Agenda item

The development of Regional Adoption Agency proposals is part of the national regionalising adoption agenda as set out in ‘Regionalising Adoption’ (July 2015), and further developed in ‘Adoption; A Vision for Change’ (March 2016). Proposals are also informed by the Education and Adoption Act 2016. 

This proposal involves formal collaboration with a number of local authorities to establish a Regional Adoption Agency in line with Government requirements.  The local authorities involved are:

Bath and North East Somerset Council

City of Bristol Council

Gloucestershire County Council

North Somerset Council

South Gloucestershire Council

Wiltshire Council

Councillor Charles Gerrish informed the meeting that this report may be discussed in exempt session, and the public may be asked to leave the room during duration for this item only if the Cabinet debate is likely to disclose information contained within confidential section of the report.

Councillor Michael Evans said that improvement of adoption services was a priority of central Government and part of the manifesto from the current administration. This proposal would involve formal collaboration with six local authorities to establish a Regional Adoption Agency in line with Government requirements.  This proposal would meet the requirements placed upon the Council to develop a new form of service to deliver our statutory adoption functions.  The preferred model would secure best outcomes for children, prospective adoptive families and it would enable the Council to ensure that its excellent record and reputation in relation to adoption is secured into the future.

Councillor Michael Evans moved the recommendations.

Councillor Liz Richardson seconded the motion by saying that adoption was one of the best forms of permanent care for children who cannot remain with their birth family.  Nationally, the Government have placed a priority on improving local authority adoption performance with a view to securing more adoptions and speeding up the process.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet:

1.  Agreed the outlined proposal for the development of a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) in the form of a Local Authority Controlled Company.

2.  Agreed public and stakeholder engagement and consultation to secure this development.

3.  Agreed to receive a further report on a final proposal in Autumn 2016.