Scotland’s Adoption Register

3 Aug 2015 09:36 AM

System for matching families and children protected.

New management has been appointed to run Scotland’s Adoption Register following the closure of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).

St Andrew’s Children’s Society will ensure that children are still able to be placed through the register.

BAAF entered Administration recently with an end to some of its services across the UK – including activities in Scotland. Arrangements have been made for some of these services to transfer to other organisations.

BAAF had operated the Register – a database to match children and young people with adoptive families – on behalf of the Scottish Government and used by all Scottish councils.

Fiona McLeod, Acting Minister for Children and Young People, said: “The news of BAAF’s closure will come as a shock for many families across the UK and the thousands of people who work tirelessly to give vulnerable children and young people a permanent, stable and loving home. Our focus is on minimising the potential impact of this situation on children and families and I am pleased that we have been able to transfer the register to St Andrew’s Children’s Society with immediate effect.

“The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will bring the Register onto a statutory footing during 2016 and will ensure every child and available family is referred in a timely way, maximising the chance of an early match. Earlier this year we marked the milestone of 200 families being brought together using the register. We are determined not to lose that momentum on something this fundamental to the well-being of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and young people.

“We will continue to work with BAAF’s Administrators, our partners in local authorities, charities and all who work with adoptive families to find sustainable solutions to this unexpected situation. And importantly, to ensure that they continue to have the support they need to give children security and bring families together.”

Stephen Small, St. Andrew’s Director, said: “We are happy to respond to a request at very short notice from the Scottish Government to take over the running of Register. We are keen to ensure that there is as little disruption to the operation of the register as possible at this difficult time. The Register is a valuable way of helping children, who cannot remain with their birth families, to find new families through adoption.”

St. Andrew’s will also launch a new Adoption Advice Line for Scotland in the coming weeks to complement the work of the Register.

Mr Small added: “At this time of upheaval for the Register it is important that we continue its smooth running. We also believe that it is important to look at other ways to make it as relevant as possible to prospective adopters and social work professionals by providing general advice on adoption matters. We hope this dedicated phone help line will be operational in the coming weeks.”

Notes To Editors

BAAF announced that it would cease operating on 31 July 2015. Smith and Williamson have been appointed to oversee BAAF’s Administration.

The Scottish Government has transferred the work of Scotland’s Adoption Register and funded a national adopter information helpline to St Andrew’s Children’s Society recently. This will be funded by a grant of £89,028 until March 2016 and the work will then be funded until March 2017 to ensure stability during the period when the Register becomes a statutory function.

As part of the transer, Scotland’s Adoption Information Line will open week days between 10am and 4pm to ensure support is available to anyone wanting to inquire about adoption in Scotland or the impact of the closure of BAAF Scotland.

The Scottish Government has provided a small amount of additional funding to BAAF’s Administrators to ensure a number of staff are retained for a short period to ensure an orderly wind-down of activities and the transfer of ongoing work to other organisations. Further information can be found by contacting the organisations below:

Useful web sites: