Adoption UK responds to the NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) consultation on ‘Children’s Attachment Expand June 2015 Attachment in children and young people who are adopted from care, in care or at risk of going into care’. Children's attachment comments AUK 2015.pdf
Local area SEND consultation An inspection of local areas' effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of disabled children and young people and those who have special educational needs. Expand December 2015 Click the link below to download and read the Consultation and questionnaire: Consultation document.pdf
Court of Appeal judgment welcomed by Adoption UK Court of Appeal redresses the balance regarding adoption placement orders - Adoption UK welcomes the Court's judgement Expand 22 August 2016 Adoption UK welcomes a recent Court of Appeal judgment which it is hoped will redress the balance after adoption placement orders were halved following confusion over two landmark rulings in 2013. The Re B and Re B-S rulings introduced the concept that adoption orders should only be made when – in the words of one of the judges in the Re B case – “nothing else will do”. In the year following, adoption decisions dropped 40% and placement orders fell 45%. But the Court of Appeal judgment, in July, has now given social workers and local authorities a helpful steer on applying the 2013 rulings when making decisions about permanence for children who cannot live with their birth parents. Hugh Thornbery CBE chief executive of Adoption UK, said: “Adoption can offer the best chance to permanently break a cycle of neglect and abuse and give a child a second chance at fulfilling their potential with the support of a loving family - so we cannot stress enough the importance of clearing up any confusion over the 2013 rulings which has undoubtedly had a negative impact upon adoption decisions and placement orders in recent years. “There are children for whom only adoption will work. Adoptive parents who are able to provide these children with a forever home have a resilience to parent them through thick-and-thin.” Mr Thornbery was interviewed by Community Care about the Court of Appeal judgment. You can read the article by clicking here.
Fair Access Limit introduced for the ASF Adoption UK members stress the importance of the fund Expand 6 October 2016 The Adoption Support Fund is making a huge difference to the lives of children and families. Last year a total of 3,500 families were supported with a budget of £19m. This year the budget was increased to £21m, and a further £2m increase has just been announced, making the total £23m. But demand for support is over twice the level forecast. The Government has just introduced, as an interim measure for the remainder of this financial year, a £5,000 ‘fair access limit’ to ensure that families can continue to access support throughout the financial year. This will be implemented with immediate effect. For applications up to that amount, the application process will operate as it does now. There are a small number of children and families where an exception may be made to the fair access limit. Additional funding will be provided for these children, but only where a local authority agrees to provide match funding. The Government additional contribution will have a maximum limit of £30,000 (including the £5,000 fair access limit). Hugh Thornbery CBE, Chief Executive of Adoption UK, said: "The experiences of our members who have already benefited from the Adoption Support Fund are testament to how vitally important therapeutic support is. One told us recently ‘We don't like to think what life would be like without it right now!’ Another parent said: ‘Coming to therapy has taken a weight off my shoulders and helps to make things easier at home’. "We have now for the first time begun to fully understand the level of unmet need that exists when it comes to therapeutic support for adoptive families. "With demand for support over twice the level forecast, I'm pleased that this year's budget has been increased by £2 million. The important thing now is to ensure that the fund continues to support those families who are most in need. The majority of applications made so far fall within the new £5,000 fair access limit and match funding from local authorities will ensure that there is still help available for those families in urgent need whose support costs more than this. "Discussion must now take place about how this previously undisclosed level of demand will be met in the future."
Adoption UK launches its Schools Campaign The aim of the first phase of our campaigning with schools is to provide all teachers with knowledge, practical strategies, access to training, and a network of support through Adoption UK’s schools’ membership programme. Expand 31 October 2016 Adoption UK launches its Schools Campaign - we have have joined forces with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) in a bid to make every school attachment-aware
Adoption UK 'disappointed' as half of CCGs use funds allocated for troubled young people elsewhere Half of CCGs use funds allocated for troubled young people elsewhere - Adoption UK "hugely disappointed" that funding is not reaching the NHS frontline Expand 21 December 2016 Adoption UK’s former chief executive Hugh Thornbery CBE has said he is “hugely disappointed” at new figures which show funding to improve struggling children’s mental health services is often not reaching the NHS frontline, despite soaring rates of self-harm among young people. Half of England’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are using their share of the £1.4bn ministers allocated to improve NHS care of troubled young people for other purposes, it has emerged. Freedom of information requests by the charity YoungMinds show that only 50% of CCGs, the GP-led bodies which decide how NHS budgets are spent locally, have increased their child and mental health services (CAMHS) budget this year, even though all of them received extra money specifically for that purpose. Mr Thornbery said: “It’s completely unacceptable that half of England’s CCGs are using some, or all, of the funding which was specifically allocated to improve NHS care of troubled young people, for other purposes. “The Coalition Government launched Future in Mind in March 2015, a plan to transform services around the country, after identifying an acute need for more investment and support for vulnerable groups, of which adopted children are one, to improve struggling children’s mental health services. Adoption UK was involved in this report and provided evidence - so to hear that only half of CCGs have increased their child and mental health services (CAMHS) budget this year by the full amount allocated for that purpose, is hugely disappointing. This means CAMHS is not having the pressure on them relieved by the funding, as was intended. “All Looked After Children have suffered the loss of being separated from their birth parents. Many have also experienced neglect and/or abuse in those families. Vulnerable children, including those who are adopted, require specialist support for their mental health needs. More than two thirds of adopted children have experienced abuse and or neglect and remain traumatised as a result of their early experiences. To overcome these challenges many adopted children require expert tailored support. Adult psychiatric wards do not provide the nurturing environment adopted children need to mend and form stable lives. “One in 10 young people have a mental health problem. That’s the equivalent of three in every classroom. This means there are around 720,000 children and young people aged between five and 16 experiencing a mental health problem in England.”
