Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration introduced proposals for the Council to join Havering, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest Councils in forming a regional adoption agency, to be known as ‘Adopt London East’, in line with the requirements of the Education and Adoption Act 2016.

The Cabinet Member explained that the pooling of resources within a regional adoption agency would significantly increase the pool of potential adopters and was also expected to reduce placement times, bring about efficiencies within the respective Councils and provide a better platform from which to work with the Courts to improve processes.  Havering Council had offered to act as the host Borough and it was noted that a further report, accompanied by a Full Business Case, would be presented to the five Councils in the summer seeking formal approval to commence the joint arrangements.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the project and also the particular difficulties that had been experienced within Barking and Dagenham with regard to placing children into new families.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree in principle to the Council’s participation in the east London Regional Adoption Agency known as ‘Adopt London East’;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Service Development and Integration to progress the proposals and business case for Adopt London East on behalf of the Council; and

(iii)  Note that a further report shall be submitted later in the year seeking formal approval to the Council’s participation in Adopt London East.