Agenda item

Andrea Houlahan, Strategic Manager for Children and Families, presented the Adoption Services Update report and delivered a presentation on the service which included information on achievements during 2018-19 and outlined key priority areas for the future (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes). 

Members remarked on the decline in the number of adoption orders and the Strategic Manager advised that this reflects the national picture.  The Legal Services Manager commented that following recent judgements, more children are being placed with extended family members as an alternative to adoption.

Further to a request for clarification on the Adoption Support Fund, the Strategic Manager clarified that the fund is a central government fund for therapeutic support for post-adopted children and their families. In Durham, this support is delivered by the Full Circle therapeutic team. 

The Panel welcomed an adoptive parent to the meeting and thanked her for attending to give her views on her experience of the adoption service.  She commented very positively about the service saying she could not fault the adoption process, adding that she feels that her family is perfectly matched.  She referred to how rewarding adoption is, which, like all parenting, comes with challenges and she added that the keys to successful marketing are openness and honesty. She emphasised the excellent support she receives from her social workers and the Full Circle team.

In response to a question as to whether she would change anything about the process she replied that, initially, she found the advice provided by the Full Circle quite complex, however, with time and her increased experience, she now finds their advice and support invaluable.

Clare Kitson, Social Work Assistant, provided information to the Panel about life story work which is a social work intervention which helps to provide children who have been separated from their birth families with a sense of identity.  The work includes the production of life story books which contain information to remind children of people, events and feelings.  The Social Work Assistant provided examples of life story work for the Panel to view and explained that the information includes that gathered from a range of people including birth parents, foster carers and teachers.  In response to a question from the Chair, the Social Work Assistant responded that great care goes into the wording in the books which are age-appropriate and tailored to the individual child’s level of understanding. 

The adoptive parent present commented that her children keep their books in their rooms and they are able to access the books at any time. She finds her children will read them in times of change or uncertainty and the books are a useful and relevant tool to help adoptive parents to alleviate anxiety and provide reassurance.

In response to a question about the difficulty of gathering information when birth parents have disengaged, the Social Work Assistant responded that efforts are made to obtain information as early as possible and she stressed the important role that the Families First teams and foster carers play in this. 

Resolved:

That the report be noted.