Agenda item

The Chair introduced Mark Owers, Professional Advisor to the Adoption Leadership Board (ALB.)

Mark Owers gave a presentation on the work the ALB has undertaken in working with central government, local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies in establishing Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs.) During his presentation he raised the following points:

·         To date 19 RAAs were in place involving 132 local authorities.

·         Of the 20 Local Authorities that had not agreed an RAA to be a part of, 13 were already engaged with the Department for Education to either join an existing RAA or establish a new one.

·         That there would be a phased roll out with some going live in 2017.

·         He brought the Board’s attention to 5 RAAs being established that he was working closely with as Demonstration Projects. This is helping ascertain the features of an effective RAA.

·         That going forward the aim should not be to create a bigger service but a better service.

·         There could be significant gains around cost performance, but the picture of possible savings was currently unclear.

·         That all projects now consider RAA Funding Principles and RAA Funding Options.

·         In regards to costs there would be some areas that benefit and some that do not.

In the discussion that followed, Members raised the following points:

·         The progress in establishing the Adopt Thames Valley RAA was given as a very positive example. There had already been joint working between the Unitary Authorities involved. A Member stated that engagement with the local authorities involved had also been very good. Mark Owers expressed to the Board that he was grateful for the feedback and to hear very positive progression in establishing RAAs in some areas.

·         A view was expressed by Members that there will be risks to the quality of the service should RAAs have to grow even larger.

·         A Member explained there had been a very positive outcome for a family of 6 who had been adopted in Nottingham. The complexity of this case meant it took considerably longer than the recommended timescales, which could cause the LA difficulties with regard to government scorecards. This must be acknowledged in further conversations with the Department for Education, to ensure that RAAs are not discouraged from seeking the best possible outcomes for all children due to the partial picture presented in timescales-based scorecards

·         In regards to the ALB data available to local authorities Mark Owers reassured Members that the ALB data returns were published quarterly and that they were looking on improving the way in which this information was shared

·         A concern was raised that delays in a child being adopted were often due to family courts as opposed to local authorities. The Chair shared Members’ concerns and stated that this would need to be looked at in more depth.

·         In regards to accountability it was confirmed by a Member that in his local authority information from their RAA feeds back into Scrutiny Committees. The Chair expressed a view that it will be important to have clarity on the legal and accountability structures around RAAs.

·         The Chair expressed a view that the notion RAAs are a permanent revolution is unhelpful and that the results will need to be seen before determining how to go forward. The main test will be whether regionalising the adoption system does make it easier to permanently house difficult cases.

Decision

The Board noted the current activity taking place to regionalise the adoption system.

Action

Mark Owers to report back the LGA’s views to the Adoption Leadership Board.