour, irrespective of
their age, race, gender, disability or sexuality consistent with the needs of children requiring
adoption.
Provide applicant Adopters with high quality preparation groups and training which informs,
educates, develops and prepares them to be adoptive parents; and to provide ongoing
training and support to approved Adopters and their families.
Provide support to birth family members who are affected by adoption.
Provide professional support, advice and guidance to Adopters which enables them:
‣ To promote children’s sense of identity including their racial identity, to promote
contact between the adopted child and his/her family and to promote the physical and
mental health of children placed for adoption and adopted children.
‣ To provide children placed for adoption and adopted children with opportunities and
encouragement to pursue their talents, interests and hobbies and to promote their
educational needs.
‣ To ensure that each child with a disability receives the services and support to help
him/her to maximise her/his potential and to lead as full a life as possible.
8. Principles
The principles which underpin the policies and practice of the adoption service are consistent with
the Vision and Values of the Council, the Children Act 1989, the Adoption & Children Act 2002, the
Care Standards Act 2000: National Minimum Standards (Adoption) and the Local Authority
Adoption Service Regulations 2003.
The principles are consistent with the basic premise of the Human Rights Act 1998, that all
individuals have the right to family life.
8.1 Children
The Adoption Service applies the following principles in relation to children receiving a service:
The welfare, safety and needs of children are placed at the centre of the adoption process.
Such considerations must, therefore, take precedence over those of anyone else involved in
the process.
Children have the right to grow up as part of a loving family, which can meet their needs in
childhood, and beyond.
All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential irrespective of their
gender, sexuality, ethnic origin, disability, culture, race, religion or language.
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Children have the right to understand what is happening to them and why, to know what is
proposed in their care plan and to understand the implications for their future.
Children have the right to express their wishes and feelings and participate in discussions
about their future, to make representations and complaints and to receive help to do so.
Consultation with children is recorded on their individual case file.
Children are properly prepared for adoption and kept informed at all stages of the Adoption
process.
For each child, where Adoption is identified as the plan, delay in achieving an appropriate
match is minimised and timescales set out in the Adoption & Children Act 2002 are adhered
to. Fostering for adoption or concurrent placement is considered where appropriate to
increase stability and reduce moves for children where adoption is the likely outcome.
The adoption service and the agency decision-maker will promote and safeguard children’s
welfare without delay in processes or decision making.
Delay is regarded as being detrimental to a child’s health and development so decision will
be made in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary delay
8.2 Parents
The service provided to parents will recognise the lifelong implications of adoption.
Parents/legal carers will be treated with respect and fairness irrespective of their gender,
sexuality, ethnic origin, disability, culture, race, religion or language.
Parents have a right to full information regarding the plan for their child, to participate in the
decision making process, for account to be taken of their wishes and views and for their
views about adoption and contact to be accurately recorded.
Parents are provided with access to independent support from the time adoption is
identified as the plan for the child.
Parents have the right to make representations and complaints and to be provided with
information on how to do so.
Parents are entitled to request an intermediary service when their adopted child reaches 18
years of age.
8.3 Adopters and applicant Adopters and their Families
Adopters, applicant Adopters and their families have the right to be considered equally and
with equal rigour irrespective of their age, race, ethnic origin, gender, culture, language,
religion disability or sexuality consistent with the needs of children requiring adoption and
their experience and understanding of adoption
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Adopters and applicant Adopters have the right to make representations and complaints
and to be supported to do so. These will be recorded on their individual case file
Applicant Adopters will receive clear information about the preparation, assessment and
approval process and will be informed of the prioritisation that takes place in assessment of
prospective Adopters who are most likely to meet the needs of children waiting for adoption.
Statutory checks, personal references and enquiries are made on prospective Adopters
along with enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks on all adult members of the
household of prospective Adopters.
When considering services involving adopted adults and birth relatives, the welfare and
safety of both parties will be taken into consideration (NMS 15.2)
9. Recruitment, Assessment and Approval of Adopters
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Adoption Team has a Recruitment Strategy Group which is
responsible for devising recruitment activities that attract prospective adopters to meet the needs
of children who require adoption.
