Adoption agency in the south-east you would recommend?

[sassymay]

Does anyone have an adoption agency (VA or LA) they would recommend to prospective adopters that covers the south-east?
Or are there any agencies they would avoid?
Many thanks

[Devora]

Can you narrow that down just a little, sassymay? London or out of London?

[MooseyMouse]

I've heard great things about PACT again and again. What's more, if your child ever needed e.g. therapy, PACT will ask the local authority to pay but if they refuse, PACT will pay. Life long cover apparently.

I didn't adopt through them and I don't have any links. Just reporting what I've heard. They cover all of the South of England.

[Devora]

If you're in London, I can strongly recommend Ealing. Also heard good things about Richmond, Kensington & Chelsea, Greenwich.

[PheasantPlucker]

Agree with Devora

[64x32x24]

We had a good impression from PACT too but ended up going with a LA.

Ealing, when we contacted them, said they weren't currently assessing new adopters due to lack of staff. But that may have changed now.

You can look at the agencies' OFSTED reports. You can also check out the 'adoption maps' (google it) to find out which LAs have the most children waiting, or the most children waiting per approved adopter, etc.
Or you can google the 'adoption scorecards' to find out how long it takes on average in this LA from approval to placement, or how long on average children remain in care, etc.

[unusednickname]

I'm in a Namechange to protect the innocent but another vote for Ealing here. I think Devora might have recommended them to us :)

[Devora]

It's about time Ealing started paying me commission . But interesting they're not recruiting right now. I think that underlines how there's two main things you need to look for in an agency: one is whether they are reasonably efficient; the other is whether they are currently in the market for someone like YOU. I got turned down by Richmond because they were only looking for white adopters; Ealing wanted us because we WEREN'T white adopters: NCH Black Families Project were awful to us, but other adopters have found them fantastic. You really do need to kiss a lot of frogs before you find the right frog for you.

[sassymay]

Thanks ever so for all answers. We are in Brighton turned down by LA. Looking at PACT Parents and Children Together -- and also Action for Children (ACT) among others. Glad to hear good things about PACT. Willing to kiss as many frogs as it takes

[Fredmitten]

We're nearing the end of stage one with West Sussex, and I would say they've been pretty good. I don't know whether it is West Sussex or Brighton and Hove who have said no, but we haven't heard good things about B&H.

[HappySunflower]

Sorry to hear that you were turned down.
Were you given clear rationale as to why?
Were the reasons things that you think won't be evident with other local authorities/agencies.
Action for Children have a good reputation- I've heard from a few people that most of the voluntary agencies tend to have older/ typically harder to place children.