The Executive has a commitment to improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents.
The number of adoption applications in Scotland by persons unrelated to the adoptee has been relatively stable since 2000, but there were 29 fewer such applications for which an outcome was reached in 2000 compared to 1999. To address questions surrounding the place of adoption in securing permanence for 'looked after' children, a review group was set up.
The first phase of the Adoption Policy Review, launched in April 2001, concentrated on the place of adoption services within the spectrum of services considered for children and young people; the quality of recruitment, selection and assessment procedures for prospective adopters; and the extent and quality of post-adoption support. The report on the first phase was published in June 2002 and its recommendations are being taken forward by the Scottish Executive in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector.
Adoption Policy Review Group -report phase I
(Also available to download in PDF format - 904k)
The second phase was launched in March 2003 and looked at the legal framework for adoption and other possible forms of permanence (the sense of belonging to a family), as well as a wide range of related subjects, some of which had come out of the first phase. The issues examined included the continuing need for adoption, adoption by unmarried couples and contact with birth families. Other issues explored included the provision of support services to families, court procedures and access to information about adoption cases. The report on the second phase, Adoption: Better Choices for Our Children, was published in June 2005.
Adoption Policy Review Group - report phase II
(Also available to download in pdf format -2.1Mb)
The Executive's response to the second phase report was also published in June 2005 as a consultation paper, "Secure and Safe Homes for Our Most Vulnerable Children" (also available to download in pdf format - 315k). The Review Group's recommendations will require a mixture of primary and secondary legislation, guidance from the Executive and administrative action by the Executive, the General Register Office for Scotland, local authorities, adoption agencies and others to implement fully. As a first step, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 27 March 2006. The Bill intends to:
- modernise and improve the legal framework for adoption and permanence planning;
- create greater long-term stability and permanence for children who cannot live with their families;
- improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents and everyone involved in adoption and permanence;
- ensure that Scotland's most vulnerable children have the protection and security they need; and
- create a modern, child-centred adoption and permanence service that responds to the changing needs of individual children.