London adoption

[Cornonthecob]

Out of interest really, my friend went to an open evening for adoption at her local LA with another 20 or so couples, they submitted their "registration of nterest" form but have been told that there are nearly more adoptive parents available than children and they may not get through? Is this really the case? Is adopting in london getting harder due to available children? Thanks

Nationally that is the current situation, as less placement orders are being granted (the legal order that allows SS to place the child for adoption) at the moment. If you then add that to the fact the government sped up the process for adopters getting approved a couple of years ago, there are now more adopters than children waiting, though there may be the odd place in the country where there is an exception. However, if your friend is looking to adopt siblings, a school aged child or a child who has extra needs that will be less of a problem. Some LA's are now recruiting less adopters because of the situation and those that are training adopters to place children waiting are advising of a possible longer wait. Don't let that dishearten your friend though!! The situation may change and the beauty of being in London is there are many LA's near to each other and you can apply to any LA not just your own. Each LA will have a different number of children waiting. There are also voluntary agencies too such as Barnardos

Our la will currently only accept applications if you are looking to adopt siblings older children or children with a disability because of this

Thanks! Very interesting, have to say I am surprised I haven't heard of this in the media.

I think it sells more papers to say the government are failing children in care because they haven't recruited or trained enough adopters as opposed to the other way round ;) Having said that, the reasons why there are less placement orders being granted has been touched upon in the press but not prominently.

It varies by borough, or at least it did. When we adopted (it seems like another era, but was about a decade ago) there were quite a few couples from other London boroughs and Essex on the training course. One of the couples had come all the way from either Kingston or Richmond (can't remember exactly) to our borough (Tower Hamlets) because they had virtually no chance of being matched with a child in their own borough.

werejamming posted this a few weeks ago...Some press!

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/adoption-rates-in-freefall-after-court-ruling-leaves-children-languishing-in-unsuitable-homes-10245614.html