Increase support for families to avoid adoption breakdowns

In a recent parliamentary debate, local MP Bobby Dean spoke passionately about the lack of support there is for adoptive families, leading to adoption breakdown.

In the UK it is estimated that 3.2% of adoptive children leave their homes prematurely. This rate has been increasing.

During Tom Gordon MP’s (Lib Dem, Harrogate and Knaresborough), adjournment debate on Adoption breakdown, Bobby emphasised the need for dedicated resources and improved services. He further pointed out that the merging of council services locally had led to the loss of personalised support, forcing adoptive parents to navigate a central hotline instead.

Bobby underscored the impact of local government funding on adoption services, saying, " the adoption breakdown rate is increasing partly because of the funding environment for local government, and that we need to improve that first to get this service fixed".

He also pressed the minister on continuing support for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF), asking why there was delay in the Government’s renewal of it.

To read Bobby’s full contribution, click here.