Statement from Coram on Department of Education statistical release on adoption: 60 children under 1 formally adopted in year ending 31 March 2011.*

For immediate release 29 September 2011:

Carol Homden, Chief Executive of Coram children’s charity, said:

“While these figures are extremely concerning, this is not inevitable and action is being taken.

“Coram pioneers concurrent planning, ensuring there is no delay in placing babies with suitable carers who are ready and willing to adopt them later, if the courts decide adoption is best in the long-term.

“This approach was highlighted in the Education Minister’s adoption guidance in February urging local authorities to improve adoption services and work with voluntary agencies like Coram.

“Since then Coram has formed a new partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council to further improve decision-making and minimise adoption delays, and we’re in discussion with several other local authorities.

“With early planning, joint working and a positive approach to adoption, we can minimise unnecessary heartache for our most vulnerable children."

Coram has been providing better chances for children since 1739, through adoption, education and a wide range of other programmes to support children and families.

Coram’s adoption service has one of the highest placement success rates in the country.  The charity has been pioneering Concurrent Planning for more than 10 years, which involves close working with the courts to achieve consistent care for vulnerable children. Concurrent Planning involves babies being placed with specialist foster carers while their long-term future is being decided, so that babies who cannot return to their birth parents can be adopted by those foster carers, avoiding unnecessary and often traumatic disruption.

*http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/sfr21-2011.pdf