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News

ADOPTION SERVICES IN POOLE

Adoption services in Poole are comparing well according to the latest government report on adoption.

Currently 4% of children in the Borough’s care are placed for adoption, in line with the national average. However many children in Poole are older than the 1999 national average age of children adopted of 4 years 4 months. Government findings detailed in the report show that older children take longer to match with a parent and wait longer for adoption.

Details of the Prime Minister’s Review of Adoption were released for consultation on 7 July and include recommendations for new national standards and time scales for each stage of the adoption process.

In Poole from April 99 to March 2000, nine people were approved as adopters and six children were accepted for adoption. Seven children were matched with families. Currently, two children in Poole waiting for adoption have significant needs and work to identify carers for children with a disability, children over 2 and adopters who can enable brothers and sisters to stay together is underway.

Nationally, adoption agencies must review their services every three years. Poole is currently undergoing a review which is due to be completed by September.

Joyce Spiller, Adoption & Fostering Team Manager, said: "Whilst every effort is made to help children return to birth families, it is not always possible. When this happens we want to make sure children get the permanent, loving family home they need with the minimum of delay. To have the best chance of this we are looking for a range of people - the crucial criteria is the ability to meet a child's needs. In Poole we especially need people who would like to adopt older children, children with disability and families who can enable brothers and sisters to live together".

To increase the range of adopters, Poole is a founder member of the South Coast Adoption Agency. Formed in May 1997, the consortium includes the Isle of Wight, Southampton, West Sussex and Portsmouth. By working closely with the other Authorities, children and adopters in Poole are given wider choices.

So far, the review of services in Poole has highlighted a high level of satisfaction with the service adopters have received.

Poole’s Adoption Service has also developed a new statement of Philosophy, Purpose and Intent. The statement incorporates several of the recommendations made in the Prime Minister’s Review including:

· looking at a wide range of people able to adopt children
· completing assessments of adopters in a fair and open manner
· putting the needs of children at the centre of the process

For more information about adopting a child please contact Karran Stroud, Children & Families, 14 a Commercial Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH14 OJW or tel: (01202 261501

-ends-

Joyce Spiller, Adoption & Fostering Team Manager, tel: (01202) 714713