The new regional adoption agency – Adoption Counts, has been awarded £500,000 from the Department of Education to develop a centre of excellence in adoption support.
Adoption Counts, which was launched on 3rd July 2017, is the second regional adoption agency to be established in the UK and adoption services in Stockport, Manchester, Trafford, Salford, Stockport and Cheshire East local authorities are now an integrated service.
The centre of excellence will be developed over a period of two years and will enhance and expand the services currently delivered by voluntary, health and education partners. This will ensure access to an integrated and robust adoption support service across the region.
Although there won’t be a physical ‘centre’ of excellence, there will be an integrated system involving all five local authorities and partners. Shared expertise will improve adoption support in all areas from the moment people enquire through to their children placed reaching adulthood.
The service will also provide a co-ordinated assessment, treatment and therapeutic support to adopted children and children in care.
Support services to be developed and enhanced include training and advice for schools, access to couples’ psychotherapy, parenting groups for teenagers, a dedicated and intensive support team, and ‘theraplay’ groups for newly adopted children.
Sue Westwood, Regional Adoption Agency Manager said, “I am really excited to be leading one of the first regional adoption agencies in the country. The fund for the centre of excellence is such a fantastic bonus in providing the very best support systems we can for families and adopted children”.
