Radically Improving the Adoption System: Meeting the Needs of Children & Families

The Context:

The Government wants to overhaul the care and adoption system to improve chances for vulnerable children. The average length of time for an adoption to take place is two years and seven months. The Government wants this to be quicker and believes that measures including: changes to the family justice system; the publication of adoption performance tables; publication of the Adopters’ Charter will significantly reduce the time taken for children to be adopted. A new Adoption Assessment Working Group, led by Martin Narey, the Government’s Adoption Adviser, has been set up to to draw up a new process to recruit, train and assess people as adoptive parents.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

• John Goldup, Deputy Chief Inspector, Ofsted
• Jessica Lee MP, Secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption & Fostering
• Jan Fishwick, CEO of PACT (Parents And Children Together) and the Chair Designate of Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies
• Joanne Alper, Service Director, Adoption Plus
• (Chair) Chris Waterman, Editor Children's Services Weekly

The Issues:

Engaging with the panel of experts, key issues to be addressed at this Policy and Practice Briefing include:

• Examining the new ‘Adopters’ Charter’ – recruiting more people wishing to adopt or foster
• The impact of the reform of the family justice system
• Will the publication of transparent data challenge local authorities to do better?
• Strategies to reduce delays in the system
• Changes to the Ofsted inspection framework: a sharper focus and a shorter notice
• Will intervention in poorly performing local authorities be effective?
• The contribution of voluntary sector agencies in improving the process
• The Adoption Assessment Working Group: overhauling the assessment process
• Matching the hardest to place: children aged over 5, BME children & those with disabilities
• Balancing the needs of looked after children and the wishes of their parents
• The impact on outcomes for children of early adoption
• The financial implications of adoption: the cost of keeping a child in care
• The training of social workers in dealing with families wishing to adopt

Objectives and Outcomes:

The morning ‘Current and Future Policy’ session will provide delegates with a clear understanding of the current situation and the implications of recently announced government initiatives. The afternoon Policy into Practice session will allow participants to examine case studies of effective practice in adoption and fostering, as well as practical strategies for improving practice.

Who Should Attend:

Delegates will be drawn from a wide range of stakeholders. These will include: social workers, local authority officers and members, adoption and fostering workers, adoption and fostering organisations voluntary sector organisations working in this area, lawyers, researchers and central government.

Morning refreshments will be served upon arrival with a networking lunch to follow. Any special needs or dietary requirements should be notified to us upon booking.