Adopt South London brings different services into single agency

This comes after shortcomings “nationally and regionally” in adoption services, according to a council report.

“Although adoption services in Lewisham are and have been effective,

there have been shortcomings nationally and regionally, often as a result of

inefficiencies that come from small scale of the operation for many councils,” the report explains.

“The Department for Education has therefore taken action nationally to address this through a shift to regional solutions. All local authorities in England have therefore been instructed by the Department for Education to enter into renationalised adoption arrangements by 2020.”

Joining into a single agency will stop boroughs competing with each other to recruit adopters, and act as a single point of entry into the adoption service for the whole of south London the documents outline.

“In terms of recruiting adoptive parents some of the agencies are currently competing with each other. There is a duplication of effort and associated costs with the risk that people wanting to be considered as adoptive parents are confused about where and how to proceed with their enquiry.

“Adopt London South will have a single point of contact for prospective adopters, reducing the current fragmentation of services.

“Similarly, a single point of entry to the adoption service locally will improve access to adoption support services for adoptive families, and also for adopted adults and birth family members, who have a statutory entitlement to receive a service,” the documents continue.

The move will also “allow the 10 authorities to provide a more cohesive, efficient and effective use of resources and development of practice to the benefit of children, adopters and others who gain from adoption services,” according to the report.

An average of 11 children are adopted from each borough every year.

Southwark Council will host Adopt South London.