8.4 Adoption Support

This document is only valid 72 hours after printing. For the latest version please visit

8.4 Adoption Support

RELEVANT GUIDANCE

Adoption Support Fund (DfE)

Adoption Statutory Guidance 2013

AMENDMENT

This chapter was refreshed in May 2023.

Derby City Council uses a Strengths Based Approach for all work with children and families.

What is Adoption Support?
Duty to Provide Information Concerning Adoption Support
Examples of Adoption Support
When to Assess the Need for Adoption Support
Which Local Authority Should Carry out the Assessment?
Which Local Authority Should Provide the Support?
Process of Assessment for Adoption Support
The Adoption Support Plan
Financial Support

1. What is Adoption Support?

Ongoing appropriate adoption support ensures that adopters continue to understand the potential impact of abuse and neglect on their adopted child's behaviour as they grow older and equips them to provide stable and secure attachments.

Adoption Support includes any support likely to be required for an adoptive placement to endure through to adulthood and is applicable to both existing and new situations.

Adoption agencies must make arrangements for the provision of a range of adoption support services.

They do not have to provide the services themselves but must have made arrangements for services to be provided by voluntary or other agencies such as Health or Education.

2. Duty to Provide Information Concerning Adoption Support

Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (as amended by the Children and Families Act 2014), local authorities have a duty to provide statutory information on adoption support services. Derby City Council work alongside Adoption East Midlands to provide this support, and Adoption East Midlands will therefore provide information, guidance and signposting to anyone contacting the authority to request information about adopting child.

Information will be provided about:

The full range of adoption support services available by Adoption East Midlands. This includes, but is not limited to, therapeutic services, assistance in relation to contact arrangements, and financial support;
The right to request an assessment for adoption support services (at any time);
The address and telephone number of the authority's Adoption Support Services Adviser:
- The availability of assessments for adoption support services for persons outside the local authority area, so that parents understand which local authority is responsible for assessing their support needs.

Additional information and support will also be provided by the local authority, in accordance with need:

Contact details for first4adoption and the local the web-based information service which provides information about adoption;
Priority school admissions (where relevant). Details can be found in School Admissions Code (GOV.UK);
Priority council housing and Discretionary Housing Payments;
The entitlement to early education from the age of 2 years (since September 2014);
How to make a complaint, both under the local authority complaints procedure and to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman;
Any other relevant services provided by the local authority.

Adoption East Midlands will also provide the following, to potential and prospective adopters:

Details of where to find information about adoption pay and leave. Details can be found at GOV.UK;
Information about the right to receive a copy of the child's permanence report, including a summary of the medical adviser's report on the health of the child, before the child is placed with them for adoption;
The entitlement to a life story book. This should include who provides the life story book, what it includes and what it can be used for.

When a person requests information about a specific service, the local authority must ask whether they would like any of the other information as well.

Information does not need to be provided where:

The local authority has provided all the necessary information in the last 12 months and none of the information has changed substantively;
A person has informed the local authority that they do not wish to receive the information (unless the authority considers it appropriate to do so);
Where the information has already been sent, e.g. where the same person requests the information a number of times in a short period.

If the local authority refuses a person's request for information, it should give reasons for the refusal and signpost the person to the website that holds the information.

3. Examples of Adoption Support

Adoption support provided by the Local Authority includes:

Financial support to adopters. This can include paid adoption leave at similar rates to maternity and paternity leave agreed at the time of the matching panel as part of the Adoption Support plan;
Priority access to social housing, and access to additional support to cover a spare room whilst adopters wait for their child to arrive in their new home;
Priority admission for school places, including academies and free schools;
The role of the Designated Teacher in offering support to Previously Looked After Children and to their new school; see Supporting the Education and Promoting the Achievement of Children with a Social Worker, Looked After and Previously Looked After Children Procedure.

Adoption support provided by Adoption East Midlands includes:

Services to enable groups of adopted children, adoptive parents and birth parents to discuss matters relating to adoption;
Assistance, including mediation, with contact arrangements between adopted children and their birth parents or others with whom they share a significant relationship;
Therapeutic services for adoptive children;
Assistance to adoptive parents and children to support the adoptive placement and enable it to continue;
Assistance to adoptive parents and children where a placement disrupts or is at risk of disruption, working alongside the LA where the placement disrupts;
A range of adoption support services, including, birth parent support services and information and advice for both adoptive parents and their children, who may have complex needs;
Assistance with cross boundary matters;
Intermediary Services - see Intermediary Services Procedure.