Recruitment Activity includes publicity and advertising within local newspapers and the Council’s
“The Shuttle” magazine; displays and posters in public places; and presentations to community
organisations.
The Fostering & Adoption Recruitment Officer is responsible for delivery of recruitment activities,
developing recruitment materials, placing adverts, maintaining displays and delivering
presentations.
The Adoption Recruitment Strategy is amended as required and at least annually by the Fostering &
Adoption Strategy Officer.
Blackburn with Darwen Council believes that no person has a right to become approved as an
adopter. It is recognised, however, that people from a wide range of backgrounds with a variety of
personal circumstances can be effective and loving adoptive parents.
The Council, therefore, will not act in a discriminatory manner in relation to issues of gender,
sexuality, disability, race, (ethnic origin) religion, marital or employment status. Applicants will not
be automatically excluded on the grounds of age, health or other factors except for certain criminal
convictions. All applicants will be assessed on their ability to care for children, through adoption,
safely, effectively and in a way that will meet their developmental needs now and in the future.
Blackburn with Darwen Council reserves the right to prioritise, at certain times those applicants
most likely to match the specific needs of children in need of adoption in Blackburn with Darwen
and nationally. For example, prospective adopters who will consider sibling groups, older children,
or children with disabilities, may be prioritised over applicants who will only consider healthy
babies. If adopters are not required at any point in time then they will be sign posted to other
authorities or the Gateway for adoption.
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An information pack, including information on becoming an adopter, what is expected of adopters;
and eligibility criteria is sent in response to initial enquiries from members of the public about
adoption within five working days.
Following that if prospective adopters wish to proceed then they can complete the information at
the back of the booklet and return it and a social worker will then visit the family to discuss
adoption further with them. If after that all parties wish to proceed then applicants will be invited to
register their interest to proceed and they will enter stage 1 of the process.
Stage 1 lasts for 2 months during which time there will be opportunity for prospective adopters to
attend a preparation group. These run monthly so there will be no waiting period for these.
In addition all references and checks will take place during stage 1.
.
Checks and references obtained are as follows:--
‣ CRB
‣ Probation
‣ Local authority Children’s Services Department
‣ Personal References
‣ Health
‣ Medical
‣ Employers references
‣ Ofsted
The purpose of these checks and enquiries is to reassure Blackburn with Darwen Council that there
are no factors which preclude someone from adopting, for example, a criminal offence against
children.
A full medical is required for anyone who wants to adopt. Prospective adopters need not be in
perfect health, but do need to be medically fit enough to parent a child through to adulthood,
meeting its developmental needs throughout. Unless the prospective adopters have made an
enquiry in respect of a specific Blackburn with Darwen child, they pay the cost of the medical
themselves.
. The aim of the preparation group is to equip prospective adopters with an understanding of the
complexities of adoption. The preparation course is an integral part of the process of raising
awareness and informing prospective adopters of the challenges and difficulties they may face as
well as the rewards of adoption. In this way prospective adopters are helped to make informed
decisions about whether they can make the life long commitment of adoption. The course content
is regularly evaluated and reviewed. It is planned within an equal opportunities and antidiscriminatory
framework and is organised to facilitate the attendance of prospective adopters.
Within the stage 1 process there are opportunities for adopters to discuss with staff from the
adoption service, experienced adopters, and the fast track psychologist, how to handle certain
behaviours once children have been placed. The training is designed to encourage adopters to
meet the people who will be able to provide them with support beyond the placement and adoption
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of a child and includes a variety of professionals to achieve that aim. The preparation groups also
give prospective adopters the opportunity to meet the Birth parents.
Once the checks are complete and preparation groups have finished an agreement will be reached
between the applicants and the local authority whether to proceed to stage 2 of the approval
process.
Either party may suggest that this is deferred for up to 6 months withoutapplicants needing to
complete stage 1 again.
An agreement will be drawn up at the commencement of stage 2 with regards to the assessment
stage of the process. This will take no longer than 4 months to complete.
In assessing the capacities of prospective adopters, their approach to providing safe and
responsible care in meeting a child’s developmental needs is fundamental.
The Adoption Service has a clear policy that corporal punishment in any form is not permitted.
