Emerging figures show this trend continuing: there has been no post-pandemic recovery and there is none in prospect. Local authority decisions that adoption is in the child’s best interest are 22 per cent lower than for the same period last year, with placement orders and adoption orders both 20 per cent down.
The children who have traditionally waited longest to be adopted – sibling groups, children with a disability, older children and those from ethnic minority or mixed ethnic backgrounds – are waiting even longer. There has also been a rise in the number of reversals of adoption plans. Consequently, significant numbers of children who could, or should, be adopted are being looked after in interim placements or a succession of foster families. The growth in “in family” special guardianships does not account for this drop.
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