Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Social Services introduced the report which sought approval of the plan to establish a National Adoption Service for Wales, supported by Regional Adoption Collaboratives.  Agreement needed to be secured that Wrexham would continue to act as the lead authority for the North Wales Adoption Service.

The Director of Community Services added that there was a clear requirement that children in care must have plans for permanence in place which considered the full range of options to be put into effect with appropriate urgency.

The creation of a National Adoption Service was one of the key policy strands of the Welsh Government (WG) and that if enacted, the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill would allow Ministers to prescribe arrangements by local authorities.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That the proposals for achieving a National Adoption Service in Wales as detailed in the report of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru be endorsed; and

(c)        That Wrexham continue to act as the lead authority for the North Wales Adoption Service.  By doing so Flintshire County Council can ensure that the Council’s statutory functions in relation to providing an Adoption Service are fully met, in accordance with legislation and guidance.