Changes to the ASF's Fair Access Limit The existing Fair Access Limit is to continue into 2017/18 with the addition of a sum offered to children requiring specialist assessment Expand 26 January 2017 The existing Fair Access Limit of £5,000 per child for therapy accessed through the Adoption Support Fund (ASF), will continue into the next financial year (2017/18). And a separate amount of up to £2,500 will be offered to children who require a specialist assessment before therapy can begin. The Fair Access Limit (FAL), which was introduced in October 2016, requires local authorities to share the costs of support above £5,000, through a match-funding approach. This measure was introduced because demand for support is more than double the level forecast. Its continuation was announced in a letter from the Children’s Minister Edward Timpson to Directors of Children’s Services. In his letter, dated 25th January 2017, Mr Timpson writes: "There has been wide acceptance across the sector that continuing to operate the Fund with no limits in place is unsustainable, and a general consensus that the introduction of the fair access limit and the match-funding approach ensures a consistent offer for families. It enables those with the greatest needs to access additional support and encourages smarter commissioning." More than 12,500 families have received therapeutic support since the ASF launched nationwide in May 2015. The budget for 2017-18 is £28m, more than 20% higher than the money set aside during this financial year (£23m). The average spend per child remains under £4,000 and the majority of applications made so far fall within the new £5,000 fair access limit. But there are a small number of cases where the needs of the child and their family are much greater. In his letter, Mr Timpson sets out his proposal to offer a separate amount of up to £2,500 for children who require a for a specialist assessment before therapy can begin. Mr Timpson writes: "We recognise that the cost of a specialist assessment can make a significant dent in the funding available for their therapy. So, for 2017-18, we propose to offer a separate amount of up to £2,500 for a specialist assessment when children need it before therapy can begin. This will be in addition to the existing £5,000 fair access limit per child for therapy." The Minister also confirmed that the future operating model for the ASF will be developed alongside the regionalisation of adoption support agencies, taking an iterative approach to design, delivery and continuous improvement over the next three years as RAAs emerge and mature. The 2020 vision for the ASF is: the delivery of excellent, timely and easily accessible therapeutic support for adoptive and special guardianship families; based on high quality assessment of need including, where necessary, health-led specialist assessments; and in a regionalised, integrated health and social care environment to ensure long term sustainability.
Adopted children to receive extra support in school Government announces that adopted children will receive extra support in school as a result of the Children and Social Work Act - Adoption UK's successful lobbying leads to the inclusion of significant provisions for adopted children Expand 4 April 2017 Adopted children will receive extra support in school following successful petitioning by Adoption UK for a better understanding of the issues facing this vulnerable group in the classroom. Adoption UK lobbied decision makers to include a provision in the Children and Social Work Act 2017, which has just been published after receiving formal approval from the Queen on 27th April. The provision ensures that schools in England must understand the impact of developmental issues, including trauma and loss, on all children’s learning, by expanding the role of the Virtual School Head (VSH) and designated teachers to look after previously looked after children, including those who are now adopted. Virtual Schools were set up in England to provide extra help for looked after children’s education. In 2014, the government issued statutory guidance which required the appointment of a VSH in every local authority and the provision of a Personal Education Plan (PEP) for every child in care - but not for adopted children. The Children and Social Work Act (2017) expands the remit of VSHs to include the promotion of educational achievement of adopted children in England, and requires schools to appoint designated staff members to have responsibility for all children who were formerly in care, expanding the previous duty which related to looked after children only. Peter Seymour, Adoption UK’s chair of trustees, said: “We know looked after children’s problems do not disappear the moment they’re adopted. We’re also aware that adopted children frequently experience significant difficulties in school, which is why Adoption UK has been calling for a better understanding of the issues facing adopted children in schools. We’re obviously delighted that decision makers have listened to our concerns and acted upon them by including this provision in the Act.” But Mr Seymour warned more still needs to be done to improve life in the classroom for adopted children. Our members tell us their adopted children are regularly penalised at school He added: “Adopted children’s early childhood experiences can often lead to behavioural, physical and emotional difficulties which play out in a school environment. Our children rarely respond to the traditional methods of sanction and reward. That is why Adoption UK is working with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), VSHs and other professional teaching bodies, in a bid to make every school attachment-aware.” The aim of the schools’ campaign is to provide all