Combined Executive Agenda 120410.pdf - North Ayrshire Council

10.2 Development and training opportunities are arranged throughout the year to
enable the Panel to be up to date and address any issues which have arisen
that require to be examined in more detail than is possible during Adoption
Panel meetings.
10.3 A joint Adoption and Fostering Panel business meeting was held in 2011 and
discussions took place regarding the separation of the Panels, along with
amendments to medical health checks undertaken for
applicants. This
business meeting will be undertaken on an annual basis.
Table
6
In 2011 the work of the Adoption & Permanence panel was as follows:
Panel Adoption Approvals Children Remaining with Current PRO’s / PO’s
2009 9
Carers
on a Permanent Basis
4 15
2010 17 3 0
2011 12 8 11
13 West of Scotland Baby Adoption Consortium
13.1 In 2011, the Glasgow and West of Scotland Adoption Service for children
under the age of two years ceased operation. From January 2012 all baby
adoption cases from 0 – 2 years will require to be dealt with by each local
authority. This will increase the workload of the Adoption/Permanence Panel
as these cases were previously dealt with via the Baby Adoption Consortium
in Glasgow. Each local authority will be responsible for the assessment of
adopters for linking and matching children and adopters for this age group.
14
Adoption Support Plans
14.1The
local authority now has responsibility to establish Adoption Support
Plans. A range of adoption supports beyond placement is necessary to
address continuing needs of adopters, adopted children and natural parents.
14.2 These plans require to be formalised and completed with the involvement of
relevant persons, partner agencies and services. The plans require to be
reviewed at regular intervals with
appropriate procedures for the review of
such plans being put in place.
14.3 The range of people for whom an adoption service must be provided by local
authorities includes adoptive families, adopted children and adopted adults.
This range of individuals is now widened to include birth siblings, birth
grandparents, former
guardians and any others affected by adoption, or a
proposed adoption.
14.4 The range of services which may be included in an Adoption Support Plan
are: -
� Advice and information on matters relating to adoption.
� Assistance in relation to contact, therapeutic services, services to
ensure the continuation of
the adoptive relationship (including mediation
services if appropriate).
� Services to assist in cases of disruption, i.e. counselling, financial
support.
� Support groups and training.
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