Please provide a breakdown for each relevant local authority covered by adoption services with regards to the following:
1. The number of transracial adoption placements in the financial year 2023/24.
Please note, we do not hold figures for Cornwall as they did not join the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) until after the financial year of 2023/24.
Devon – 3
Somerset – 5
Plymouth – 2
Torbay – 2
2. The percentage of white children in care placed for adoption in the financial year 2023/24 – as a percentage of the white children in care. Please provide the percentage of black children in care placed for adoption in the financial year 2023/24, as a percentage of the black children in care.
For Devon Local Authority (LA), children with a recorded ethnicity included as white placed for adoption in 2023/24 as a percentage of the children with a recorded ethnicity included as white in care in 2023/24 is 3.98%
For Devon LA, children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority placed for adoption in 2023/24 as a percentage of the children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority in care in 2023/24 is 2.15%
We do not hold this information with regards to Plymouth and Torbay, please contact them directly at the following link District and Unitary.
We do not hold this information with regards to Somerset, please contact them at the following link Somerset Council.
3. Please provide the percentage of white children in care that you have currently with an adoption plan as a percentage of the white children in care and the percentage of black that you have children in care currently with an adoption plan as a percentage of the black children in care.
For Devon LA, children with a recorded ethnicity included as white with a plan of adoption on 30/04/2024 as a percentage of children with a recorded ethnicity included as white in care on 30/04/2024 is 7.77%
For Devon LA, children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority with a plan of adoption on 30/04/2024 as a percentage of children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority in care on 30/04/2024 is 3.85%
We do not hold this information with regards to Plymouth and Torbay, please contact them directly at the following link District and Unitary.
We do not hold this information with regards to Somerset, please contact them at the following link Somerset Council.
We do not hold this information with regards to Cornwall, please contact them at the following link Cornwall Council.
4. The average amount of time in your Local Authority that white children in care with an adoption plan have been waiting for a placement and average amount of time that black children in care with an adoption plan have been waiting for placement.
This is the time (in days) between the Agency Decision Maker Best Interests Decision that the child should be placed for adoption and 30/04/2024, for children waiting to be placed for adoption at 30/04/2024.
Cornwall
Children with a recorded ethnicity included as white – 274 days
Children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority – 321 days
Devon
Children with a recorded ethnicity included as white – 150 days
Children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority – 92 days
Somerset
Children with a recorded ethnicity included as white – 177 days
Children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority – 578 days
Plymouth
Children with a recorded ethnicity included as white – 282 days
Children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority – 243 days
Torbay
Children with a recorded ethnicity included as white – 274 days
Children with a recorded ethnicity of the global majority – 1048 days
5. Do you have a policy for requiring an ethnic match for adoption placement? If not, do you have a policy for preference for an ethnic match for adoption placement? Do you have a policy for preference for an ethnic match for adoption placement even if this results in a delay. Please provide a copy of your policy.
No we do not have a specific policy in relation to an ethnic match or around preference for an ethnic match for adoption. In practice this would be part of the matching consideration of the Local Authority.
6. Please provide a copy of your guidance and training requirements for prospective adopters.
Our policies with regards to procedures ca be found at the following link Adopt South West procedures, this gives information about recruitment.
In terms of guidance and training requirements, the information pack that is sent to prospective adopters can be found at the Adopt South West website Adopt South West.