Adult and Cultural Services

Corporate Information Team  Lower Gaolyard

The Courts  Carlisle  CA3 8NA  Fax 01228 606706

Tel 01228 221234  Email [Cumbria County Council request email]

1 October 2009

Your Reference:

Our Reference: -385

Email: [FOI #17940 email]

Dear Ms Stewart

- DISCLOSURE

REFERENCE: -385

The Council has completed its search for information relating to adoption statistics for Looked After Children which we received on 11 September 2009.

The Council information within the definition of your request.

The information has been provided by the Directorate:

Question 1

Please can you provide me with statistics on the amount of Looked After Children who were placed for forced adoption, without the consent of their birth parents, by Cumbria County Council Children's Services for 2008?

Answer 1

Forced adoption does not exist. The Judge grants an adoption order when it is in the interest of the child and having considered whether or not there is consent from birth parents.

On average 28 children are adopted each year, there have been 3 cases in the last 4 years where the birth parent's have requested and consented to adoption. The rest have not consented and the Judge has made the decision

Question 2

How does this compare with the figures annually from 2003 to 2007?

Answer 2

Please see response above

Question 3

Can you please also provide me with information, as to how many of these adopted children, still have contact with birth families?

Answer 3

All children now have some indirect contact arrangements via the “Letterbox” this has increased over the years since 2003. The Letterbox is the confidential exchange of information between the birth family and the adopters. There are occasionally circumstances where no contact would be arranged.

Question 4

How many of these adopted children were considered, first, for placement with extended family?

Answer

Before adoption becomes the plan, the Council would always consider members of the extended family for all children.

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Yours

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