Guidance on References in Adoption

AMEDMENT

In October 2022, this guidance was reviewed and updated.

This policy in written with the following in mind:

Serious Case Review for Brighton and Hove ACPC of the Care and Protection of JAS (aged 4) who died on the 24th December 1999.

This review states that the contacting of ex-partners can provide an obvious and reliable predictor and that agencies should not regard it is being unnecessarily intrusive. It concluded, that had the agency contacted the applicant’s ex-wives (as was undertaken for the SCR), the couple would not have gone on to be approved.

Serious Case Review for Cumbria ACPC Leiland Corkill.

The review stated that evidence should be robustly sought, shared, and considered. There will be prospective adopters who seek to hide issues; therefore assessments must better reflect the vulnerabilities and potential risks.

Who is an Ex-Partner When Should they be Contacted?

  • If the applicant has been married or in a relationship for more than one year and / or lived together for any period in their adult life, the ex-partner should be contacted whether they had children or not;
  • There may be other ex-partner references to also seek. The assessing social worker should not rely exclusively on their own definition of a significant relationship; the applicant should be asked to reflect on this. Include ‘situation-ships’ and impact of previous partnerships, however short, on applicant;
  • Where-ever there were children or stepchildren within a previous relationship, even if the child was not the applicant’s own but resulted in the applicant being in the company of children, ex-partners should be contacted. This is in addition to adult child references being taken;
  • Advise the prospective adopter to let the ex-partner know that OAWY will be in contact; it is preferable we are not ‘cold calling’;
  • Where the applicant/s has previously adopted within the last 10 years, and a reference was taken up form ex-partner/s previously, these will not be repeated for subsequent applications;
  • Where the applicant is a foster carer, we will take up ex-partner references even if these had been undertaken previously as part of their Fostering Assessment.

Ex-partner references at any stage of the process will be sought as standard; but exceptions not to, will only be made where there is clear evidence of risk or harm. What is meant by risk or harm needs to be fully explored with the applicant. This then needs to be discussed with the Team Manager (who may in turn need to escalate to Service Delivery Manager) to balance the risk of not taking an ex-partner reference up. The relevant Manager must record the decision and reasons on file. Where it is decided that a reference will not be directly sought, corroboration will be required from additional references.

Checks will not be waivered simply because the applicant prefers that they are not undertaken, or because they do not want their former partner to know about their application to adopt.

  • What will be done if the applicant has no current contact details for the former partner?

The following efforts should be made to contact ex-partners:

  • The applicant should be reasonably expected to proactively assist in locating and providing contact details. This should include making contact with friends and family from some time ago, for example through the use of the internet / social media;
  • Where it is still not possible to locate an individual, OAWY are able to use Tracesmart to enable the RAA to undertake searches of their own. The Letterbox team have access to this platform;
  • It will need to be borne in mind, some ex-partners may have since changed their names and even through such searches, may remain uncontactable.

Process

  • Once in receipt of contact details, at the start of Stage Two (unless it has been decided checks will be made within Stage One), the assessing social worker shall email Business Support the contact details and request a reference letter is sent;
  • Following receipt of the written reference, the social worker will arrange to meet in person with the ex-partner;
  • Where the ex-partner is reluctant to meet, a phone call may be suggested. Failing that, further corroboration from additional referees should be considered. Ensure that attempts made to speak directly to the ex-partner and their decision is clearly recorded on file.

Guidance on Interview with Ex-Partner

Interviews with ex-partners are sometimes difficult and it is helpful to have some ideas about the areas to cover in the interview.

It is envisaged that the interviewer will engage the ex-partner in a general discussion acknowledging that the relationship has ended.

It is important to look at the strengths in the relationship:

  • Was it supportive?
  • Was the relationship open/difficult to talk to; warm/distant?
  • Was it on equal terms?
  • What were the differences that led to breakdown?
  • Describe the temperament/ personality of applicant?
  • Do you continue to have a friendship on any level? Can you describe this?
  • What sort of parent was the applicant towards the children? Ask about each child?
  • Does the applicant continue to have contact with the children? Of not, why not?
  • Would you have any concerns about the safety of a child being placed with the applicant?

Grandparents/ Significant Support Figure

It is agreed that visiting a grandparent or significant other should be a standard part of the assessment if they are likely to be involved as a major support or if there are concerns re: extended family.

Current Employer

To write to current employers, use the standard reference request form with an accompanying letter. In addition, contact the previous employer if that employment was in a caring profession with children or vulnerable adults.

Headteachers/Nursery Teachers/Health Visitors

Contact to be made with the headteacher if there is a school age child in the family, nursery teacher if in preschool and health visitor if preschool.

In addition, if a child has a disability or special needs then contact should be made with the professionals involved with the family directly. It may be a psychologist/paediatrician/ psychotherapist/ GP. (Adapt sample letter to head teacher for this purpose).

Adult Children

  • All adult children should be contacted.

What will be done if the applicant has no current contact details for an adult child?

The following efforts should be made to contact adult children:

  • The applicant should be reasonably expected to proactively assist in locating and providing contact details. This should include making contact with friends and family from some time ago, for example through the use of the internet / social media;
  • Where it is still not possible to locate an individual, OAWY are able to use Tracesmart to enable the RAA to undertake searches of their own. The Letterbox team have access to this platform;
  • It will need to be borne in mind, some adult children may have since changed their names and even through such searches, may remain uncontactable. However, the message remains clear that there is an expectation to identify ex-partners.

Process

  • Once in receipt of contact details, at the start of Stage Two (unless it has been decided checks will be made within Stage One), the assessing social worker shall email Business Support the contact details and request a reference letter is sent;
  • Following receipt of the written reference, the social worker will arrange to meet in person with the adult child;
  • Where the adult child is reluctant to meet, a phone call may be suggested. Failing that, further corroboration from additional referees should be considered. Ensure that attempts made to speak directly to an adult child and their decision is clearly recorded on file.

Guidance on Questions for Adult Children

Some ideas about what to ask adult children of applicants when we interview them:

  • Can you give me an overall impression of your childhood?
  • How would you describe the way in which you were parented?
  • Do you feel you had a close relationship with your mother/father?
  • Can you tell me about a happy memory with your mother/father?
  • Can you tell me about a sad memory with your mother/father?
  • Can you describe an occasion when your mother/father has supported you in a time of crisis?
  • How did your mother/father deal with you in adolescence? Did this bring up issues of growing up?
  • Can you tell me how boundaries were set, or discipline maintained when you were a child? Were you ever smacked as a child?
  • Is there any aspect of your upbringing that you would not want to be repeated with an adoptive/foster child?
  • Do you have any concerns about your mother/father's suitability to carer for a vulnerable child, or the safety of a child placed either physically, emotionally or sexually?

Internet Checks (to sit under 6.1)

Internet checks will be considered on a case-by-case basis, for example where a DBS risk assessment has been carried out in Stage One.

To determine if a risk assessment may be required in Stage One, the social worker and adoption advisor carrying an initial visit must ask detailed questions, for example, have you or anyone in your household, immediate family and / or extended family ever had any involvement with the police? Highlight that our DBS checks are enhanced and should show even minor offences so these should be shared. Risk assessments may be necessary in respect of previous involvement with Social Care and / or other Public of Private Services.

Internet Checks will be decided upon by the Recruitment & Assessment Team Manager. Only information in the public domain will be viewed.