4. When to Assess the Need for Adoption Support

4.1

In relation to adoptions arranged by the agency, practitioners must assess the need for adoption support at the following stages of care and permanence planning:

When preparing the Child's Permanence Report for presentation to the Adoption Panel as to whether the child should be placed for adoption;
When preparing the Prospective Adopter's Report for presentation to the Adoption Panel as to the suitability of prospective adoptive parents to adopt;
When considering and preparing the Adoption Placement Report for presentation to the Adoption Panel in relation to the proposed placement of a child with particular prospective adopters.

4.2

In relation to placements arranged by the agency, adoption support must also always be considered at a child's Adoption Reviews following the adoptive placement.

See Adoption Reviews Procedure.

4.3

Local authorities must also undertake assessments of need for adoption support at the request of the following, and this is facilitated by Adoption East Midlands:

Children who may be adopted, their parents or guardians;
Persons wishing to adopt a child;
Adopted persons, their parents, birth parents and former guardians (note that the LA would coordinate this process);
Other children of adoptive parents (whether or not they are adopted);
Birth siblings of adopted children;
Relatives of the adopted child or other persons with whom the child has a beneficial relationship.

The requirement to assess the need for support is limited to the entitlement to services of the person making the request.

The Local Authority also has responsibility for coordinating and facilitating Inter County adoptions and step parent adoptions; children adopted from abroad are entitled to be assessed for therapeutic services and disruption support. It is only where the adoption is a "partner" adoption. That is where the child adopted or to be adopted is the birth child of the partner of the adoptive parent. There is no requirement to carry out an assessment, although in such cases, counselling, advice and information may be offered as appropriate.

5. Which Local Authority Should Carry out the Assessment?

The table below sets out which local authority has responsibility for carrying out the assessment of need for adoption support, and in what circumstances.

Circumstance	Responsibility for Assessment
Child being Looked After and in respect of whom an adoption plan is being considered.	The local authority looking after the child.
Child placed with or adopted by family living in the area of the local authority arranging the adoption.	The local authority for the area where the child and adopters live.
Child placed with and/or adopted by family living outside the local authority area.	The placing local authority has responsibility at the time of the placement and for up to 3 years after the Adoption Order is made, and then the local authority where the adopters live will have the responsibility.
In all other cases (i.e. non agency placements except partner adoptions).	The local authority where the requester lives must assess.

6. Which Local Authority Should Provide Support?

The local authority responsible for carrying out the assessment of need should provide support to meet the identified needs. In Derby City, this role is fulfilled by Adoption East Midlands.

The exception to this is where on-going financial support and/or supporting contact arrangements have been agreed by the placing authority before the Adoption Order was made, in which case the responsibility to provide such support will remain with that authority for as long as eligibility for the service continues.

7. Process of Assessment for Adoption Support

In all cases where an assessment is required; Adoption East Midlands will facilitate this for Derby City Council. Adoption East Midlands will follow their established procedures to ensure clarity and consistency for practitioners and prospective adopters.

8. The Adoption Support Plan

8.1 Contents of Adoption Support Plan

An Adoption Support Plan should set out clearly:

The objectives of the plan and the key services to be provided;
The timescales for achieving the plan;
Those responsible for implementing the plan and the respective roles of others; what should be provided, when and by whom;
The criteria that will be used to evaluate the success of the plan;
The procedures that will be put in place to review the services to be provided and the plan.

The Adoption Support Plan will need to be completed after consultation with the appropriate Health Trust, CAMHS or education service where any special arrangements may need to be made. Where the child is placed in the area of another local authority, the agencies in that authority's area will need to be consulted as to what services may be available for the adopters and the adopted children. In these circumstances, the prospective adopters should be assisted with any cross-boundary issues that may arise.

The Adoption Support Plan should include any proposed financial support, how the amount has been calculated, where it is to be paid in instalments - the frequency of payment, the period over which it will be paid and when the first payment is to be made, the conditions and the consequences of failing to meet them and the arrangements for review, variation and termination, (see Section 8, Financial Support).

