Portsmouth involvement in regional adoption agency takes step forward

The principles of the project have been agreed by the council’s children’s social care boss, councillor Ryan Brent.

Cllr Brent backed officers to progress plans to work with neighbouring councils and national voluntary adoption agencies to maximise chances for children in care to find a family. The government is encouraging all adoption agencies to be part of a regional body by 2020. The seven organisations Adoption UK, Barnardo’s, Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, PACT, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council are ahead of schedule, planning to establish a regional agency by the summer of 2018.

Cllr Brent said: ‘The Department for Education is advising local authority, national and voluntary adoption agencies to work together to provide the best possible chances for children in care, and the city council fully supports the setting up of a regional adoption agency to give children who need a family the best possible chance. You can adopt whether you are single or married, regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexuality, and whether you rent or own your home.’