Plans to create a regional adoption agency, Adopt North East, hosted by North Tyneside Council, took a step forward last night (June 25).
At a meeting of North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet, members heard about plans to launch a brand new agency to help children across the region find their forever homes.
Adopt North East would provide services to recruit and assess prospective adopters, matching and placement, post-placement and adoption support, as well as step-parent and inter-country adoption.
Under current proposals, the agency would be led and hosted by North Tyneside Council and it would bring together neighbouring authorities’ adoption teams and also involve adoption charities.
At the meeting, cabinet members also gave the green light for a public consultation on the proposal for a joint agency.
Speaking about the plans, Cllr Peter Earley, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “We are extremely proud of the services we provide for children and young people and our excellent inspections, carried out by both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission recently, demonstrate that we are well placed to host and lead this agency.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with the other local authorities and charities on this important initiative and enhancing provision for our young people.
“We hope the new agency will simplify the adoption process. It will provide access to a bigger pool of potential adoptive parents and help us find forever homes for children in the region.
“The consultation starts next month and we would really welcome people’s views on the proposals.”
Beginning on July 3, the consultation will last for eight weeks. To take part, click here: Have your say.
The outcome of the consultation will be presented to Cabinet in September.
The council is always seeking adoptive parents for babies and children of all ages. More information can be found on the council’s website or by calling (0191) 643 8237
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Recent inspections at North Tyneside Council have included:
An Ofsted inspection of children’s safeguarding services during which the authority was given a judgement of ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ features. More information is available in the following press release: More praise for children’s services in North Tyneside.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of children’s health services – the council was highly praised. More information here: Council hailed for vital children’s services.
In 2017, the authority received a ‘good’ rating with ‘outstanding’ features for it for its children’s services department. More information is available here: ‘Good’ rating for North Tyneside’s children’s services.