Prospective adopters are also not permitted to deprive children of food or restrict contact as
punishment and should be sensitive to the child’s past experience in determining the most
appropriate sanctions.
The Adoption Service is opposed to bullying in all its forms. The Adoption Service believes that it is
the right of all young people to live in an environment where they feel safe and are free from
humiliation, oppression and abuse. Adopters are expected to create an anti bullying and anti
discriminatory climate in their homes and both to set a positive example to young people in their
attitude as well as to help them develop strategies for dealing with any form of discrimination they
may encounter.
Applicants will receive a copy of the assessment report before it is presented to the Adoption Panel
and are invited to provide their own comments in writing on the contents of the report.
The completed assessment is presented to the Adoption Panel. All applicant adopters are invited to
attend the panel. The panel makes a recommendation as to whether approval is recommended.
The panel has an independent chair.
The whole recruitment and assessment process is intended to take no more than six months.
Foster Carers wishing to adopt a specific child already placed with them.
There is a fast track process to ensure that these assessments are completed quickly. Some of the
usual processes can be bi passed given the carers experience and knowledge of the child they are
adopting. It is envisaged that this process could be completed within 4 months.
Second time adopters
The fast track route also applies to some second time adopters who can bi pass aspects of the
stage 1 process and move straight to the stage 2 assessment process.
10. Timescales
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The following timescales will generally be adhered to during the adoption process; unless it is
considered that in a particular case complying with a timescale would not be in the child’s interests
– the paramount consideration must always be the welfare of the child. Where a decision is taken
not to comply with a timescale, the reasons for the decision will be recorded on the child’s file:
The child’s need for a permanent home will be addressed and a permanence plan made at
the four month review
The agency decision maker doe adoption will receive all necessary information from the
agency within six weeks of the completion of the child’s permanence report
The agency decision maker’s recommendation on whether the child should be placed for
adoption will be made within two months of a review where adoption has been identified as
the permanence plan
If their whereabouts are known, the child’s parent or guardian will be informed orally of the
agency’s decision within two working days and written confirmation will be sent to them
within five working days
An adoptive family will be identified within six months of the agency decision that a child
should be placed for adoption and within three months for a child aged under 6 weeks
Fostering for adoption or concurrent placements will be considered for all children for whom
adoption is the plan or for whom it is likely to be the plan.
The adoption service will monitor performance against these timescales and make this
information available in its annual report
11. Monitoring and Evaluating Service Quality
Blackburn with Darwen Council is committed to providing services which comply with Regulations
and National Standards.
Staff in the adoption team are provided with regular professional supervision which is used to
monitor the quality of services provided and the progress of individual cases.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has good quality management information systems that are used to
track both children for whom adoption is the plan and prospective adopters. The object of tracking
is to ensure that wherever possible delay is avoided so that children are placed and prospective
adopters assessed within National Standards timescales.
Any potential or actual delay can be identified and action taken to remedy the situation.
The Adoption Panel has quality assurance and monitoring functions in relation to children and
prospective adopters. The panel monitors the quality of reports presented to the panel and the
quality of work carried out. The panel also monitors the progress of children towards becoming
adopted through regular reviews. The panel advises the Council about practice issues and the Head
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of Service and Team Manager feeds back to both the Adoption and Social Work Service on issues
raised by the panel.
The Adoption Panel members undertake regular panel training in order to ensure that their
knowledge is updated in response to changes in regulation and guidance. The Adoption Panel
members will be subject to an annual review of their individual contribution to the adoption panel
with the chair and panel advisor.
The recommendation and the reasons for making the recommendation are recorded in the
adoption panel minutes. The minutes are approved and signed by the Independent Chair and then
presented to the Agency Decision-Maker (Director of Safeguarding, Early Intervention and
Prevention). A briefing on any of the panel agenda items can be provided on request by the Panel
Advisor. The Agency Decision-Maker is provided with a full set of panel papers in advance of each
panel meeting.
12. Safeguarding Personal Information
The Children’s Services and Education Department issues guidance to staff on the keeping, storage
and handling of personal information in relation to both electronically and physically recorded data.
The Children’s Services Department operates a Confidentiality Code of Practice applicable to all
people, including adopters and prospective adopters; and professionals in other agencies working
to effect the placement of children, who have access to personal information held by the Children’s
Services Department.
