The board was set up as the Adoption Leadership Board in 2013 to oversee the implementation of the government’s adoption strategy.
In 2018, it was rebranded as the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board (ASGLB), with a remit to cover previously looked after children subject to adoption or special guardianship orders.
It is made up of representatives from the adoption and permanence system in England and chaired by adoptive father and director of charity the Sanctuary Foundation Krish Kandiah who was appointed to the role in 2020.
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Mark Owers: It’s time to abolish the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board
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Review of children’s social care system prioritises family help
In a statement, posted on Twitter, Kandiah said the "Secretary of State has decided to close the board".
He added: "Children in our care system deserve an ambitious, accelerated and agile reform agenda.
"The Independent Review of Children's Social Care called for a reset of the whole system. There are urgent needs faced by children and families so we must do what we can to help now.
"The Care Review called for significant attention and investment in foster care, and I would love to see that happen in a tactical, compassionate and realistic way.
"The Care Review also called for radical reform of support for kinship care and I hope we will see the financial investment and infrastructure but in place to make this a reality."
Sources told CYP Now that members of the board were informed of its closure on 1 December by the Department for Education.
Despite the board's creation, adoption figures in England have declined since 2015, with a slight rise in the last year due to a 17 per cent drop in numbers during the pandemic.
In the 12 months to 31 March this year, 2,950 children were adopted compared with 5,360 during the same period ending 31 March 2015.
Cathy Ashley, chief executive of Family Rights Group, said: “Family Rights Group joined the board, alongside CoramBAAF and Grandparents Plus (now Kinship), in 2018 when its remit expanded to include special guardians who were previously looked after.
“We have ensured that the voices of special guardianship families have been at the table. However, special guardianship has frustratingly always felt like a late add-on to a Board that was constituted around adoption and most kinship care families have been excluded from its remit. Moreover, the board’s goal to promote permanence for children in care did not extend to other forms of permanence, including reunification with parents.
“The system reset proposed by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England must be a catalyst for a better system. One where the government’s strategy for children’s social care can be influenced and scrutinised to ensure it meets the needs of children and families. The voice of young people and adults with direct experience, including kinship carers, must be central to that.”
The closure comes ahead of the much-anticipated government response to the Care Review, which is due to be published early next year.
Care review chair Josh MacAlister made a series of recommendations focussed on early help and keeping children with their families where possible in a bid to reduce rising numbers of children entering care.
A DfE spokesperson said: “Every child deserves a loving, stable home. This remains a priority for this government, whether through adoption, fostering, kinship care or other forms of permanence.
“We are considering what structures best support the next phase of crucial reform to deliver on the recommendations of the independent Care Review, which include a greater focus on kinship carers that goes beyond the current remit of this board.
“We are grateful for all the work that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board has done to improve the lives of children in care.”
