4.10.8 Adoption Support Services |
RELATED CHAPTERS
See Independent Service for Birth Relatives Procedure
RELEVANT GUIDANCE
Guidance on Assessing the Support Needs of Adoptive Families (2008).
Contents
- What is Adoption Support?
- Examples of Adoption Support
- Why offer Adoption Support?
- When to Consider Adoption Support
- Which Local Authority should Carry out the Assessment?
- Which Local Authority should Provide the Service?
- Process of Assessment for Adoption Support
- The Adoption Support Plan
- Financial Support
1. What is Adoption Support?
Adoption Support is any support likely to be required for an adoptive placement to endure through to adulthood and is applicable to both existing and new adoption arrangements.
Local authorities must now make arrangements, as part of their adoption service, for the provision of a range of adoption support services.
Assessments carried out by social workers for the provision of adoption support will attend to the needs of adopted children, birth families and members of adoptive families in relation to health, education, emotional and behavioural development, identity, family and social relationships, social presentation, self-care skills, contact arrangements, and financial and practical considerations.
Local authorities must act reasonably when deciding whether to provide support services following an assessment, and may arrange for the required services to be provided by appropriate voluntary organisations.
2. Examples of Adoption Support
- Financial support to adopters;
- Services to enable groups of adoptive children, adoptive parents and birth parents to discuss matters relating to adoption;
- Assistance, including mediation, with contact arrangements between adopted children and their birth parents or others with whom they share a significant relationship;
- Therapeutic services for adoptive children;
- Assistance to adoptive parents and children to support the adoptive placement and enable it to continue, including respite care;
- Assistance to adoptive parents and children where a placement disrupts or is at risk of disruption;
- Counselling, advice and information;
- Assistance with cross boundary matters;
- Intermediary Services - see Intermediary Services Procedure.
Support provided under point 2) to 6) above may include cash assistance, for example to pay for a baby-sitter, although this would not be regarded as financial support.
3. Why Offer Adoption Support?
- To ensure that more people are able to adopt Looked After children and that the placement remains stable and meets the needs of the child.
- To afford children, birth families and adoptive families the help they require to overcome the difficulties that can arise during the adoption process.
- To ensure that local and national targets are achieved in relation to numbers of looked after children who are adopted.
4. When to Consider Adoption Support
| 4.1 | Adoption Support must be considered at the earliest opportunity where Permanency is being planned. Practitioners should consider the need for adoption support at the following stages of care planning:
The adoption does not need to have been arranged by the local authority or an adoption agency in order to qualify for an assessment for adoption support. It is only where the adoption is by a step-parent that there is no requirement to carry out an assessment |
| 4.2 | Local authorities must also undertake assessments of need for adoption support at the request of the following:
The adoption does not need to have been arranged by the local authority or an adoption agency in order to qualify for an assessment for adoption support. It is only where the adoption is by a step parent that there is no requirement to carry out an assessment, although in such cases, counselling, advice and information may be offered as appropriate. |
5. Which Local Authority should Carry out the Assessment?
The table below sets out which local authority has responsibility for carrying out the assessment of adoption support, and in what circumstances.
| Circumstance | Responsibility for Assessment |
| A Dudley child being Looked After and in respect of whom an adoption plan is considered | Dudley MBC |
| A Dudley child, placed with or adopted by family living in area | Dudley MBC |
| A Dudley child, adopted by a family living out of the borough | Dudley MBC has responsibility for 3 years after the Adoption Order is made, and then the local authority where the adopters reside will have the responsibility |
| In all other cases (i.e. non agency placements except step parent adoption) | The local authority where the requester lives must assess |
6. Which Local Authority should Provide Support?
The local authority responsible for carrying out the assessment of need should provide support to meet the identified needs.
The exception to this is where ongoing financial support and/or supporting contact arrangements have been agreed by Dudley before the Adoption Order was made, in which case the responsibility to provide such support will remain with Dudley.
7. Process of Assessment for Adoption Support
Requests for assessment for adoption support should be passed to the Adoption Team Manager and, where necessary, the case will be allocated to an adoption support social worker to carry out an assessment.
An assessment will not be required before providing advice and information.
Where an assessment is required, the practitioners involved should conduct assessments by following the guidance set out in the Assessment Framework. All the developmental needs of the child should be covered including health, education, emotional needs, and contact issues. The needs of the family need to be discussed with them and what is currently available clarified. The assessing social worker will usually need to interview the person being assessed - where this is a child, the adoptive parents will also need to be interviewed depending on the case and the age, understanding and wishes of the child.
The process will be: The assessment and Adoption Support Plan will need to be completed after consultation with the appropriate Health Primary Care Trust, CAMHS or education departments where any special arrangements may need to be made.