Prospective adopters are advised in relation to confidentiality matters as part of the preparation
and approval process.
The Children’s Services Department has a recording policy which sets out in detail the
requirements for confidentiality in record keeping.
13. Complaints
Any complaints, representations or compliments about the Adoption Service are dealt with through
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Customer Care Procedures. The Council is interested in dealing
positively with any concerns that are raised about the service delivered by the Adoption Service.
Initially, complaints will be dealt with on an informal basis but if this does not achieve resolution,
complaints may proceed to Stage 1 (Problem Solving) or Stage 2 (Formal Investigation).
If these processes do not resolve the situation, a Complaints Review Panel may be convened.
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Customer Services Manager keeps a record of complaints made
about the Adoption Service.
The Children’s Services Department welcomes comments, complaints and suggestions about
services from service users, their families, carers or representatives. A simplified procedure is
available to children and young people who can fill in a pro-forma and send it to the Customer
Services Manager.
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Adopters and prospective adopters are clearly entitled to use the complaints procedure if they feel
they cannot resolve a difficulty with the individuals concerned or their managers. Adoptive
applicants who are dissatisfied with the agency’s decision regarding their suitability can apply for a
review of their case by the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). Information on the IRM can be
obtained from the agency or the IRM website www.irm-adoption.org.uk
The IRM can be contacted at:
Contract Manager,
Independent Review Mechanism (IRM)
Unit 4, Pavilion Business Park,
Royds Hall Road, Wortley,
LEEDS, LS12 6AJ
Telephone: 0845 450 3956
Fax: 0845 450 3957
Email: irm@baaf.org.uk
14. Review of Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose will be reviewed at least annually by the Head of Service and any
amendments will be presented to the Executive Member for approval. The Statement of Purpose
will be amended to incorporate changes in the Adoption Service. Any significant changes will be
reported to the Executive Member and to OFSTED.
This Statement of Purpose was reviewed in July 2013
15. Inspection and Registration of the Adoption Service
Inspection and registration of the Adoption Service is carried out by OFSTED who can be contacted
at the following address:
Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester
M1 2WD
www.ofsted.gov.uk
Tel 0300 123 1231
OFSTED inspection reports on Service Provision are available on the internet at the OFSTED
website.
16. Independent Advocacy for Children
Blackburn with Darwen provides independent advocacy for looked after children, including children
affected by adoption, provided by ‘Child Action North West’.
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As part of our adoption support service we provide a children’s guide to adoption. This summarises
the services we provide for children affected by adoption and is given to all children or their
representatives.
The guide contains information on how to make a complaint; how to access the independent
advocacy service; and how to contact the Children’s Rights Director.
Roger Morgan
Office of the Children's Rights Director
Ofsted
Aviation House
125 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6SE
www.rights4me.org
Tel. 0800 528 0731
17. Staff in the Adoption Team (Qualifications and Experience)
Karen Barrick - Service Leader
Qualifications
CQSW – 1993
Diploma Psychiatric social work – 1993
BA (Hons) Religious and Community studies – 1989
MA Child Studies – 2008 NVQ5 Management – 2007 CMS - 2007.
