Issue - meetings

(CPP: 2 / CPT: 8, 10, 11, 12, 14)

Purpose:  To enable Members to approve the operation of the adoption service.

Resolved that the Annual Report and Statement of Purpose for the West Berkshire Adoption Service be agreed.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 29 July 2011, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 10) concerning the annual report of the West Berkshire Adoption Service and West Berkshire Adoption Service Statement of Purpose.

Councillor Irene Neill introduced the report by advising that it was a statutory responsibility to report on the work of the Adoption Service to Elected Members on a six monthly basis and to agree a Statement of Purpose.

The work of the Service and its activity over the past twelve months was outlined within the report. It also included information about the way in which the Adoption Service operated, as well as the detailed policies that were in place to guide its day to day work.

West Berkshire had had a busy year in terms of placing children for adoption and in supporting approved adopters who had children placed with them from other areas. There were currently 111 adoptive families on the database, with over 75 receiving regular information and attending events. Approximately six to ten families received a higher level of support at any one time.

The Service was inspected by Ofsted in February 2011 and was rated as outstanding, one of only seven local authorities nationally to receive this high rating and the only one in the south east region.

Councillor Alan Macro praised the receipt of the high rating from Ofsted. He also referred to a campaign being led by The Times newspaper to increase the number of adoptive families which he hoped would prove the case in West Berkshire.

RESOLVED that the Statement of Purpose and Annual Report be agreed.

Reason for the decision: To comply with the Care Standards Act 2000 and the National Minimum Standards for Local Authority Adoption Services 2003. The department has a statutory responsibility to report on the work of the adoption service to Elected Members on a six monthly basis and also to agree a Statement of Purpose for the Service.

Other options considered: None.