teachers with knowledge, practical strategies, access to training, and a network of support through Adoption UK’s schools’ membership programme. Attachment affects a broad range of children in schools but adopted children’s ability to keep pace with their classmates, academically, is still being compromised, despite the government’s best efforts. Latest research shows adopted children falling behind as early as Key Stage Two – with less than half reaching their expected targets – compared to three-quarters of their classmates. Mr Seymour said: “Unsurprisingly, these difficulties follow our children through school to GSCEs where we know fewer than one-in-four adopted children secure five or more A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and maths. The figure in state-funded schools is 57.1%. “Our members tell us their adopted children are regularly penalised at school because of a lack of understanding about their complex needs so we’re hoping to work with all teaching staff so they’re aware, as well as better equipped, to meet these vulnerable children’s needs.” To find out more about Adoption UK’s Schools’ Campaign click here
Adoption UK responds to the National fostering stocktake Adoption UK responds to the National fostering stocktake: a review of the fostering system in England Expand 15 June 2017 Click the link below to download and read the response: Response document.pdf
Robert Goodwill Q&A Our flagship magazine, Adoption Today, secures an exclusive interview with the Minister for Children & Families, Robert Goodwill MP Expand August 2017 To read the full interview click here
BBC/Adoption UK Survey: A snapshot of modern day adoption Adoption UK and the BBC conduct a joint investigation into modern-day adoption Expand More than a quarter of adopted families are 'in crisis', according to a new survey from the BBC and the charity Adoption UK. Asked how they would characterise their adoption, more than a quarter of parents said there were either serious challenges impacting the wider family, or that their adoption was at risk of disruption, or that it had already disrupted. Almost a half were finding it ‘challenging but stable’, just over a quarter ‘fulfilling and stable’. Dr Sue Armstrong Brown, chief executive of Adoption UK said: “The survey results broadly mirror what we already knew – that many families are experiencing serious challenges. In a utopian world all adoptive parents’ experiences would be ‘fulfilling and stable’ but we’re talking about some of the most vulnerable children in society.” The majority of adoptive parents who responded to a joint survey carried out by the BBC and Adoption UK say they are living with serious and continuing violence from their children. The survey was carried out by BBC Radio Four’s File on Four programme and Adoption UK, the charity that speaks for adopters. The results of the survey and feedback from adoptive parents will provide the content for File on Four's investigation into modern-day adoption. Child to parent violence in adoption is increasingly recognised as being the result of trauma suffered as a result of neglect and abuse experienced by adoptees with their birth families before going into care. Almost two thirds of respondents said their child had displayed aggressive behaviour towards them. Detailed comments made by almost two thousand parents, revealed that much of this was serious and sustained. The majority of all adopters responding to the survey reported incidents of significant violence: from punching, kicking and biting, to threats with knives to sexual assaults and attacks requiring hospital treatment. Incidents included: “Frequently violent due to inherent high anxiety. He is now bigger than me and with huge regret we have to call the police. If he were my husband, I would get a divorce but you can’t divorce your child. I cannot give up on him because we are the only stable thing in his life. We live with child on parent domestic violence.” The vast majority of the 5,000 plus children adopted in the UK every year are adopted from care. Dr Sue Armstrong Brown said: “We’re talking about trauma-fuelled violence from children who will have witnessed the unthinkable in their early lives. Adoption is not a silver-bullet – these children’s problems don’t just disappear overnight. “Children who have suffered the trauma of abuse or neglect have experienced the world being an unsafe and dangerous place. The child's violent behaviour reveals extreme distress and a need to feel safe and protected. These children need a particular parenting techniques and access to therapy to overcome early childhood trauma, and they may reject any attempts at parental affection or management of their behaviour. Adopters were also asked about the information they were given pre-adoption. Around a third believed they did not receive ’full and correct’ information about their children during the adoption process. When asked whether they were glad they adopted, the overwhelming majority of respondents to the survey said yes. Dr Armstrong Brown added: “Despite the challenges, adopters are resilient and devoted to their children, and these results reinforce that adoption can work for the majority, with the right support. Nine out of ten of the respondents said they were glad that they had adopted” File on 4 Adoption: Families in Crisis, is broadcast at 8pm on Tuesday 26th September 2017, Radio Four You can view a full breakdown of the results here
Adoption UK’S Schools & Exclusions Report Adoption UK produces a report into adopted children and exclusions rates Expand 11 November 2017 Adoption produces a report into adopted children and exclusions rates in school following a survey of adopters. Download the full report below: Adoption UK’S Schools & Exclusions Report.pdf