Where the child is placed in the area of another local authority, the agencies in that authority’s area will need to be consulted as to what services may be available for adopters and adopted children.
A written report of the assessment should be produced, using Initial Assessment and Core Assessment Records, and a copy given to the person being assessed. Where the assessment identifies a possible need for financial support, the proposal must be presented to the Adoption Team Manager for approval before it can be included in the written report (see Section 9, Financial Support).
The report should be sent to the person assessed with notice of the outcome of the assessment, which should state:
- The person’s assessed needs for support.
- Whether the local authority proposes to provide adoption support services and if so, what the proposed services are.
- Where the assessment relates to the need for financial support, how this has been determined and calculated and the conditions to be attached, (see Section 9, Financial Support)
Where the person assessed is a child, and it is not appropriate to send the notice to the child, notices should be sent to the adoptive parent or the most appropriate adult.
Where services are proposed, a draft Adoption Support Plan (see Section 8, The Adoption Support Plan below) should usually be attached to the notice and those assessed should be allowed time to consider and make representations on the proposal.
Where the service proposed is one-off, the notice of the outcome of the assessment will be sufficient to outline what is proposed and a draft plan will not be required.
8. The Adoption Support Plan
An Adoption Support Plan will set out clearly:
- The objectives of the plan and the key services to be provided
- The timescales for achieving the plan
- Those responsible for implementing the plan and the respective roles of others; what should be provided, when and by whom
- The criteria that will be used to evaluate the success of the plan
- The procedures that will be put in place to review the services to be provided and the plan
In preparing the plan, the agency should carry out consultation with the appropriate persons, including, where the child is placed in the area of another local authority, the relevant agencies in that authority's area. In these circumstances, the prospective adopters should be assisted with any cross-boundary issues that may arise.
The Adoption Support Plan should include the proposed financial support (see Section 9: Financial Support) and have been agreed by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support).
Once a proposed Adoption Support Plan has the necessary managerial approval, a copy should be sent to the recipients of the proposed support (with the notice of the outcome of the assessment (see Section 7, Process of Assessment for Adoption Support), any party involved in the delivery of the plan and the Independent Reviewing Officer.
The recipients of the proposed support will have 10 working days to consider the proposals and make representations to the local authority about the proposed plan. Any representations made should be considered by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support), who should inform the recipients of the outcome of the consideration.
The Adoption Support Plan will be submitted to the Adoption Panel when a matching recommendation is being considered. See Placements for Adoption Procedure. The final Adoption Support Plan will then be approved by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support), taking into account any Panel advice given.
A copy of the final plan should go to all those involved in implementing it, and to the recipients of services (or appropriate adult).
The Adoption Support Plan should be reviewed at the Reviews of the Adoptive Placement- see Review of Adoptive Placements Procedure or, at any time if there is a significant change of circumstances, within four weeks of the notification of the change.
After the Adoption Order has been made, the Plan will be reviewed if a change in the person’s circumstances is brought to the notice of the local authority. The format and content of any such review will depend on the circumstances of the case. It may refer to only one element of the Plan or be relatively minor, in which case an exchange of correspondence may be sufficient. However, where the change of circumstances is substantial, such as a serious change in the behaviour of the child, it may be appropriate to conduct a new assessment of needs involving other parties. (For reviews of financial support, see Section 9.7).
Where the change of circumstances is substantial, such as a serious change in the behaviour of the child, it may be appropriate to conduct a new assessment of needs involving other parties.
If as a result of a review whether before or after an Adoption Order has been made, it is proposed to vary or terminate the support, the proposed change must be approved by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support). Once so approved, the person concerned must be notified of the proposal and given the same information as in the notice of the outcome of the first assessment, together with a copy of the revised plan in draft. He or she must then be given 10 working days to make representations on the proposals.
Having taken account of any such representations, the Designated Manager (Adoption Support) will approve the final Plan. In the case of financial support, a decision should also be made as to whether it is appropriate to seek to recover all or any of the financial support already paid.
Notice of the decision must then be sent to the person concerned with reasons and, where appropriate, a copy of the revised plan.
Where there is an urgent need for support, the support can be provided before a Plan is drawn up but the above procedure should then be followed as soon as possible.
9. Financial Support
9.1 Introduction
The scheme for financial support to adopters provides for the following:
- Greater use of lump sums;
- Discretion to make payments at any point;
- Additional flexibility in relation to foster carers who adopt children already placed with them;
- Payments to non agency adopters (except step parent adopters), if appropriate;
- Statutory pay and leave for adopters. (See Department for Trade and Industry leaflet for more information);
- Existing allowances to continue;
- Eligibility criteria to be established (as set out below).
Financial support is intended to supplement existing means of support available to adoptive parents and the child or children being adopted.
