Family Law

Children's Minister Edward Timpson has written to parents who have adopted a child from care about government improvements to the adoption system.

In the letter, Edward Timpson thanks adopters for their commitment and energy and sets out the reforms that the Government has made to remove delay and frustration from the process for both children and adopters:

• Introduction of a quicker approvals process so that adopters can now be approved in just 6 months, and so that people who have already adopted a child can be 'fast tracked' for another adoption in the future;
• Creation of a one-stop shop for information and advice for potential and existing adopters: www.first4adoption.org.uk;
• Support of adoption activity days to allow approved adopters a greater involvement in identifying children they might adopt;
• Investment of £17 million in the voluntary sector to increase the capacity of voluntary adoption agencies to recruit adopters; and
• Investment of a further £200 million to reform and improve local authority services.

As a result of these reforms, as well as the huge efforts of local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies, the number of adoptions rose to over 5,000 in 2013-14, representing a 63% increase in the past 3 years.

The letter also explains the new Adoption Support Fund, extra educational support for children adopted from care and the extra healthcare provision that is being made available.

Click here to read the letter in full.