To seek approval for Sefton MBC to join with Knowsley, Liverpool and Wirral to form a Regional Adoption Agency in line with the Education and Adoption act 2016. The development of the Regional Adoption Agency will mean that Sefton Council will no longer operate as an adoption agency. The impact for local citizens will be minimized through a hub and spoke model with a regional hub base and a flexible spoke that will enable continued presence of the adoption service in each of the four local authority areas. The regionalisation of adoption is intended to reduce inefficiencies and the duplication of effort and create a system that better supports children whose best interests are served by adoption.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 31/03/2017
Financial: No;
Community Impact: Yes;
Decision due: 25 May 2017 by Cabinet
Lead member: Cabinet Member - Children, Schools and Safeguarding
Lead director: Director of Social Care and Health
Department: Children's Services and Safeguarding
Contact: Vicky Buchanan, Executive Director - Children's Social Care and Education Email: vicky.buchanan@sefton.gov.uk Tel: 0151 934 3128.
Consultation process
Regular briefing meetings have been held with the Cabinet Member – Children, Schools and Safeguarding
Consultees
Consultation will be undertaken with staff and Joint Trades Unions