Experience
Qualified Social Worker – 1993 various posts in child care social work over last 17 years
Management of adoption and fostering services – Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council - 2002
Head of Service – Placement Services, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 2007 – present
Adam Dalal - Adoption Team Manager
Qualifications
DIPSW – 2002
Post Qualifying Award in Social Work - 2005
NVQ Level 4 in Leadership and Management for Care Services
Experience
Education Welfare Officer – Lancashire County Council – 2002
Family Placement Team – Lancashire County Council – 2003
Social Worker – Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Team – 2004
Senior Practitioner – Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Fast Track Adoption
Team – 2007
Principal Social Worker – Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 2007 – 2010
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Adoption Team Manager – 2010 - present
Anna Vasiliou - Adoption Principal Social Worker
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Social Work
DIPSW – 2002
PQ 1 – 2006
Post Qualifying Child Care Award – 2008
Experience
Social worker – Stockport Family Support Team – 2002
Social worker – Stockport Adoption Team – 2005
Social worker - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Team – 2008
Principal Social Worker - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Team –2009
Rashda Kholwadia - Social Worker (post adoption)
Qualifications
Diploma in Social Work - 1999
PQ 1 – 2009
PQ 2-6 Practice Teacher Award - 2010
Qualified in 1999
Experience
Social Worker - Family Service Unit
Social Worker – Rochdale Borough Council Children’s Services - 2000
Social Worker - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption team – 2005
Lesley Timmis - Social Worker
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) - 1975
CQSW (Dip SW) - 1984
PQCCA (Full Award) - 2003
Experience
Child Care Team - Blackburn Area Team - 1979
Long Term Team - Wigan (Generic) - 1981
Child Care Team - Blackburn Area Team & Social Work Department Queen’s Park
Hospital - 1983
Intake Team – Blackburn District Team - 1986
Family Support Team/Permanence Teams – Blackburn District -1993
Adoption Team - 2007
Bernadette Bailey – Social Worker Adoption and Post Adoption
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Qualifications
Diploma in Higher Education (Social Work) – 2004,
RSA Counselling certificate in the development of learning, SCT/AEB Counselling Certificate in
counselling Theory
CSCT/AEB Counselling Certificate in counselling Practice
PQ1 2010
Undertaking further post qualifying Social Work Course
Experience
Worked in several environments with Adults with Learning Disabilities – 1988-1996
Community Youth Tutor - 1996
Community Care Worker/Social Worker - Children’s Services – 1998
Supervising Social Worker – Fostering Service – 2005
Senior Social Work Practitioner for British Forces in Germany - 2007
Agency Social Worker - Fostering and Childcare environments 2008
Social Worker - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Services - 2009
hild Psychologist
Qualifications
Qualified clinical psychologist
Jan Hargreaves - Child Support Officer
Qualifications
NNEB – 1980
Experience
22 years experience working in early years within day nurseries and family centres.
Family support work and direct work with children
Child Support Officer - Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Fast
Track Team since 2002
Mary Gilbride - Social Worker (Adoption)
Qualifications
CQSW- 1993
Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work-1993
BA (Hons) English and Social Ethics -1990
Post Qualifying Award in Social Work 1 – 2008
Experience
Social Worker- Lancashire County Council Adult Services- 1994
Also Lancashire County Council Family Placement Team-1994
Residential Worker/OIC Lancashire County Council Adult Services 1996 to 1998
Social Worker- Lancashire County Council Family Placement Team (latterly with the Adoption
Recruitment and Assessment Team) 1998 to 2011.
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Social Worker- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Adoption Team since March 2011.
Vickie Isherwood - Social Worker
Qualifications
N.N.E.B Child Development & Education Studies
Psychology & Social Welfare B Units A' level equivalent
Diploma in Social Work 2001
Post Qualifying Award in Social Work - 2005
Practice Assessors Award - 2008
Every Child Matters Accredited Programme - 2009
Experience
Nursery Officer - Lancashire County Council - 1998
Probation Service - Lancashire Probation Services -1999-2001
S.I.P.'s Education Officer - Equal Chances Project - Blackburn with Darwen 2001-2002
Education Social worker - Pupil referral Unit - Blackburn with Darwen 2002 - 2007
Social worker - Looked After Children's team - Blackburn with Darwen 2007- 2009
Social worker - Child Protection & Safeguarding team 2009 - 2010
Social worker - Adoption Team – present
Jill Braodgate
Post Adoption Support worker
DipSW 2007 Salford University
Trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and gained the certificate in this in 2009
BtEC HNC Health and Social Care in 2002
Jill has worked for Blackburn with Darwen since 2003 as Education Welfare Officer at the Sunnyhurst
Centre with responsibility for child protection, running parenting programmes and doing direct work
with young people.
Social worker for Child Protection and Safeguarding team for two years.
Adoption support social worker since 2013
Three new social workers will be added to the team in September 2013.
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18. Adoption Service Structure Chart
Service Leader
Placements
Adoption Team
Manager
1 X Principle Social
Worker
Mainstream
6.5 x Adoption Social
Workers
1.5 x Post Adoption
Support Social Workers
Fast Track
1 x Child Support
Officer
1 x Clinical Psychologist
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