A new “super” team has been launched to boost the search for forever families for children waiting for adoption – which for the first time are outstripping the number of registered adopters.
Adoption Now is a new regional adoption agency which will bring together Bolton, Tameside, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Blackburn with Darwen councils to share best practice, resources and expertise.
The merger of adoption services aims to ultimately improve the life chances of children by improving adopter recruitment and support and speeding up matching while also reducing costs.
There are currently around 100 children waiting for adoption across the six local authority areas.
For the first time in recent years there are more children waiting for adoption than registered adopters waiting to be matched with children.
Karen Barrick, Head of Service, Adoption Now said: “Until recently we’ve had the relative luxury of more people waiting to adopt than children in need of adoption but the balance is shifting as we have more and more children coming into care and waiting for adoption.
“We want to do everything possible to improve life chances for these vulnerable children and the one of the best ways we can achieve this is matching them with the most suitable adopters as quickly as we can.
“It makes sense for us to pool our resources to achieve this and I’m excited about the difference we can make with our new regional super team and the positive outcomes we will be able to achieve for our children.”
Councillor Cunliffe, representing Bolton Council, added: “We’re excited to see our team joining with colleagues from other authorities in the region to form part of this new agency that will allow us to work together on providing the best possible support to families at every step of their adoption journey.
“Finding the families for children in our authority who are waiting for adoption remains a priority for us and through Adoption Now we will be better placed to find them the right matches at the right time.”
Adoption Now is keen to hear from people of all backgrounds who are interested in adoption. In particular there is a shortage of people waiting to adopt children aged between 2 and 8, sibling groups and children with additional needs.
For further information see www.adoptionnow.org.uk or contact 01204 336096 for an informal chat.
Pictured (left to right) are: Councillor Sharon Briggs, Bury Council, Councillor Ann Cunliffe, Bolton Council, Jean Carey, Adoption Team Manager from Tameside Council, Karen Barrick, Head of Adoption Now, Vicky Brooke, Adoption Team Manager from Oldham Council, Mandy Worsley, adopted two children with Blackburn with Darwen Council and Ruth Elsden, Adoption Team Manager from Rochdale Council