Agenda item

(To receive a report by Anne Johnson, Adoption Team Manager, with an annual update on the Adoption Service for 2020-21 since the previous report considered by the Panel)

Consideration was given to a report by the Adoption Team Manager which informed the Corporate Parenting Panel about the work of the Adoption Service in accordance with the requirements of the Care Standards National Minimum Standards 2003, 2011, 2014, and the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

The Panel were referred to the annual report and statement of purpose set out at appendices A and B to the report, which set out the relevant performance information and identified the key developments with the service of the last twelve months.

The Panel were informed that national guidance issued as a result of Covid-19 had caused difficulty moving children safely for around 6-8 weeks of the year, which had impacted on yearly data.

Despite challenges faced as a result of the pandemic, officers were proud to have supported 29 adoption orders and made positive changes such as the use of virtual introductions. The service had seen a significant increase in adoption enquiries but were still facing challenges with the adoption of difficult to place children.

The adoption support service had also seen a significant increase in referrals from adopters and special guardianship carers and £620,000 had been obtained from the Adoption Support Fund provided by the government for adoptive families to access therapeutic services, however the pandemic had resulted in longer than normal waiting times.

Members discussed the report and during the discussion the following points were noted:

• The Panel were pleased to see the positive progress made with adoption despite the challenges faced over the past year.
• An additional judge had been appointed at Lincoln Crown Court to support with the backlog of work in children's services, however, adoption cases did not take priority.
• A review had commenced with a view to developing services which provided support needs for special guardianship families.
• There were national campaigns which focussed on the adoption of older children and sibling groups. The service worked hard to find suitable families for children who were difficult to place, however it was important to ensure that placements were not forced as this often resulted in further issues for adoptive families.
• The service had benefited from long term stability within their staffing team. Officers were confident had been sufficient plans put in place to ensure that upcoming retirements did not disrupt the level of service provided.
• Officers looked to utilise the adoption support fund to recruit a new early help worker.
• It was the first need of a child to be placed within a family, however where possible, the adoption team sought to consider family arrangements and place a child within a family which had a similar background or ethnicity, which sometimes involved working with other authorities to place a child.
• Work had been undertaken to expand the range of ethnic diversity of the adoptees in the future.
• The Panel sought assurance that minority ethnic groups were considered and supported as part of the adoption process.
• The Adoption Support grant provided by the government was solely to provide therapeutic services to adoptive families. The service also held a provision within their own budget called adoption support, which could provide other services that were not eligible for the grant for example, sensory services.
• The pandemic had presented challenges for many adoptive families due to the isolation and disruption to everyday life, alongside managing other long standing needs. However, some families had thrived and built solid relationships as a result.
• Where appropriate, the service continued virtual communications. However, there were some instances where face to face meetings were important.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the report be noted;

2.      That the impact of Covid-19 on adoptive families be highlighted;

3.      That assurance be provided to the Panel at a later date that ethnic minority groups were duly considered and supported as part of the adoption process.