Provision of Inter-agency Adoption Placement Services for Adopt Coast to Coast

About

Durham County Council awarded a contract to ARC Adoption North East for the provision of inter-agency adoption placements as part of the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) known as Adopt Coast to Coast.

The contract, valued at AUD 5,500,000, establishes ARC Adoption North East as a provider on a panel of OFSTED-registered providers.

The provider will supply details of prospective adopters at the commencement of Stage 2 of the adoption process for consideration as suitable matches for children within the RAA.

Prospective adopters are exclusively considered by the RAA until approved by the respective Agency Decision Maker, after which they may become available to other RAAs and local authorities if no link is achieved.

For children in 'harder to place' categories, such as large sibling groups, children with significant health or developmental needs, children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, or older children, adopter details may be shared earlier at the provider's discretion.

If no link is identified within two months of Stage 2 commencement, the Voluntary Adoption Agency may seek links through other RAAs and local authorities.

The arrangement is open and flexible, allowing the panel to be reopened for additional providers at the discretion of the councils.