8.2 Consultation with proposed recipients of adoption support

Once a proposed Adoption Support Plan has the approval of the Designated Manager (Permanence Team), a copy should be sent to the proposed recipients of the support, as well as to any party involved in the delivery of the plan.

The recipients of the proposed support should be given 10 working days to consider the proposals and make representations to the local authority about the proposed plan. Any representations made should be considered by the Designated Manager (Permanence Team), who will amend the draft plan as appropriate and inform the recipients of the outcome of their consideration.

8.3 Approval of Adoption Support Plan

In relation to proposed agency adoptive placements, the proposed Adoption Support Plan will be submitted to the Adoption Panel of Adoption East Midlands when the proposed placement of a child with particular prospective adopters is recommended. The final Adoption Support Plan will be approved, taking into account any advice given by the Adoption Panel and Agency Decision Maker for Derby City. See Placement for Adoption Procedure.

In relation to other situations in which adoption support is proposed, the Adoption Support Plan will be approved by the Designated Manager (Permanence Team).

8.4 Distribution of Adoption Support Plan

A copy of the final plan should go to all those involved in implementing it, and to the recipients of services (or appropriate adult). Where the child has an Independent Reviewing Officer, a copy should be sent to them.

8.5 Reviews of Adoption Support Plan

Where adoption support is in place prior to an Adoption Order, the Adoption Support Plan should be reviewed at the reviews of the adoptive placement - see Adoption Reviews Procedure - or at any time if there is a significant change of circumstances, within 4 weeks of the notification of the change.

After the Adoption Order has been made, the Adoption Support Plan will be reviewed if a change in circumstances is brought to the notice of Adoption East Midlands by the local authority, or by the family making direct contact with AEM. Where a family makes contact post order AEM would provide information, guidance and consultation. Where appropriate and requested an Assessment of Adoption Support needs will be carried out to identify an appropriate support plan for the child and family(For annual reviews of financial support, see Section 9.7, Annual Review of Support).

Where the change of circumstances is substantial, such as a serious change in the behaviour of the child, it may be appropriate to conduct a new assessment of needs involving other parties.

If as a result of a review, whether before or after an Adoption Order has been made, it is proposed to vary or terminate the support, the proposed change must be referred to the Designated Manager (Adoption East Midlands Adoption Support) for consideration. Note that Adoption East Midlands will only consider this post-order.

Once approved, the person concerned must be notified of the proposed change, together with a copy of the revised Adoption Support Plan in draft. They must then be given 10 working days to make representations on the proposals.

Any such representations should be submitted to the Designated Manager (Adoption East Midlands Adoption Support) whose decision as to the final contents of the revised Adoption Support Plan should take into account any representations made.

Notice of the decision must then be sent to the person concerned with reasons and, where appropriate, a copy of the revised plan.

8.6 Urgent Cases

Where there is an urgent need for support, the support can be provided before a Plan is drawn up but the above procedure should then be followed as soon as possible.

9. Financial Support

9.1 Introduction

Financial support is intended to supplement existing means of support available to adoptive parents and the child or children being adopted. Adopters must be given advice of entitlements to employee's rights to leave and pay, benefits, tax credits and allowances, and these should be taken into account when considering amounts of financial support.

9.2 Criteria

The circumstances in which provision of financial support may be paid are as follows:

Where it is necessary to ensure that adoptive parents can look after a child;
Where the adoptive placement is at risk of breaking down and carer is required to take additional leave off work to care for the child and maintain the placement (not to cover lost salary but as a contribution);
Where the child needs special care which requires a greater expenditure of resources by reason of illness, disability, emotional or behavioural difficulties or the continuing consequences of neglect - and the child's condition is serious and long-term;
Where it is necessary for the local authority to make any special arrangements to facilitate the placement or the adoption by reason of the age or ethnic origin of the child or the desirability of the child being placed with siblings or a child with whom they have previously shared a home;
Where such support is to meet the recurring costs of travel for visits for the child to members of the birth family/significant others;
Where the local authority considers it appropriate to contribute towards expenditure on legal costs, including Court fees (in cases where the adoption is supported by the local authority), or expenses associated with the child's introduction to adoptive parents or expenditure on accommodating the child (e.g. adaptations to the home, furniture, clothing or transport).

