The use of a new alternative to adoption increased threefold
last year in England as the number of children adopted fell by
12%.
In the 12 months to 31 March 2007,
740 special
guardianship orders were granted, compared to 60 in the first
quarter of 2006, when the orders were introduced under the
Adoption and Children Act 2002. During 2006-7, adoption numbers
fell from 3,700 to 3,400.
Under
SGOs, day-to-day regarding children are transferred to the
special guardian but in a serious situation, such as a child being
removed from the country, the birth parents are consulted, unlike
with adoption.
David Holmes, chief executive of the British Association for
Adoption and Fostering, said the drop in adoption levels was
“concerning” as it is still an “important option” for children. He
said he did not know whether SGOs were affecting adoption rates,
but said the issue needed to be looked at.
Holmes also urged local authorities to come together to identify
and apply best practice on SGOs, claiming current practice was
inconsistent.
For the first time, the government also provided profiles of
adopters in data on looked-after children published last week. This
showed that in 2007, 84% of adopters were married, 4% were
unmarried heterosexual couples, 2% were unmarried homosexual
couples, 1% were civil partners and 9% were single.
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