Post-Adoption Support

We recognise that the Adoption & Children Act 2002 places a duty on every Local Authority to establish and maintain a service designed to meet the needs in relation to adoption of:

Children who have been or may be adopted
The birth relatives of such children (i.e. relatives within the meaning of Section 14.4 (1) of the Act)
Any person with whom the adopted child has a relationship which appears to the Local Authority to be beneficial to the welfare of the child
Persons who have adopted or may adopt a child
Any children of such persons (whether by birth or adoption)

In addition, the Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (England) Regulations 2005, require Local Authorities to make arrangements for the provision of a range of Adoption Support Services and places duties on Local Authorities to carry out assessments of need for Adoption Support Services and having carried out an assessment to decide whether to provide any services. Moreover, Local Authorities must act reasonably in deciding whether to provide Adoption Support Services following an assessment, although there is a presumption that an assessment of need for a service will not automatically result in the provision of that service.

While the Agency recognises the lifelong implications of adoption for adopters, adopted children, birth relatives and adult adoptees, in reaching any decision as to what services to provide, the Authority will take into account both the circumstances of each individual case and the resources that are available locally.

Reading Borough Council is committed to providing the full range of Adoption Support Services that Local Authorities are required by Regulations to provide, following an assessment. These services are:

Financial support;
Services to enable groups of adoptive children, adoptive parents and natural parents or former guardians or an adoptive child to discuss matters relating to adoption;
Assistance, including mediation services, in relation to contact between an adoptive child and a natural parent, natural sibling, former guardian or a related person of the adoptive child;
Therapeutic services for adoptive children;
Assistance for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of the relationship between an adoptive child and his adoptive parent, including training for adoptive parents to meet any special needs of the child; and respite care;
Assistance where disruption of an adoptive placement or adoption arrangement following the making of an adoption order has occurred, or is in danger of occurring, making arrangements for the provision of mediation services and organising and running meetings to discuss disruptions;
Counselling, advice and information.

While the Council seeks to ensure provision of the full range of services, the Authority may make arrangements for the services to be provided by others; either other Local Authorities within the Berkshire Consortium, the Berkshire Adoption Advisory Service, Voluntary Adoption Agencies or independent providers of adoption services.

The Authority’s full range of Adoption Support Services are not available to those involved in adoptions by a step-parent or intercountry adopter. In these cases, services provided are limited to counselling, advice and information.

Whilst the Authority is committed to providing Adoption Support Services as part of an overall integrated service for all child(ren) and families, it is essential that adopted child(ren) and their families also have access to mainstream services available to children and families with particular needs.

The Agency is also committed to providing counselling and support service to:

Any person directly affected by adoption who requires counselling or support
Adopted persons requiring access to birth records
Persons requiring information as to the use of the Adoption Contact Register, in particular adopted persons, birth parents and other relatives
Adults seeking to establish contact with birth family members separated via adoption and requesting an Intermediary Service

In this area, you will find information about how we support and signpost Reading residents who have been affected by adoption, even if the adoption was not arranged through Reading Borough Council.