Agenda item

The Board considered the annual report of Adoption Tees Valley, which was the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA), for the 5 Local Authority Councils of Darlington; Hartlepool; Middlesbrough; Redcar and Cleveland; and Stockton.

Some key highlights from the report included:

• This year had been one of building on partnerships, and existing practice to strengthen and improve adoption in Tees Valley. There had been more work with regional partner Regional Adoption Agency’s (RAA’s), and the regional Voluntary Adoption Agencies (VAA’s), on collaborative projects. Work had continued with the 5 partner Local Authorities to continue to strengthen early twin track care planning for adoption.

• The adoption team had been working on trauma informed practice, inspired by one of the presentations at the national RAA Adoption Support Conference in September 22. Adoption Tees Valley (ATV) implemented a model of the Trauma Timeline, and use of the trauma tree in assessments of adopters, and in preparation for matching children. Staff, adopters, partner Local Authorities and Panel were reporting very positively on this practice, which helped to focus on the long term needs of the child, arising from early trauma.

• While there have been the same number of Early Permanence (EP) placements as in the previous year, more prospective adopters had been approved for early permanence.

• The focus had also continued on adoption support, including on the long-term identity needs of adopted children and adults. With more early permanence for children, and continuous development of the framework for these placements, more adoptive parents were meeting with the parents of the child from the outset.

• This year followed the “tail” of the Somerset judgement, and its repercussions for children in the adoption system across England. A small number of children in Teesside had delayed adoption orders, and there were some delayed placements due to the legal implications of Somerset in the previous year: for this reason, a small number of children who had gone on to be adopted, or even placed for adoption within this period, could have had that part of their adoption journey in the previous year.

• Adoption Orders were higher than the last year, while children placed for adoption remained the same as in the previous year. This level of placement activity was at a lower level than has been the case, which followed the national trend, where adoptions from care had reduced over the last 2 years. Of Significance in this region was the increase in numbers of Placement Orders granted within this year – 87 which was the highest level in the previous 4 years.

• Adoption Tees Valley (ATV) continued to perform well in timeliness of adoption for children. Many children were being placed within government set timescales for placement once the Placement Order (PO) was granted.

• Timescales (PO to match) had improved this year, from 174 to 146 days and ATV continued to perform better than the England average by some 50 days, although remained over the government target. 

• The time from a child starting their first care placement to moving in with adoptive parents had increased, with average days being 411 across the Tees Valley, which was lower than the national target (421 days) and 70 days lower than the England average.

• The number of families approved over the past year had risen from the previous year, with 55 families having been assessed and approved to adopt. While this increase was welcomed, Adoption Tees Valley continued to need more families for siblings, for older children up to the age of 5, and for children who may have some uncertainty in relation to developmental delay.

Discussion

• Members thanked officers for a detailed and comprehensive report.

• Board Members asked the Adoption Tees Valley Service Manager what Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council could do better. The Adoption Tees Valley Service Manager praised Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for the collaborative approach of working together with partner agencies including the permanence champion. The Assistant Director, Children Social Care thought Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council needed a deeper understanding of what early permanence meant and more awareness of what a child’s final destination could be as soon as the council was made aware of them.

RESOLVED that the report and discussion be noted