9.3 Types of Payment

Payment to adoptive parents may be made in the following ways:

Regular payments - which will be based upon the developmental age of the child and calculated at the Derby City Fostering rate, and reviewed as agreed from time to time by the local authority;
Lump sum payments (settling in costs, special needs and adaptations), which will cover items or adaptations that are required as a consequence of assessment of each child's individual needs. Payment may be in instalments and will end at a time specified by the local authority;
Payments in special circumstances (for example, a child with additional needs or where foster carers adopt a child for whom they are already caring or where adopters incur legal expenses in contested cases). Payment may be in instalments and may end at a time specified by the local authority.

Financial support cannot generally include the "reward" element which may be payable to foster carers and neither will payments be made so as to provide an income. However, payments may be paid above the usual level where it is regarded as necessary to ease the transition from foster care to adoption. Generally such additional payments can be paid for a period of 2 years although in exceptional circumstances, additional payments may be paid for a longer period or in exceptional circumstances until adulthood.

9.4 Assessment for Financial Support

Where regular financial support is considered appropriate, the amount to be paid to adoptive parents may be determined by an assessment of their means. This will take account of the adopters' income and resources (excluding their home), reasonable outgoings and commitments, and the financial needs and resources of the child. (N.B. Support provided under Section 9.2 (v) to assist with legal costs or expenses associated with the child's introduction to the placement will not be subject to an assessment of means). Normally, the amount agreed will not exceed the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) rate for Foster carers.

As part of this assessment, the adopters should be asked to complete a Financial Assessment Form and the completed form should be forwarded to the Finance Department. The Permanence Team Manager will decide the level of support to be included in the draft Adoption Support Plan (see Section 8, The Adoption Support Plan), having regard to this assessment, and obtain budgetary approval as necessary depending on the amount. For Inter-agency placements, the financial package agreed will be clearly identified, with timescales, in the Interagency financial agreement. This will be authorised by the Head of Service.

9.5 Notification

The adopters will be sent written confirmation of the decision to provide financial support. This will include the amount and terms of the support and information about annual reviews.

9.6 Terms and Conditions

If it is decided that financial support should be given to adoptive parents, payment may be subject to conditions and a date specified by which the condition is to be met.

Prior to making financial support available to prospective or adoptive parents, they will be required to inform the Permanence Team:

Of changes to their home address;
If the child (for any reason) no longer lives with them;
If there are any changes to their financial situation/the resources of the child.

Where information is given orally, adoptive parents must confirm this in writing within 7 days.

Should adoptive parents fail to comply with the requirements, the authority may suspend payment of the financial support provided.

9.7 Annual Review of Support

Adoptive parents must also agree to complete and supply the authority with an annual statement of their circumstances for the annual review.

The adopters should specify the following in the statement:

Their financial circumstances;
The financial needs and resources of the child or children;
Their home address and whether or not the child or children live at home with them;
If there have been any changes to their own or the child/children's circumstances.

The Local Authority will carry out an annual review of the financial support, taking into account the information given. Any proposed variation or termination of the financial support must be notified to the person(s) concerned and dealt with by the Adoption Agency in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 8, The Adoption Support Plan. Any decision to vary or terminate should also consider whether it is appropriate to seek to recover all or any of the financial support already paid.

Should adoptive parents fail to supply an annual statement, the authority must send a written reminder and give 28 days to comply. If they fail to comply, the authority may suspend payment of the financial support provided.

9.8 Remuneration for former foster parents

Where the adopter previously fostered the child they are adopting, and they received remuneration in the financial support paid to them as the child's foster parent, the local authority may continue to pay remuneration for a transitional period of 2 years from the date of the adoption order. This can continue for longer than 2 years if the local authority considers the case to be exceptional. If payments are agreed to former Independent Fostering Agency carers, the rate following the two year transitional period, will reduce to the Derby City basic fostering allowance rate. The decision to include remuneration must have been taken before the making of the adoption order.

9.9 Ending of financial support

Financial support will end in the following circumstances:

When a child reaches age 18, unless they continue in full time education or training when support may continue until the end of the course of education or training being undertaken, up to the age of 21 years;
Where a child ceases full-time education or training and commences employment;
Where a child qualifies for income support or job seekers allowance in their own right;
Where circumstances have changed significantly and the criteria are no longer met;
If a child leaves the adoptive home and this is regarded as a permanent departure. Temporary absences do not apply, e.g. boarding school, hospital, and respite care;
The child dies.