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Adoption: new guidance to break down barriers
People wanting to adopt can no longer be turned away on the grounds of race, age or social background, following new guidance from the government.
With adoption numbers falling, the aim of the new guidance is to give more children loving homes and the chance of a stable upbringing with adoptive parents.
The number of children placed for adoption fell by 15 per cent between March 2009 and 2010.
More children are also waiting longer to be adopted, with black children taking on average over 50 per cent longer to be placed for adoption than children from other ethnic groups.
Children over five were four times less likely to be adopted compared to children under five in the last year.
To help more children be adopted (where this is in their best interests), the government has issued new guidance to local authorities. From now on:
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children can't be denied adoption just because the prospective parents are of a different ethnic or cultural background
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adoption should be considered for children who may have been overlooked in the past – such as older children or those with disabilities
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no person wanting to adopt should be turned away on the grounds of race, age or social background
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local authorities should be making full and effective use of the Adoption Register, which helps to match adoptive parents with children
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greater use should be made of voluntary adoption agencies who have specialist expertise in finding families for difficult to place children
Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said: "Adoption can provide a permanent loving home for a child in care, so it’s disappointing that the latest statistics show a decline in adoption rates and significant variation across the country.
"I want to see more children placed for adoption, where this is in their best interests, particularly those who may have been overlooked, like older children, children from BME backgrounds and those with disabilities.
"It’s unacceptable for vulnerable children to be denied the chance of a loving, permanent home when there are suitable parents available to adopt children."
To read the new adoption guidance in full, follow the link below.
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