Adopt North East, the region’s largest adoption agency, has been awarded a prestigious ‘Quality Mark for Excellence’ for its adoption services.
The national award is recognition of the agencies skills, knowledge and experience in early permanence adoption.
A lesser-known form of adoption, early permanence means a young child is cared for by adopters while the plan for the child is still being decided. It means where adoption is decided, the child is already settled into a forever home.
Encouraging and growing bonds quickly and being a part of each other’s life experience as early as possible is a key part of the process.
Jayne* adopted her child through Early Permanence with Adopt North East and speaks openly about her experience: “We adopted through Early Permanence and it’s the best decision we could have made.
“We were keen to adopt a younger child as we wanted to be there for all of their life experiences like their first steps and weaning. The advantage is the attachment I have to little one, but also that little one has to us because she knows no different. They’ve never had to move home; they came home from hospital to us and that’s massive for them.
We had a social worker from Adopt North East who in the early days was there weekly. She was literally there for us and it was nice that her focus was on us rather than the little one, she was there to make sure we were okay and then as time went on the contact reduced but she was still there and even today I can still get in touch with her.”
On accepting the award, Nik Flavell, Head of Adopt North East said: “Adoption is changing and modernising. As we understand more from research and what children tell us about what they need, services must respond and do things differently.
“This award recognises a two-year journey by Adopt North East to embed Early Permanence in all that we do. It means vulnerable children in the region move less often, giving them stability at an important stage in their development.
“We are proud of the award and want it to reflect the many Early Permanence Carers who have welcomed children into their homes and their lives with some uncertainty. They have done so because they want the very best for the child. It is a tribute to them all”
Adopt North East is inviting anyone considering adoption to consider Early Permanence.
Adopt North East needs more Early Permanence Carers today. To find out more, please visit www.adoptne.org.uk for more information.