Government figures show that in March 2012 there were 4,600 children waiting to be adopted. Ministers say that 600 more adopters are needed each year to keep up with the growing number of children waiting to be adopted, and a further 3,000 adopters to tackle the backlog.
The grant will be split into two: £100m of the £150m will not be ring-fenced and will be available to local authorities to support adoption reform. It will enable local authorities to target funding at the entire adoption process and the specialist support children need. They will retain the discretion to use this funding to address their highest priority needs, such as the major backlog of children waiting for adoption.
The remaining £50m will be ring-fenced to support local authorities to address structural problems with adopter recruitment, particularly the uneconomic fee that local authorities are charged for adopters approved by other authorities which is lower than that charged by voluntary adoption agencies.
It will also help in the search for adopters willing and able to take children who are more difficult to place, and so tend to wait longer for new homes.
The Government has also awarded £1m to the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies to enable voluntary adoption agencies to recruit more adopters.
Children and families minister Edward Timpson said, ‘There are over 4,000 children waiting to be adopted nationally, but year on year local authorities are not recruiting enough people to give them stable and loving homes. We cannot stand by whilst children’s’ futures hang in the balance.
‘Some local authorities are already doing a good job to recruit the adopters they need in their area - but not enough is being done to address the national shortage.
‘Today we have set out our vision of how we expect local authorities together with voluntary adoption agencies to respond to the needs of all children waiting for adoption. Local authorities must now demonstrate that they are up to the challenge, or we won’t hesitate to intervene.’
But Graham Allen MP, chair of the Early Intervention Foundation, said, ‘While help for adoption is always welcome the truth is that the money just announced comes from the cut in the Early Intervention Grant.
‘This is Whitehall taking money from local councils and saying "we know best, follow our priorities".
‘Councils will have to reduce spending on early intervention programmes that they judge are right in their circumstances-these include, Sure Starts, help for babies, short breaks for disabled children and support for families with multiple needs.
'This funds a headline but at the cost of a sustainable policy for all babies, children and young people.’
