Freeing for Adoption in Northern Ireland: A Policy Analysis

Abstract

The freeing order is a United Kingdom procedure that enables the court to vest parental rights in an adoption agency. This permits the placement of the child for adoption, with legal security, in advance of the adoption order.

Objective

To review the operation of the freeing order procedure in Northern Ireland.

Method

A study of social workers’ reports in the first 50 freeing cases of one Health and Social Services Board.

Results

The procedure is used infrequently. The process is fraught with delays resulting in very young children waiting long periods in temporary foster homes before moving to their adoptive placements. The children's mothers were from troubled backgrounds; more than a third had other children in public care or adopted. Neglect was the most common form of parenting failure.

Conclusions

The current legislation and procedures do not facilitate the movement of children from long-term public care to adoption.

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