New operator for adoption register

The government has confirmed a change in the adoption register’s
operator and referral system.

The Department for Education and Skills said Baaf Adoption and
Fostering would take over the register on 1 December for three
years from charity Norwood, as predicted by Community Care last
month.

Changes to the operation include the move to a “targeted”
referral system that will require agencies only to refer to the
register when they are “not actively considering a local match for
a child or a family”.

The register will also allow agencies to choose a range of referral
methods, including online referrals, to reduce paperwork.