Issue - meetings

This report seeks Cabinet approval for the Council to work collaboratively with other London boroughs to continue to develop the London Regional Adoption Agency with the intention of joining the agency, when it becomes operational. It is envisaged that it will become operational during 2017/18.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed, in principle, to join a London Regional Adoption Agency, subject to detailed financial analysis and business case; and

    ii.        Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, to progress arrangements relating to the development and implementation of the London Regional Adoption Agency model.

   iii.        Cabinet agreed to progress with option 1 - a Local Authority trading company delivery model with a strategic VAA partnership operating in a hub and spoke structure.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval for Brent to work collaboratively with other London Boroughs to continue to develop the London Regional Adoption Agency. The move to regionalise adoption agencies had arisen from a Department of Education paper in 2015 with a view to speed up matching; improve adopter recruitment and adoption support; reduce costs and improve the life chances of vulnerable children. The Education and Adoption Act 2016 reinforced this policy, with the Department of Education’s expectation being that all Local Authorities be part of a regionalised service by 2020. Councillor McLennan outlined that the intention would be that Brent joined the London Regional Adoption agency in 2017/18 when it is expected to become fully operational. 

Members welcomed the report with the view that the concept was a positive one and that it was being developed at a very important time for Children’s Services. A Member of the Cabinet questioned how the success of the scheme was expected to be monitored. Gail Tolley (the Council’s Strategic Director of Children and Young People) responded by stating that the progress of the London Regional Adoption Agency would be included in the Council’s Annual Monitoring Report and would also be included as an item in the Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee’s work programme going forward.

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The Council would, in principle, join a London Regional Adoption Agency, subject to detailed financial analysis and business case;

(ii)        The Strategic Director of Children’s Services be authorised, in consultation, with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, to progress arrangements relating to the development and implementation of the London Regional Adoption Agency model; and

(iii)       Cabinet agreed to progress with Option 1 - a Local Authority trading company delivery model with a strategic VAA partnership operating in a hub and spoke structure.