Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services which presented the full business case for the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) – Adopt Coast to Coast, which sets out the Partnership Model agreement reached by Durham, Cumbria and Together for Children/Sunderland to work collaboratively to develop and deliver their respective adoption services (for copy see file of minutes).

Councillor Gunn confirmed the partnership model meets the Secretary of State’s requirements to carry out adoption functions jointly, with the aim of reducing the amount of organisations recruiting and assessing adopters, as the RAA will operate at a greater scale.  She expressed confidence that the new service will enable timely adoptions to be secured, and, deliver high quality support services to those wishing to adopt.

Councillor Hovvels commented on the importance of this work, adding the Council will work with partners to ensure the sufficiency of high quality adoption services and to encourage high aspirations for adopted children.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.