Agenda item

Report of the Service Manager Adoption Tees Valley

Vicky Davidson-Boyd, Service Manager, Adoption Tees Valley presented the Adoption Tees Valley (ATV) Annual Report for 2021/22 and outlined the work that had been undertaken across the Tees Valley during the period 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.

Adoption Tees Valley is the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) for the five local authorities Councils of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton.

The Service Manager advised Members that there had been slightly lower levels of adoption activity overall within this year, with numbers of children being placed with adoptive parents reducing from 82 in the previous year to 78 in this year; and the regional picture was reflected nationally, with fewer children with an adoption plan and Placement Order during this year.

It was also reported that there had been a significant improvement in the timeliness of moving in with adoptive parents in 2021/22 and ATV had improved on its own timeliness since last year and also the timeliness of finding a family and matching with adoptive parents had also improved with ATV reducing the average timescale by 64 days to 174 days.

The submitted report outlined the governance arrangements of the Board which comprised of the Directors for Children’s Services of the five Local Authorities within the partnership; highlighted the Somerset Ruling, a significant legal ruling in relation to adoption cases which took place in November 2021, having a significant impact on adoption activity nationally and locally; and outlined the National Adoption Strategy 2021 which set out an overarching strategic vision for adoption aimed at a consistent England wide offer to children and families.

The submitted report also set out adoption activities carried out which included marketing campaigns to promote need; data in relation to recruitment and assessment of adopters; delivery of the Preparation to Adopt Training courses.

Statistical data on children referred, referrals by Local Authority and Agency Decisions that Adoption is the child’s plan and Placement Orders, Children Matched and Placed, Early Permanence, Adoption Orders granted, characteristics of children adopted, children waiting for placement, timescales for adoption and disruptions was also contained within the submitted report.

It was reported that the Adoption Panel had appointed a new Panel Manager and Advisor and the report of the Adoption Panel Chair was detailed in the Annual Report; detailed adoption support as a key strategic priority; highlighted that in February 2022 the ATV had been invited to be a pilot Regional Adoption Agency for a new Adoption Support Audit; and gave details of therapeutic and educational support .

The submitted report also provided details of Non-Agency Adoptions; staffing; quality assurance; finance and funding information; and outlined the future development plans for the ATV.

Members questions related to how the service support and work with birth families when a child is taken into care; timeliness of Placement Orders and in particular those relating to complex cases; sought reassurance that governance arrangements were working well and there was full representation at Board meetings by representatives of this authority; asked for clarification on the definition of Disruptive Placements; questioned the relationship between officers of this council and the ATV and were assured that there was a good working relationship; requested information on funding opportunities for the ATV; and discussed future plans for the recruitment of prospective adopters, the impact of the pandemic and cost of living increases on the service; and recruitment plans for a more diverse Adoption Panel membership.

RESOLVED – That the Adoption Tees Valley Annual Report for 2021/22 be noted.