Agenda item

Daisy May-James (permanence lead service manager) and Audrey Bouazizi (head of service Adopt London South) updated the committee on Southwark’s Adoption Performance 2024-25.

·  Noted that the number of adoptions has dropped but the positive trend that foster carers are going onto adopt. Sufficiency challenges in adoption

·  Looking at early support offer and starting to do work embedded by experience and being proactive

·  Much greater insight into children experience against a changing landscape

·  Homes found for children very good, reinforced with an early support offer and proactive steps 

·  Run an adoption group that any child can attend and provides a safe space to discuss issues / experiences

·  Black adoption project and work to provide good permanence arrangements

·  Strong governance and regular meetings with service managers.

Discussion

·  Infrastructure and blurred line between foster and adoption care support. It was confirmed that efforts were in place to further improve better targeted early support. Huge wealth of support, including fostering hubs.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the progress of the children with a care plan of adoption in Southwark during the period of 1 April 2024 till 31 March 2025 be noted.

2.  That the activity of the local authority working in partnership with Adopt London South (ALS) during 2024-25 be noted.

3.  That the Adopt London South Annual Report for 2024 – 2025 be noted.