Abstract
The need for adoption support services has become identified over many years. It is a duty and responsibility of adoption agencies to provide such services as set out in law. The first step is to undertake an assessment of the family’s needs, the second to prepare a professionally informed assessment document and the third to identify support interventions that can address the needs as identified. Finally, a plan needs to be activated to provide those services, including evaluating their impact and outcomes on the family and their needs and concerns.
The sector has become aware of the challenge of undertaking evidence-based assessments and the multi-dimensional nature of these assessments: the child’s development – physical, health, psychological, cognitive and behavioural. There may be a key identified issue as well as a range of issues that may interact with each other and show themselves in the family, in the community and at school. The skills, competence and expertise of a range of professionals – health, psychological, social work and education – will be central to describing these issues. The extent to which a multi-agency and multi-professional approach is very variable, if available at all.
The Department for Education (DfE) is funding a two-year programme (2023–2025) of seven projects across England to develop innovative multidisciplinary and multiagency services to adopted children, young people and families. The funding enables the exploration, creation, and development of assessment and support services, which are delivered, and sustainably funded, in partnerships between the adoption agencies, health and education sector and the local authorities.
The detail of this programme can be found at https://adoptionengland.co.uk/professionals/centres-excellence.
This is a substantial opportunity to bring organisations together including a fundamental multiprofessional perspective to explore the impact and outcomes of the adoption support services offered through each project. As each project develops, the website will be a core source for identifying progress. In addition, where appropriate, some of the developments will be noted in future health notes.