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| Government announces adoption system overhaul | Government announces adoption system overhaul |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter | By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter |
| The adoption system in England will be overhauled to make it swifter and more robust, the government has announced. | The adoption system in England will be overhauled to make it swifter and more robust, the government has announced. |
| Ministers want to give would-be adoptive parents more encouragement to come forward to help increase the number and speed of adoptions. | Ministers want to give would-be adoptive parents more encouragement to come forward to help increase the number and speed of adoptions. |
| The plan would also let people approved as adopters see the register of children waiting to be adopted. | The plan would also let people approved as adopters see the register of children waiting to be adopted. |
| The British Association for Adoption and Fostering said it "warmly welcomed" the announcement. | The British Association for Adoption and Fostering said it "warmly welcomed" the announcement. |
| Government figures show the number of children approved for adoption rose from 3,000 in 2010 to more than 4,000 in 2012 but there are still around 4,000 in care who are waiting to be matched with prospective parents. | Government figures show the number of children approved for adoption rose from 3,000 in 2010 to more than 4,000 in 2012 but there are still around 4,000 in care who are waiting to be matched with prospective parents. |
| New legislation | New legislation |
| Ministers want to encourage hundreds more people to come forward and consider adoption but stress that the assessment process for would-be adopters will remain rigorous. | Ministers want to encourage hundreds more people to come forward and consider adoption but stress that the assessment process for would-be adopters will remain rigorous. |
| The biggest change is that for the first time people who have been approved as adopters will be able to consult a version of the official adoption register for information on children and young people waiting for adoption. | The biggest change is that for the first time people who have been approved as adopters will be able to consult a version of the official adoption register for information on children and young people waiting for adoption. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Education said that this change will need primary legislation. | A spokesman for the Department for Education said that this change will need primary legislation. |
| The plan will also give prospective adopters a new legal right to take time off work to meet children they are due to adopt, while parents of two-year-old adopted children will be given 15 hours a week free nursery care. | The plan will also give prospective adopters a new legal right to take time off work to meet children they are due to adopt, while parents of two-year-old adopted children will be given 15 hours a week free nursery care. |
| Ministers also plan to pilot personal support budgets for adoptive parents. They say this would allow families to decide exactly what support they need - for example, parenting classes. A two-year trial will begin in some areas in April 2013. | |
| 'More support' | 'More support' |
| Children's minister Edward Timpson told BBC News: "This is a package of support to all those who are looking to adopt, to make sure that if they do want to pursue an interest in adopting, they will be welcomed with open arms. | |
| "They will be far more involved and active in the matching process and once they do go through the process of adoption they will have far greater levels of support and involvement than they currently have." | "They will be far more involved and active in the matching process and once they do go through the process of adoption they will have far greater levels of support and involvement than they currently have." |
| Mr Timpson said up to 25,000 people enquired about adopting each year, but thousands ended up being deterred by the process and the delays. | |
| It could take years just to get approved as a prospective adopter while children remained in care, waiting for adoption, he said. | |
| The government says it also wants to give financial support to "adoption activity days" - where prospective adoptive parents can meet children waiting for adoption. | |
| The charity BAAF has already run three activity days which resulted in one in five of the children present being successfully matched, according to Mr Timpson. | The charity BAAF has already run three activity days which resulted in one in five of the children present being successfully matched, according to Mr Timpson. |
| David Holmes of BAAF particularly welcomed support for the activity days. | David Holmes of BAAF particularly welcomed support for the activity days. |
| He said: "Now, more than ever, we need more people to consider if adoption could be right for them. We must find families for the thousands of children who are waiting, whilst ensuring that adoption support is available to meet the needs of all." | |
| He added that the plan to improve support for adoptive families was vital to ensure adoptions had the best chance of succeeding long term. | He added that the plan to improve support for adoptive families was vital to ensure adoptions had the best chance of succeeding long term. |
| Janet Grauberg of the charity Barnardo's said: "Everyone should be mindful of the damage that is done the longer a child is without the love and stability of a permanent family. | Janet Grauberg of the charity Barnardo's said: "Everyone should be mindful of the damage that is done the longer a child is without the love and stability of a permanent family. |
| "The government's changes will help to empower adopters by increasing support and reducing the barriers that have been putting off potential parents for far too long." | "The government's changes will help to empower adopters by increasing support and reducing the barriers that have been putting off potential parents for far too long." |
| The plans follow other measures to improve the adoption process already in the pipeline, such as allowing adoptive parents as much maternity and paternity leave as biological parents plus a telephone helpline and website. | The plans follow other measures to improve the adoption process already in the pipeline, such as allowing adoptive parents as much maternity and paternity leave as biological parents plus a telephone helpline and website. |
| Are you an adoptive parent? Are you currently in the process of adoption? How would these changes affect you? If you are willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio about your experiences please fill in the form below. | Are you an adoptive parent? Are you currently in the process of adoption? How would these changes affect you? If you are willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio about your experiences please fill in the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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