Agenda item

A report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services (copy attached).

The Sub Committee received a report from the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the changes to the adoption process made by Central Government which came into effect in July 2013. Officers advised Members that Marie Ologbosere had been recruited to provide expertise and support for the service. The adoption assessment timescales had been changed to speed up the process and increase adoption numbers. Four applicants were currently being assessed and, once agreed, could be ‘purchased’ for a fee by other providers if not needed by the Corporation. 

In response to a question from the Chairman it was established that the child’s Best Interest Decision, which would include their adoption plan, no longer needed to go to the Adoption panel shared with Hackney, but could be agreed by the Agency Decision Maker before being agreed in Court.

In response to further questions from Members, it was noted that officers would be seeking to develop the service and actively recruit new adopters in the future, but currently staff resources would be unable to manage a great influx of applications. It was also reported that assessment costs were covered, as ‘trading’ adopters provided income.