Proceed with Adoptions

Allow and encourage use of virtual hearings to allow adoptions to proceed. Virtual children's hearings have been established for other issues and virtual panels are taking place for matches but without final advice hearings able to take place the adoption process stalls. With no clear timescale or exit strategy to give an idea pf how long this will be the case this is not in the best interests of children or adopting families. It is widely recognised that there will be a safeguarding impact from this period of lockdown and sadly there will be children requiring foster placements but places will be limited with so many children's adoptions stalled. Risk assessments and safe measures can be taken to manage transitions to home for children so the only block is the legal hurdle with lack of hearings. Please please revise this.

Why the contribution is important

The current suspension of adoption hearings is not in the best interests of children or adopting families. The technology is there to allow for virtual hearings so it is important that it's use is now extended.

by Lockdownmum2020 on May 08, 2020 at 10:08AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.1
Based on: 6 votes

Comments

  • Posted by petrav May 08, 2020 at 10:19

    Adoptions require a lot of interaction between the foster family and adoptive family as well as various social workers in the first few weeks and months (speaking from experience), but the impact a postponed adoption has on children can be even worse as their trust in others/adults is often limited. This is about putting the right safeguards in place so the virus is not transmitted.

  • Posted by winifred May 08, 2020 at 10:56

    Couldn't agree more. The waiting time before adoption can be agonising for the prospective adopters, the children and the birth parents and it must be possible to put safeguards in place so that most adoptions are not delayed. I can think of some circumstances, for instance where the child has underlying health problems and is therefore specially vulnerable, where delay may be unavoidable, but in most cases this will not apply. Glad this subject has been raised as it is one that could easily be overlooked with so many other things to consider.
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