The proposals around the Regionalisation of Adoption were previously presented to the Executive on 19^th July 2016. The Executive endorsed the proposal that work should begin to develop the establishment of a Regional Adoption Agency and that fuller information regarding this should be presented to the executive in December 2016

The purpose of the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AM”) is to inform the Executive on the progress regarding the regionalisation of adoption services and to seek a formal decision regarding the arrangements for the delegation of the adoption service to a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA). The government’s adoption reform proposals contained within the Education and Adoption Act 2016 are clear that all local authorities will be part of a RAA or will have delegated their adoption functions to a RAA by 2020.

Bradford has been working in collaboration with other Local Authorities and the Voluntary Adoption Alliance (VAA) throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region to create a new model of service delivery for adoption services in line with the government’s agenda. This report provides the up to date position on the plans for Bradford’s Adoption Service to transition to the new arrangements and to seek a decision to delegate the adoption service function to a shared service between the 5 West Yorkshire authorities with the appointment of a Joint Committee to oversee the arrangements

Recommended -

(1)          That the Executive to endorse the arrangements for the new Regional Adoption Agency and make the following decisions;

(2)          That the Executive formally appoint the Joint Committee with effect from the 10^th January 2017 and contingent upon all other authorities also agreeing to appoint to the Joint Committee.

(3)                      That the Executive approve the Constitution, Terms of Reference and Procedure Rules of the Joint Committee (Appendix 1a, b and c).

(4)                      That the Executive note that the Leader will appoint a Principal and two Elected Members to the Joint Committee as substitutes.

(5)                      That the Executive note the principles of the partnership agreement as set out in Section {7} and the process for setting the budget as set out in section [3.20] of this report and authorise the Director of Children’s Services to approve the Regional Adoption Agency funding formula and terms and signature of the partnership agreement through their existing delegated powers.

(6)                      That the Executive note that the Joint Committee will delegate responsibility to the Director of Children’s Services of the Lead Agency for the recruitment and assessment of adopters, adoption panels, family finding and adoption support.

(7)                      That the Executive note the transfer of staff via TUPE from Bradford into the employment of Leeds City Council to work within the RAA.

(8)                      That the Executive formally agree that Leeds City Council hosts the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency that is a shared service and that the name of the Agency is One Adoption West Yorkshire.

(9)                      That the Executive note the creation of an organisational unit within Leeds City Council for the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency. The lead officer for this will be the Director of Children’s Services for Leeds and the unit will sit within Children’s Services.

(10)                   That the Executive note that this report discusses further work required regarding non agency adoption and support for special guardians and therefore seeks agreement from the Executive that the Director of Children’s Services can make further arrangements for extending the breadth of the delegation to this aspect of the function following agreement by the management board and Joint Committee as the project develops and

(11)                   That the Executive authorises the Director of Children’s Services to progress with  the other local authorities in order to implement the Regional Adoption Agency.

 (Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny)

(Jim Hopkinson - 01274 432904)

The proposals around the Regionalisation of Adoption were previously presented to the Executive on 19^th July 2016. The Executive endorsed the proposal that work begin to develop the establishment of a Regional Adoption Agency and that fuller information regarding this be presented to the Executive in December 2016

The purpose of the report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AM”) was to inform the Executive on the progress regarding the regionalisation of adoption services and to seek a formal decision regarding the arrangements for the delegation of the adoption service to a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA). The government’s adoption reform proposals contained within the Education and Adoption Act 2016 were clear that all local authorities would be part of a RAA or would have delegated their adoption functions to a RAA by 2020.

Bradford had been working in collaboration with other Local Authorities and the Voluntary Adoption Alliance (VAA) throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region to create a new model of service delivery for adoption services in line with the government’s agenda. The report provided the up to date position on the plans for Bradford’s Adoption Service to transition to the new arrangements and sought a decision to delegate the adoption service function to a shared service between the 5 West Yorkshire authorities with the appointment of a Joint Committee to oversee the arrangements

The Strategic Director reported that following consideration of the report by the Corporate Parenting Panel on 9 November 2016 Bradford had made representations to amend the Joint Committee Rules of Procedure for Meetings that the WYAJA shall meet a minimum of 2 occasions per year rather than once per year and that it be proposed that 4 meetings would be held in the first year.

Members were advised that the budget would be set by the Management Board which would comprise senior officers delegated by each Director of Children’s Services. If Bradford was not satisfied, a dispute resolution could be triggered or Bradford could withdraw from the Regional Adoption Agency by giving 12 months notice to leave.  It was anticipated that a regional adoption agency would result in a more efficient use of resources and it was stressed that decisions about Bradford children would remain with the Bradford Director of Children’s Services.

Resolved -

(1)          That the arrangements for the new Regional Adoption Agency be endorsed.

(2)          That the Joint Committee be formally appointed with effect from the 10^th January 2017 and contingent upon all other authorities also agreeing to appoint to the Joint Committee.

(3)          That the the Constitution, Terms of Reference and Procedure Rules of the Joint Committee (Appendix 1a, b and c to document “AM”) be approved.

(4)          That it be noted that the Leader will appoint a Principal and two Elected Members to the Joint Committee as substitutes.

(5)          That the principles of the partnership agreement as set out in Section {7} and the process for setting the budget as set out in section [3.20] of Document “AM” be noted the Director of Children’s Services be authorised to approve the Regional Adoption Agency funding formula and terms and signature of the partnership agreement through their existing delegated powers.

(6)          That it be noted that the Joint Committee will delegate responsibility to the Director of Children’s Services of the Lead Agency for the recruitment and assessment of adopters, adoption panels, family finding and adoption support.

(7)          That the transfer of staff via TUPE from Bradford into the employment of Leeds City Council to work within the RAA be noted.

(8)          That it be formally agreed that Leeds City Council hosts the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency that is a shared service and that the name of the Agency is One Adoption West Yorkshire.

(9)          That the creation of an organisational unit within Leeds City Council for the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency be noted. The lead officer for this will be the Director of Children’s Services for Leeds and the unit will sit within Children’s Services.

(10)       That it be noted that Document “AM” discusses further work required regarding non agency adoption and support for special guardians and it be agreed that that the Director of Children’s Services can make further arrangements for extending the breadth of the delegation to this aspect of the function following agreement by the management board and Joint Committee as the project develops.

(11)       That the Director of Children’s Services be authorised to progress with  the other local authorities in order to implement the Regional Adoption Agency.

ACTION:        Strategic Director of Children’s Services

 (Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny)