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Wigan set to take lead in new regional adoption agency (12 July 2016)

Date: 12/07/2016
Duncan Lewis, Family Solicitors, Wigan set to take lead in new regional adoption agency

Wigan Borough Council is set to take the lead in a new regional adoption agency, with a report on the plans due to go before Cabinet on Thursday (14/07/16).

A new regional adoption agency aims to improve the life chances of children in care and improve recruitment of adopters.

The plan for the regional adoption agency mirrors the existing WWiSH adoption service, which brings together Wigan, Warrington and St Helens adoption services.

WWiSH received given £144,000 as part of the government's programme to roll the scheme out nationally, to bring in other authorities across the region.

The new agency will see Wigan Borough Council host the new service, with staff from other authorities and providers brought in – while Cheshire West and Cheshire will be the lead commissioner for the region.

WWiSH is the model which the government is looking to replicate across the country. The shared adoption service was launched in 2011 and has won awards for its innovative approach to finding children their forever homes.

The council says joint working has helped to cut the length of time children wait before being placed with an adoptive family. The work of the service was featured in the BAFTA-nominated documentary 15,000 Kids and Counting.

Cabinet Member for children and families at Wigan Borough Council, Councillor Joanne Platt, said:

“This government initiative looks to replicate the highly successful model we created with WWiSH on a wider scale.

“It shows once again how – along with our partners – our innovative approach is being singled out due to its success; and that success, most importantly, means that we are helping to place children with loving families.”

The WWiSH Team attends local events and was present at the Disability Awareness Day in Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington on Sunday (10/07/16) to talk to local parents interested in adoption.

In 2015, David Cameron said that he wanted to double the number of adopted children who move in with their new families before the legal paperwork is completed. An estimated 10% of children placed with families move in with them before the formalities are complete – and Mr Cameron said that not enough councils used early placement schemes, with 68 out of 152 councils in England not having early placement adoption schemes.

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For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 0333 772 0409.


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