To consider a report outlining the activity in the Adoption Service from April to September 2015.

The Panel received a report by the Director of Children’s Services which outlined the activity in the adoption service over the six month period from April to September 2015.

The six month update included the following areas:

·         Background

·         Recruitment of Adopters

·         Adoption Planning and Placements for Children

·         Adoption Scorecard

·         Adoption Support

·         Adult Adoption Work

·         Key Events

In addition a copy of the Adoption Agency Statement of Purpose dated 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016 was attached for approval at Appendix A of the report.

The Practice Manager Adoption introduced the report following which a Member, whilst welcoming the overall content, raised a number of queries regarding aspects of the adoption process including the status of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), whether the process was improving to the benefit of the children concerned and what action was being taken to solve any associated problems.  A second Member sought clarification on how unsuccessful applicants to become adopters were notified and whether potential adopters met the culturally diverse needs of the children found within Central Bedfordshire.

The Practice Manager Adoption responded to Members’ queries.  She stressed that the recruitment process examined the suitability of prospective adopters.  In addition advice and guidance was provided by the Adoption Service though she acknowledged that this could be improved.

The Vice-Chairman referred to the use of ‘adoption parties’ in the United States which had also been used by some local authorities in the United Kingdom and asked if their use for matching hard to place children with adopters had been considered in Central Bedfordshire.  In response the Practice Manager Adoption explained that an ‘adoption day’ had been held and had been successful in placing one child.  It had been intended to hold a further such day but it had not proved possible to proceed.  The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations stated that there was a cohort of 10 children who had proved hard to place and that placement was more difficult for older children.  However, he assured the Panel that placements were made.  He raised the possibility of submitting the Adoption Service’s activity grid which illustrated the Service’s efforts to secure placements.

The Assistant Director Children’s Services Operations then advised that BAAF, together with some similar organisations, had failed for financial reasons.  However, BAAF’s work continued under CoramBAAF, part of the Coram Group of charities.  The Assistant Director stressed the complicated nature of the adoption process and suggested that a spotlight report on how it worked and how people became adopters be submitted to the Panel.  He then advised the meeting of the government’s proposal to form regional adoption agencies to overcome what it saw as inefficiencies within the current adoption system due to the current small size of some existing agencies and a failure by them to share resources with neighbouring authorities.  He also stressed that discussions on the proposals were at a very early stage, the outcome was uncertain and that the existing service needed to be kept stable for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21