ADOPTION SERVICES

We are the longest established adoption agency in the area. The Catholic Church in Leeds has cared for children disadvantaged by separation from their birth parents since 1865. We have been directly involved in placing children for adoption since 1926 when the first Adoption Act made it legally possible to adopt children. Our adoption service emerged as a part of these early services and became regularised through state legislation and registration in 1943. Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) formalised its own governance directly as a result of Adoption legislation requirements. Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) has been a registered voluntary adoption agency since then.

Recruitment
The placement of vulnerable children is an overriding feature of our work. Due to changes in legislation the service by which we undertake assessments of prospective adoptive married couples or single people has been suspended since 1 January 2009. However, we are still placing children with those individuals recruited prior to 2009. Other than recruitment of new adopters our adoption work continues.

Post adoption support
As Adoption Orders are granted, adopters are reassured to know that the Agency is still available to offer support should this be required; support which promotes the stability of placements. This is an ongoing element of the role of social workers within the adoption service and the beneficiaries of this are the children in that they can enjoy the security that a supportive placement brings.

Family searches
The Post Adoption Services offered by the Agency have increased considerably in light of the new legislation. We are currently working with a number of adopted adults, as they embark upon a search of their origins, and birth families as they attempt to trace siblings separated through adoption or adopted adults relinquished at birth.

Track record
Catholic Care has a good track record of finding, assessing and preparing adults for their role as adoptive parents. As a Catholic agency we are proud to be associated with Catholic adoption work which has a reputation for finding parents for the most damaged and vulnerable children, including children with behavioural and other disabilities and members of significant sibling groups. Our track record mirrors the national Catholic contribution to adoption with a low family breakdown rate of approximately 3% compared to a nation average of nearly 30%. (Statistics from stage 1 BAAF report to Government 2007).

Quality assurance
The Agency is registered to carry out adoption work and is inspected by Ofsted against criteria reflected in ‘Every Child Matters'. Catholic Care is recognised by Investors in People and we are members of key national adoption agencies that promote best practice.