Adoption Services in Wales are changing and improving this year, with a National Service being created. The National Adoption Service for Wales will be launched in November 2014, the remodelling of adoption services will increase placement choice for children who need adoptive families, reduce delays experienced by prospective adopters and increase consistency for all those affected by adoption across Wales.
Why a National Adoption Service?
The National Adoption Service is part of the Welsh Government’s Social Services and Well Being Act 2014 ( section 170) The Deputy Minister has made it clear that the reformed service must provide:
- An eradication of children drifting in care
- Elimination of waiting lists for training and assessments
- Reducing adoption breakdowns by providing adoption support services
- Ensuring consistent delivery across Wales
- The Statutory and Voluntary Sectors working together to improve adoption services
British Agency for Adoption and Fostering Cymru (BAAF)
Welsh Government have commissioned BAAF to provide an all Wales Adoption Register.
This completely secure National Adoption Register will ensure the opportunities for Welsh children to be placed with Welsh adoptive families are maximised.
The new National Service provides a unique opportunity for the statutory and voluntary sector to work in true collaboration to improve services for the most vulnerable of children in our society.