In recruiting adopters for specific children, children’s profile sheets are produced for those children for whom we would find it difficult to recruit adopters. The profiles are standardised and include a section for the child to input their own information, where appropriate. These are sent to other Authorities and are also presented to prospective adopters at an appropriate point in the Assessment Process. This is with the intention of positively influencing Applicants in terms of the age range and type of child they are considering. Other more general methods of recruitment employed include publicity within the Halton Borough Councils website, local newspapers, displays and posters in public places such as schools, nurseries and jobcentres and presentations to community organisations. Halton Borough Council is a member of Adopt Northwest consisting of local authorities across the North West region, who has a plan of media advertising utilising the press, radio and television coverage to recruit prospective adoptive families for harder to place children such as children over the age of 5 years, children with complex additional needs and sibling groups. Eligibility Criteria All prospective adopters receive information about the Eligibility Procedure. Halton Adoption Service will not automatically exclude people on any grounds, except for those specified by Regulations. Particular attention will be given to the following: We do not discriminate on the grounds of class, race, culture, sexual orientation of disability. Enquiries will be considered from single people, cohabitating or married couples. Applicants must be 21 years of age. There is no upper age limit, but Applicants must be fit and well enough to care for children into adulthood. Where the agency is determining the suitability of a couple to adopt, proper regard is had to the need for stability and permanence in their relationship. It is necessary to see a relationship has significant history and will therefore only consider Applicants who have lived together for two years or more. This requirement applies whether the couple concerned are married, have entered into a civil partnership or are two people – whether of different sexes or the same – living as partners in an enduring family relationship. The main consideration is whether the relationship is stable and permanent and also whether it has the strength to withstand the demands that an adoption placement may bring. The prospective adopter or one of the prospective adopters is domiciled in the British Isles and have been habitually resident in the British Isles for at least a year before they apply to the Court for an Adoption Order.
CHILDREN & FAMILIES SERVICES STRUCTURE CHART Tracey Coffey Operational Director Children & Families Zoe Fearon Divisional Manager Services for Children in Need Katherine Appleton Senior Manager Safeguarding and Quality Assurance/LADO Christine Taylor Divisional Manager Services for Children in Care Jenny Clayton Principal Manager Fostering Service Janet Bodie Principal Manager Adoption Service Marie Beswick Janet Brennand Principal Managers Children in Need Runcorn Paul Jenkins Senior Safeguarding Manager Richard O'Neill Jamie Mackie Joanne Unsworth Luise Vahmeyer Hill Independent Reviewing Managers Jill Evans & Andrew Jones Principal Managers Children in Need Widnes Wendy Maguire Principal Manager Children in Care & Care Leavers Team