Adoption Matters Northwest News

FINDING FAMILIES…CHANGING LIVES

Hundreds of children are facing up to three years in care because no one is willing to adopt them.

There are almost 200 children in care in the North West, desperate for a new home. Some have been in care for more than 26 months.

Chief Executive of specialist agency Adoption Matters Northwest, Norman Goodwin, believes this is an unacceptable amount of time for any child to spend feeling unwanted, unloved and unhappy.

Norman said: “Many have spent more than a year waiting for a family but some have been waiting more than two years. This is a worrying reality for thousands of children across the UK.

“The majority of those waiting are in sibling groups of two. More than 30 children are in groups of three while 12 children are in groups of four.”

Adoption Matters Northwest has now launched a campaign throughout the region to find homes for the hundreds of brothers and sisters currently in care.

The organisation is hoping the statistics will prompt people to consider adoption and is particularly keen to recruit those willing to adopt sibling groups, school age children, children from ethnic minorities, those with disabilities or developmental problems and children affected by their birth parents’ drug and alcohol abuse.

Norman said: “There is a great need for adopters throughout the North West region.

“Anyone who has been through the process will agree that it is a thorough and thought-provoking experience but well worth the effort.

“Adopting one child is challenge enough, but to take on a group of siblings is truly remarkable and doubly rewarding!”

Maintaining a national reputation for professionalism, high standards and one of the lowest adoption breakdown rates in the country, Adoption Matters Northwest exists to recruit new families, provide post-adoption support and offer advice to birth families.

Adoption Matters Northwest, which has offices in Hale (South Manchester), Blackburn and Chester is one of only 30 specialist adoption agencies in the UK.

OFSTED CHIEF INSPECTOR HONOURS ADOPTION MATTERS NORTHWEST AS ONE OF BEST IN ENGLAND

Norman Goodwin, Chief Executive  of Adoption Matters Northwest, has been honoured by Ofsted in a celebratory event recognising outstanding childcare providers in England.

Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, has praised Adoption Matters Northwest alongside top childcare providers in the annual list of outstanding providers published by Ofsted.

Childcare providers on the list have shown an excellent quality of care and education across the full range of their work to support children in their development.

Hosting the celebration, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector recognised the determination, ambition and commitment it takes to become an outstanding childcare provider.

Addressing over 300 childcare providers in London, the Chief Inspector said, "I wholeheartedly congratulate the managers and childcare staff on their success and hard work in delivering such an excellent standard of care and education.

Outstanding childcare providers have the commitment and creativity to inspire staff, children and the communities they serve. Outstanding childcare providers show what can be achieved with aspiration and determination.”

Norman Goodwin added: “At Adoption Matters Northwest, we consider our work as more than ‘just a job’.

“We consider creating families an honour and our success shows that this approach pays dividends. While this recognition and reward has been a real boost, it is also an incentive. We cannot afford to be complacent and will use these positive results to improve further!”

Childcare providers that appear on the Outstanding Providers list 2007/08 receive commemorative certificates and are authorised to use an exclusive “outstanding provider” logo. 2940 schools, colleges and social care providers in England were judged to be outstanding in the inspection cycle 2007-2008.

Adoption Matters Northwest: 'Outstanding in all areas'. Ofstead 2008

Continued from the home page...........Inspectors said they found the team to be extremely knowledgeable and of a 'high calibre promoting good quality and efficient practice'. Staff were also recognised for their 'wide experience and deep knowledge of adoption issues'. Prospects for children placed by the agency were described as 'optimistic' with reference made to the clear and ongoing support strategy for adopters with children already in placement. The report also acknowledged the charity's low placement disruption rate.

Agency Chief Executive Norman Goodwin commented: “We’re thrilled to receive such a glowing report from Ofsted inspectors! We have had excellent inspection reports in the past but the fact that we have achieved so much in our first year operating as Adoption Matters Northwest speaks volumes about the dedication and expertise of our social work team, managers and support staff, and about the agency’s commitment to providing the best adoption service. While this report has been a boost, it is also an incentive. We cannot afford to be complacent and will use these positive results and strive to be better still!”

After this fabulous start to 2008, Adoption Matters Northwest would further like to take this opportunity to thank all those people, staff and supporters outside of the organisation, who gave up time and assistance during the January inspection.

FOR THE FULL INSPECTION REPORT PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE OFSTED WEBSITE.

Adoption Matters Northwest Welcomes New Adopters from Liverpool

As part of our recruitment strategy for 2008 we hope to raise the profile of adoption and our agency throughout specific regions of the Northwest. It is our wish to generate an increased awareness of children who require adoption and the sorts of adoptive families they need.

We now operate as Adoption Matters Northwest across the North West region and wish to increase our recruitment of adopters from areas within Merseyside and the Wirral such as Liverpool, St Helens, Birkenhead and Wallasey. Adoption Matters Northwest although a new organisation in name has over a 60 year history of working in the field of adoption as it incorporates two agencies traditionally based in Blackburn and Chester. (See our ‘About Us’ page).

There are a growing number of children becoming ‘Looked After’ by the Local Authorities many of them go on to need new families. We are particularly keen to have enquiries from black and dual heritage families or from families who could consider parenting a child with a disability or a sibling group. There is a serious shortfall of prospective adopters and therefore a need to recruit and assess new adopters from our catchment regions as stated above but also from other areas such as Liverpool, Southport, Blackpool, Morecambe and Lancaster.

Many families from across the Northwest provide secure, stable and loving homes to adopted children and sibling groups. We actively seek to recruit people who would be willing to adopt more than one child. It is very common to have groups of brothers and sisters who need to be placed together in an adoptive family.

Unfortunately many of the children placed will have had to leave their birth family because of the influence of alcohol and drugs on their parents’ ability to cope and provide the consistency, safety and care all children need and deserve. Statistics indicate a high percentage of the 4,000 children currently Looked After, and with a plan for adoption, are there as a result of parental and family drug and alcohol misuse. It is the case that Local Authorities try to support birth families that are experiencing difficulties and as a result of this the children may be older by the time it has been decided that the environment at home can not be improved sufficiently. At Adoption Matters Northwest we are always keen to speak to people who can consider parenting an older child through adoption.

During 2008 we hope to be hosting a range of events and projects to aid our recruitment of adopters in Liverpool and surrounding areas. We are always keen to speak to people who want to get involved with the agency or who want advice and information on all aspects of adoption. If you think you could provide a safe, secure and stable home to one or possibly more children then please contact our agency now and make a difference. Call 01244 390938 or go to our online form and request and information pack.

Looking Back 2007/2008

April 2008 marked the first year anniversary since the merger of Adoption Matters and Blackburn Diocesan Adoption Agency. In the last 12 months we have seen some radical and positive changes to the organisation and welcomed some new staff into the fold. We now have three different offices and maintain an extended structure with home based social workers. Our geographical coverage has greatly increased and this has increased the demand for the operational infastructure and the service it facilitates. Adoption Matters Northwest has risen to the challenge and we believe our recent inspection is a reflection of this.
Not only have we renamed the organisation and rebranded our profile, but we have combined our histories, our common goals and our wealth of expertise.

With a new redeveloped vision we hope to take the Adoption Agency to the next level of success. We now manage two adoption panels and have several training programmes operating in different areas of the North West. We also host information events, family days and children’s parties across the region. Most importantly, during the last year, we have placed 40 children for adoption with a good deal of the children placed being part of a sibling group. We hope in the coming year we can increase that number as there is still so much more that we could do.

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