Derbyshire adoption waiting lists among highest in country
Derbyshire is among the areas in the country where the most children are waiting to be adopted, according to a new map published today by the Government.
The map, available on the Department for Education website shows the number of children in each local authority waiting for a family to adopt them.
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The new adoption map shows the number of children in each local authority awaiting adoption
It allows would-be adopters to see how many youngsters in their area and elsewhere are waiting for an adoptive family.
Areas on the map have been split into four categories ranging from those with 17 or fewer children waiting to be adopted to those, like Derbyshire, with 48 or more.
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Adoption scorecards, from which the map data was taken, show how long on average children have to wait before moving in with their adoptive family.
On average, between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2011, children in the Derbyshire authority area spent 627 days in care before moving in with their adoptive family. This was slightly above the England three-year average of 625 days.
The 627-day wait in Derbyshire compares to 695 in Nottinghamshire, 623 in Staffordshire and 540 in Lincolnshire.
In addition to the map a new telephone information and advice service staffed by adopters has today been launched. The service, contactable on 0300 222 0022, aims to help potential adopters navigate the process of adopting a child.
The information line, operated by First4Adoption, is funded by the Department for Education and will allow all prospective adopters to access an authoritative source of advice on adoption in one place.
Potential adopters can obtain information about the entitlements to adoption support, and will be pointed in the direction of suitable adoption agencies.
The map and telephone service are part of a set of measures aimed at speeding up the adoption process, and increasing the number of adoptions.
Last month Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to help children find adoptive parents, and to make the system more robust.
The Government said it will look at ways to give adopters a more active role in the process, and offer support to those already adopting children who have been in care.
It has also pledged to give adopters the same rights to pay and leave as birth parents.
Edward Timpson, Children and Families Minster, said: "Today we are providing potential adopters with the tools they need to find children who need adopting right across the country.
“Together the telephone ‘infoline' and the new ‘Hotspots' map will arm would-be adopters with the information they need to approach any local area.
"We know many potential adopters out there can provide children with loving, stable homes but simply don't know where to start. These new tools will give many more people support in taking the first steps to adopting a child and giving them the chance to succeed in life.”
Hugh Thornbery, Adoption UK Chief Executive, said: “We hope the adoption ‘map’, which indicates the number of children awaiting adoption in different areas across England, will help prospective adopters have a clearer idea as to which agencies to contact to inquire about becoming an adoptive parent.
“However, the Government, agencies and the adoption sector must remember that for adoption placements to succeed they must be well supported.
“Adoption UK would urge the Government to continue the important job of improving the adoption system but acknowledge that this must go hand-in-hand with appropriate and timely support packages that help adoptive families parent some of the most vulnerable children in our society.”
A National Gateway for Adoption website, due to launch later this year, will provide an online service for the first stages of the adoption process. The website will be run by Adoption UK in partnership with Coram and Coram Children’s Legal Centre.
Mr Thornbery said it will provide “a transparent, comprehensive and supportive resource to anyone who is thinking of adopting”.
He added: “We hope this transparency will help address the shortage of prospective adopters in England and reduce the growing number of children in care who are waiting for a stable, permanent and secure home in the form of an adoptive placement.
“We hope the launch of First4Adoption will encourage more people to come forward and find out more about the adoption process.”
Comments
by finland_stn
Saturday, January 12 2013, 3:02PM
“Two readers have stated that 'political correctness' prevents people from becoming adopters. Assertions that go unchallenged can become received wisdom. It would be a really sad outcome if some children were to remain in care because good, would be adopters were to mistakenly screen themselves out and not apply. Here is an extract from the Derbyshire County Council Guide to Adoption. At the end is the hyperlink for any one wishing to check the provenance.
Who cannot adopt?
There are very few people who we would consider not to be
adoptive parents.Anyone who has committed certain serious
criminal offences, including violent crime and crimes against
children, will not be able to adopt. People with certain medical
conditions need to think about their ability to raise a child into
adulthood.We advise to wait until six months after any life
changing experience such as marriage, unemployment, major
surgery and after the most recent attempt at fertility treatment.
We will accept inquiries from people who smoke, but the amount
you smoke is something we will have to take into consideration.
We will not place children aged 0 – 5 years old with smokers, nor
will we place children with asthma or respiratory problems in
homes where people smoke.
http://tinyurl.com/awdhfsw”
by dianae
Friday, January 11 2013, 7:58PM
“Derbyshire is quite a big county - so not surprised there are more children waiting for adoption than in say Rutland.
The average time a child waits before being adopted is only 2 days above the national average - 2 days isn't that much when you are talking about 625 as the average. Though would be good if Derbyshire held record for shortest waiting time and lowest breakdown rate.
I know/ know of some couples who have adopted or are in process of adopting and yes, they have some suggestions as to how they could have got to that important first meeting with their child/ren slightly quicker.
But they also have good things to say about process - how it is made clear just what a huge thing it is they are doing.
I admire people who foster and adopt children - they are doing a very difficult task and I hope that more and more is done to support them - whether emotionally, financially or ..
Adoption is not some kind of second best way of being a family - it is far harder and more praiseworthy than the way I did it!”
by smshogun
Friday, January 11 2013, 6:52PM
“Is anyone really surprised when the PC brigade within their ranks have really killed off most peoples chances of adopting with unrealistic expectations and unrealistic conditions placed on those wanting to adopt or foster. There are a great many willing people who would take on such children, often those who have had children of their own and have been good parents to their children, but are banished from the adoption process for something as saying something not politically correct.
Unfortunately I know several such parents, and the authorities seem intent on this political correctness at all costs, in many cases they have told many others of their plight and put them off applying. What is needed is to get these PC nimbies into the real world and let real people adopt.”