Daily roundup: Shared parenting, speeding up adoption, and job passports for young people

The presumption of shared parenting is to be enshrined in legislation following a government consultation on separated families. Responses to the Department for Education consultation revealed widespread agreement that both parents should be involved in a child’s upbringing following family separation. The Children Act 1989 will now be amended to include a “presumption approach” clause. Former children’s minister Tim Loughton applauded the government’s decision on Twitter. He congratulated Edward Timpson, the current children’s minister, on securing the “long overdue” change.

Social workers believe efforts to speed up the adoption process will benefit children in care. A survey by The College of Social Work found almost nine in ten agreed the average time it takes for a child coming into care to be adopted - two years and seven months - is too long and damages children. However, more than 90 per cent suggested that increased emphasis should be placed on expanding the use of other permanent placements, such as special guardianship and long-term fostering. More than 300 social workers responded to the survey, which will be presented at a Lords select committee meeting today on adoption legislation.