Adoption processes must be simplified, ADCS warns
Lauren Higgs
Monday, December 12, 2011
Directors of children's services are calling on the government to simplify the assessment process for potential adopters.
In a statement submitted to the government review on adoption, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) warned that the assessment of potential adoptive parents is "complex and time-consuming".
"The process for assessing potential adoptive parents is highly bureaucratic," the statement said. "It is over-laden with excessive levels of prescription with regard to the information that is collected about potential adopters."
To tackle this problem, ADCS has suggested that the standardised form for assessing potential adopters should be reviewed.
The association plans to work with government adoption advisor Martin Narey on deciding exactly what information should be collected on prospective adopters.
"A blanket approach to the nature of the information that is collected risks infantilising professional decision-making," the statement said.
"There must be more scope for exercising professional judgement as to what information is truly relevant."
The statement added: "We need to make it more welcoming, positive and less arduous, but without compromising the necessary rigour to make the best match, or the primacy of the child's need for a stable, appropriate placement."
To improve support for adoptive parents, ADCS has also called upon the government to place greater emphasis on long-term post-adoption support from services including health and education.
Meanwhile, the association argued that inspections of adoption should be reformed so that they measure outcomes, rather than compliance with processes.
Although ADCS said directors of children's services have a "deep" commitment to adoption, the statement warned that adoption must be seen as one of a range of permanence options available.
"Not all children wish to be adopted and we know that for many children adoption is not the right solution," the statement said.