Issue - meetings

Report CS14089

In January 2013 the Department for Education announced grant funding for local authorities to support the reform of adoption services. This included some funding ring-fenced to recruitment and a larger non-ring fenced grant to support whole system reform. The report recommended that the Executive agree the draw-down of the non-ring fenced grant for 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Officers confirmed that although there had been some difficulties in recruitment in 2013/14, all posts were now filled, with experienced staff moved into temporary posts and backfilling elsewhere.

The Committee noted the higher costs involved with in-house foster placements compared to adoptive placements and special guardianship. The Chairman remarked on cases where the courts had sent a child back to its family only for them to come quickly back into care – this was clearly not good for the child and made adoption less likely. 

RESOLVED that the recommendation to the Executive for the draw-down of the non-ring fenced adoption reform grant totalling £618,100 for 2014/15 and 2015/16 is supported.