To approve the future operating model for a West Mercia Adoption Service.

The Cabinet Member Young People and Children’s Wellbeing presented the West Mercia Adoption Service report and recommended Cabinet approve the recommendations.  He advised that the local authorities involved were: Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire.  Each authority had reached varying standards in the service and it was felt that by working together standards would be raised across the board for each authority.

The following comments were made in discussion:

·         There was concern that by joining with other authorities not performing as well as Herefordshire standards would be brought lower rather than raised and there would be a greater workload for staff as well as reducing the number of staff.  The Director confirmed that Herefordshire had a small high performing team and this was seen as an opportunity to join with three neighbouring authorities on a staged basis.  One of the authorities was ranked as one of the top performing in the country.  She added that joining as partners would provide strength and there would be no reduction in staff numbers.  By growing the service there would be more adoption families available, leading to more children being adopted and fewer children in care.

·         It was felt that by joining together as an adoption agency there would be tangible benefits, providing a range of specialist training with a managed low risk approach.

·         The Cabinet Member reiterated that the purpose was to ensure that all the authorities involved moved up to the highest level alongside the top performing authority.

RESOLVED

          THAT:

a)    the proposed future operating model for a West Mercia Adoption Partnership commencing first with Option 2, as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

b)    the financial implications of this option be noted;

c)    delegated authority be given to the Director of Children’s Wellbeing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, on any future decision on the implementation of the operating model, including a preferred provider.