1 Summary

1.1 That the Executive member for Social care approve the proposals for a service for inter-county adoption.

2 Reason(s)

2.1 To assist in achieving the Corporate aims of the County Council by Maximising life opportunities ( Aim One) and Improving Services ( Aim Five)

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 To continue to deliver the service from Hampshire's Adoption Agency.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1 N/A

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 N/A

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 N/A

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

1 Hampshire Social Services Department carries out the functions of an adoption agency, which means it recruits, trains, assesses and approves prospective adopters to care for children who cannot be cared for within their birth families, and who need permanent family based care for the remainder of their childhoods.

2 Included in this service, which is largely meeting the needs of children in the UK who are waiting for adoptive families, are a small number of applications from prospective adopters who wish to adopt from abroad.

3 The Hampshire Adoption team have the skills and expertise to advise prospective adopters on a number of different options available to them, should they be considering adoption, and will continue to retain this expertise. Until recently they have employed specialist social workers who have built an expertise in Inter Country adoption work.

4 The role of the specialist workers has been to offer the following service, for which there is a small charge;

4.1 Advice as to their options, including information about adopting from a range of different countries

4.1.1 An assessment and appropriate recommendation by panel and approval by the adoption agency decision maker

4.1.2 Supervision and support once a child is identified abroad and brought to Hampshire

4.1.3 A report which should be submitted to the court for an adoption hearing, for "non Hague Convention" cases: appropriate liaison with the Home Office to ensure compliance with immigration legislation

4.1.4 In April 2002, Hampshire joined an Adoption Consortium with two other local authorities and an independent Adoption Agency - "Parents and Children Together" (PACT).

5 PACT have a particular expertise in recruiting and supporting foster carers and prospective adopters from black & ethnic minority groups, and offer a specialist "Inter Country Adoption" service to a number of local authorities.

6 With the introduction of new legislation and regulations in June 2003, and more changes still in the coming year, it is proposed to use the expertise of PACT to;

6.1 Respond to enquiries by prospective inter country adopters, ensuring that appropriate and accurate advice is given

6.1.1 Assess and approve applicants who live in Hampshire

6.1.2 Notify Hampshire Social Services Department of children coming from other counties with their new families, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to supervise and support those children and their families.

7 Prospective adopters would continue to be charged for this specialist service.

8 Children adopted from abroad would benefit from an enhanced service, such as support groups, as PACT clearly has a level of expertise that Hampshire does not, and deals with significantly more cases across the region.

9 Hampshire's adoption adviser will become a member of PACT adoption panel, thus retaining an overview of applicants and some expertise within the county.

10 Resources which are currently directed to this area will be diverted to recruit, assess and support adopters for children who are in the care of the local authority and awaiting adoptive families. This means that the recruitment team will have the ability to assess more domestic adopters, as well as to offer additional support to children already placed.

11 Whilst income will no longer be received in respect of inter- country adoption assessments, income will be generated in respect of any adopters who might not be required for Hampshire Children, but may be able to offer a resource for the children of other local authorities.

12 These arrangements will ensure that Hampshire children continue to be able to be placed with adoptive families: applicants wishing to adopt from abroad will receive a specialist service: children coming from abroad who are particularly vulnerable, will receive the most appropriate support to meet their needs. Expertise in "inter country adoption" will be strengthened.

Reference to corporate aims

13 This service proposal will contribute to the Corporate aim of maximising Life opportunities by;

Improving the quality of life of vulnerable children.

Improving life chances of children looked after

To ensuring that the needs of black and ethnic minority children are met

Acheiving permenance for children through adoption.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the proposal to offer a service to children and adopters involved in the Inter Coutry Adoption process be offerred through a specialist agency to complement Hampshires Adoption Consortium agreement

CONCLUSION

That the above recommendation be confirmed

Section 100D- Local Government Act 1972- Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published Works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.