Responding to the President of the Family Division’s report on adoption, Helen Lincoln, Chair of the ADCS Families, Communities and Young People Policy Committee, said:

“The removal of a child from their family is arguably one of the most significant acts the state can take, and individual circumstances must drive all decisions around contact with birth families. Enabling contact between a child and their birth family must be carefully managed and incorporating different methods of communication is part of that. Digital contact pilots are currently being led by adoption leaders, but a careful balance must be struck between both the benefits and risks for the child. Other recommendations about simplifying laws and regulations and creating national standards plus greater support for birth parents are for government to consider as part of their planned reforms to children’s social care.

ADCS is eager to collaborate with the department and other stakeholders to modernise the adoption process collectively.”

ENDS