Adoption support services in Wales: Challenges and opportunities for the new National Adoption Service

Adoption reform is high on the political agenda in Wales, with the launch of the National Adoption Service (NAS) in November 2014. One of the NAS’s central aims will be to provide comprehensive adoption support services for... [ view full abstract ]

Adoption reform is high on the political agenda in Wales, with the launch of the National Adoption Service (NAS) in November 2014. One of the NAS’s central aims will be to provide comprehensive adoption support services for all those affected by adoption in Wales. Most children adopted in Wales will have experienced abuse and/ or neglect in their birth families, and will have spent time in public care. They can therefore have a range of complex needs which require on-going support longitudinally.

This study aimed to investigate the provision and experience of adoption support services in Wales in order to inform the development of the NAS. An on-line survey was completed by all local authority and adoption agencies in Wales (n=18), as well as follow-up telephone interviews with senior adoption managers. 91 adoptive parents completed an on-line survey, who had adopted a total of 147 children under the age of 18.

Service provision had areas of strength, including the commitment and creativity of adoption agencies who worked hard to meet adoption support needs within limited financial and service resources. However, access to high quality service provision was patchy across Wales, particularly in relation to specialist services to meet the complex multi-dimensional needs of adopted children and their families. More specialist training was wanted to increase the skills and confidence of social workers involved in adoption. A majority of families who received support were satisfied, but access to services was perceived as difficult, with some adoptive parents feeling judged or blamed for their child’s difficulties. The creation of a National Adoption Service for Wales provides an opportunity to work towards equity of access to high quality adoption support services, responsive to local and regional needs. However, in a period of austerity and significant funding cuts, this will be challenging to achieve.