Adoption Statement of Purpose - Blackburn with Darwen Children's ...

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of a child and includes a variety of professionals to achieve that aim. The preparation groups also give prospective adopters the opportunity to meet the Birth parents. Once the checks are complete and preparation groups have finished an agreement will be reached between the applicants and the local authority whether to proceed to stage 2 of the approval process. Either party may suggest that this is deferred for up to 6 months withoutapplicants needing to complete stage 1 again. An agreement will be drawn up at the commencement of stage 2 with regards to the assessment stage of the process. This will take no longer than 4 months to complete. In assessing the capacities of prospective adopters, their approach to providing safe and responsible care in meeting a child’s developmental needs is fundamental. The Adoption Service has a clear policy that corporal punishment in any form is not permitted. Prospective adopters are also not permitted to deprive children of food or restrict contact as punishment and should be sensitive to the child’s past experience in determining the most appropriate sanctions. The Adoption Service is opposed to bullying in all its forms. The Adoption Service believes that it is the right of all young people to live in an environment where they feel safe and are free from humiliation, oppression and abuse. Adopters are expected to create an anti bullying and anti discriminatory climate in their homes and both to set a positive example to young people in their attitude as well as to help them develop strategies for dealing with any form of discrimination they may encounter. Applicants will receive a copy of the assessment report before it is presented to the Adoption Panel and are invited to provide their own comments in writing on the contents of the report. The completed assessment is presented to the Adoption Panel. All applicant adopters are invited to attend the panel. The panel makes a recommendation as to whether approval is recommended. The panel has an independent chair. The whole recruitment and assessment process is intended to take no more than six months. Foster Carers wishing to adopt a specific child already placed with them. There is a fast track process to ensure that these assessments are completed quickly. Some of the usual processes can be bi passed given the carers experience and knowledge of the child they are adopting. It is envisaged that this process could be completed within 4 months. Second time adopters The fast track route also applies to some second time adopters who can bi pass aspects of the stage 1 process and move straight to the stage 2 assessment process. 10. Timescales 11
The following timescales will generally be adhered to during the adoption process; unless it is considered that in a particular case complying with a timescale would not be in the child’s interests – the paramount consideration must always be the welfare of the child. Where a decision is taken not to comply with a timescale, the reasons for the decision will be recorded on the child’s file: The child’s need for a permanent home will be addressed and a permanence plan made at the four month review The agency decision maker doe adoption will receive all necessary information from the agency within six weeks of the completion of the child’s permanence report The agency decision maker’s recommendation on whether the child should be placed for adoption will be made within two months of a review where adoption has been identified as the permanence plan If their whereabouts are known, the child’s parent or guardian will be informed orally of the agency’s decision within two working days and written confirmation will be sent to them within five working days An adoptive family will be identified within six months of the agency decision that a child should be placed for adoption and within three months for a child aged under 6 weeks Fostering for adoption or concurrent placements will be considered for all children for whom adoption is the plan or for whom it is likely to be the plan. The adoption service will monitor performance against these timescales and make this information available in its annual report 11. Monitoring and Evaluating Service Quality Blackburn with Darwen Council is committed to providing services which comply with Regulations and National Standards. Staff in the adoption team are provided with regular professional supervision which is used to monitor the quality of services provided and the progress of individual cases. Blackburn with Darwen Council has good quality management information systems that are used to track both children for whom adoption is the plan and prospective adopters. The object of tracking is to ensure that wherever possible delay is avoided so that children are placed and prospective adopters assessed within National Standards timescales. Any potential or actual delay can be identified and action taken to remedy the situation. The Adoption Panel has quality assurance and monitoring functions in relation to children and prospective adopters. The panel monitors the quality of reports presented to the panel and the quality of work carried out. The panel also monitors the progress of children towards becoming adopted through regular reviews. The panel advises the Council about practice issues and the Head 12
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Page 18 and 19: Qualifications Diploma in Higher Ed
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