The government began consultation on proposed revisions to the national minimum standards in England for adoption, children's homes, and fostering. Local councils would face enhanced requirements to supply information to foster carers on placements.
Source: Revising the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Adoption, Children's Homes and Fostering, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Consultation document | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Sep
A study examined how best to meet the needs of children who could not safely be reunited with their parents. It considered how successful adoption and long-term foster care were in providing security and permanence, and in promoting positive outcomes for children. Even if permanent adoptive or foster homes were found in which children experienced loving and stable care, many children (and their carers or adoptive parents) were likely to need substantial ongoing support if they were to have a chance of realizing their full potential.
Source: Nina Biehal, Sarah Ellison, Claire Baker and Ian Sinclair, Characteristics, Outcomes and Meanings of Three Types of Permanent Placement – Adoption by Strangers, Adoption by Carers and Long-Term Foster Care, Research Brief RBX-09-11, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Brief
Date: 2009-Sep
A study found that local councils could secure greater value for money by making more use of voluntary adoption agencies.
Source: Julie Selwyn, Joe Sempik, Peter Thurston and Dinithi Wijedasa, Adoption and the Inter-Agency Fee, Research Report RR149, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Brief | Community Care report
Date: 2009-Sep
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial designed to test the cost-effectiveness of support programmes for adopters who were parenting a child recently placed from care, and displaying emotional or behavioural difficulties. The findings suggested that a home-based parenting programme for adopters resulted in positive changes in parenting satisfaction and less negative parenting approaches, when measured up to six months after receiving the intervention.
Source: Alan Rushton and Elizabeth Monck, Enhancing Adoptive Parenting: A randomised controlled trial of adoption support, Research Report RBX-19-08, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Brief
Date: 2009-Jan