Adoption Breakdown 2025-04-03

Opened the debate

I am pleased to have secured this debate on the crisis of adopted children leaving their family homes prematurely. Adoption breakdowns can occur days, months or years after an adoption order is signed, reflecting a lack of sustained support from Government post-adoption. Meeting families in my constituency and hearing from others across the country highlights that adoptive parents feel isolated with insufficient support, leading to challenges such as physical aggression, verbal abuse and school exclusions. The trauma experienced by adopted children does not disappear after an adoption order is granted, resulting in complex behavioural, emotional and psychological difficulties. According to Adoption UK, 70% of adoptive families report significant social, emotional and mental health needs in their children, yet post-adoption support remains inadequate. There is a need for better data on the scale of the problem and clearer policies to prevent or respond to adoption breakdowns. Local authorities often fail to offer consistent, tailored support, making it difficult for adoptive parents to navigate these challenges.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledges the significant issue of adoption breakdowns and the challenges faced by adoptive families. They highlight the importance of ongoing support and training for schools, local authorities, and social workers to better understand and address the needs of adopted children. The Government is committed to improving data collection on adoption disruptions to provide a clearer picture of the scale of the problem. They have allocated £10 million in funding to improve post-adoption support services, including access to counselling, educational support, respite care, and training for professionals. A new initiative called 'Safe Families' will be launched soon, aimed at providing targeted support to high-risk families to prevent adoption breakdowns. The Minister emphasises the need for clearer policies and guidelines on the handling of adoption disruptions and advocates for a more supportive approach from local authorities towards adoptive parents facing challenges. The Minister acknowledges the challenges faced by adoptive families in England and recognises the importance of ensuring that these families receive the necessary support. She emphasises that local authorities have a legal obligation to provide such support and highlights the government's commitment to improving this service through additional funding announced earlier in the week. The minister commits to working closely with local authorities to address delays in accessing funds and support, aiming to prevent future crises. She also mentions the need for better training for professionals who work with adoptive families to ensure they are equipped to handle the unique challenges these families face. Furthermore, she pledges to review the current system to provide a more comprehensive approach to post-adoption care, including extending services up to age 26 and ensuring regular follow-up opportunities for all adoptive families. Acknowledged the concerns raised and emphasised that supporting adoptive families is a priority. Mentioned research on adoption disruption funded by the Government, stressing the need for better data collection and analysis to improve understanding of adoption breakdowns. Committed to improving post-adoption support services through initiatives like Adoption England's framework for early support core offer, funding for multidisciplinary teams in regional adoption agencies, and continuation of the adoption and special guardianship support fund with £50 million budget this year. Discussed measures for educational outcomes, including priority school admissions and pupil premium plus funds for adopted children. Highlighted plans to update statutory guidance for virtual school heads to better support adopted children's educational needs.