9.2 Criteria
The circumstances in which provision of financial support may be paid are as follows:
- Where the child has not yet been placed with the adoptive parents for adoption, and financial support is necessary to ensure that the adoptive parents can look after the child if placed with them;
- Where the child has been placed with the adoptive parents for adoption, and financial support is necessary to ensure that the adoptive parents can continue to look after the child;
- Where the child has been adopted, and financial support is necessary to ensure that the adoptive parents can continue to look after the child;
- Where the local authority is satisfied that the child has established a strong and important relationship with the adoptive parent before the adoption order is made;
- Where it is desirable that the child be placed with the same adoptive parent as his brother or sister (whether a full or half sibling), or with a child with whom he has previously shared a home;
- Where the child needs special care which requires a greater expenditure of resources by reason of illness, disability, emotional or behavioural difficulties or the continuing consequences of past abuse or neglect;
- Where on account of the age, sex or ethnic origin of the child it is necessary for the local authority to make special arrangements to facilitate the placement of the child for adoption.
9.3 Types of Payment
Payment to adoptive parents may be made in the following ways:
- Regular payments - which will be based upon the developmental age of the child and calculated as agreed from time to time by the authority
- Lump sum payments (settling in costs, special needs and adaptations), which will cover items or adaptations that are required as a consequence of assessment of each child’s individuals needs. Payment may be in instalments and will end at a time specified by the authority
- Payments in special circumstances (for a child with additional needs or when foster carers adopt a child for whom they are already caring or where adopters incur legal expenses in contested cases.) Payment may be in instalments and may end at a time specified by the authority.
Financial support cannot generally include a “reward” element but may be given above the usual level where it is regarded as necessary to ease the transition from foster care to adoption.
Generally such additional payments can be paid for a period of two years although in exceptional circumstances, where the circumstances set out in (i), (ii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above are satisfied, additional payments may be paid for a longer period.
9.4 Assessment for Financial Support
Where regular financial support is considered appropriate under Paragraphs 9.2 (i) to (iv) above, the amount to be paid to adoptive parents may be determined by an assessment of their means. This will take account of the adopters’ income and resources (excluding their home), reasonable outgoings and commitments, and the financial needs and resources of the child. (NB Support provided under paragraph 9.2 (v) will not be subject to an assessment of means.)
As part of this assessment, the adopters should be asked to complete a Financial Assessment Form and the completed form should be forwarded to the Finance Department.
The Adoption Support Plan (see Section 8, The Adoption Support Plan) will include the proposed financial support agreed by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support).
In relation to proposed financial support for a new placement, the Adoption Support Plan will be submitted to the Adoption Panel when a matching recommendation is being considered. See Placement for Adoption Procedure.
9.5 Notification
The administrative staff in the Finance Department will send the adopters written notification of the decision to provide financial support and any changes in support. This includes the amount and terms of the support and information about annual reviews.
9.6 Terms and Conditions
If it is decided that financial support should be given to adoptive parents, payment may be subject to conditions and a date specified by which the condition is to be met.
For example, the authority may specify that equipment for which financial support has been given to meet identified need of a child be installed by a certain date and that all receipts for said equipment be made available for inspection.
Prior to making financial support available to prospective or adoptive parents, they will be required to inform the adoption service:
- Of changes to their home address
- If the child (for any reason) no longer lives with them
- If there are any changes to their financial situation
Where information is given orally, adoptive parents must confirm this in writing within 7 days.
Should adoptive parents fail to comply with the requirements, the authority may suspend payment of the financial support provided.
9.7 Annual review of support
Adoptive parents must complete and supply the authority with a statement of their circumstances that will be reviewed annually.
This statement asks adoptive parents to specify the following:
- Their financial circumstances
- The financial needs and resources of the child or children
- Their home address and whether or not the child or children still live at home with them
- If there have been any changes to their own or the child/children’s circumstances
The Adoption Team Manager will carry out an annual review of the financial support, taking into account the information given. Any proposed variation or termination of the financial support must be approved by the Designated Manager (Adoption Support) and notified to the person(s) concerned in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 8, The Adoption Support Plan.
Should adoptive parents fail to supply an annual statement, the authority must send a written reminder and give 28 days to comply. If they fail to comply, the authority may suspend payment of the financial support provided.
9.8 Ending of financial support
Financial support will end in the following circumstances:
- When a child reaches age 18, unless he/she continues in full time education or training when support may continue until the end of the course of education or training being undertaken, subject to any other financial support the child may be entitled to receive
- Where a child ceases full-time education or training and commences employment
- Where a child qualifies for income support or job seekers allowance in his/her own right
- Where circumstances have changed significantly and the criteria are no longer met
- If a child leaves the adoptive home and this is regarded as a permanent departure. Temporary absences do not apply, e.g. boarding school, hospital, and respite care
- The child dies
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