Extra adoption support for Plymouth families

Adoptive families in Plymouth now have access to the new Adoption Support Fund to help them settle their children into their new homes.

Many adopted children have experienced difficult and traumatic experiences before being placed with their forever family, which can prevent them from settling into their new home and can create difficulties at particular stages such as adolescence.

The council already has a well-established adoption support team who can help adoptive parent in a number of ways including:

• Arranging services for children,
• managing children's behaviour
• contact arrangements with children's birth relatives
• in some circumstances financial support

The additional funding will help pay for a wider range of therapeutic services such as; behavioural therapy, play and music therapy, and family support sessions. All these can help children come to terms with any difficulties they are facing which will give them the confidence to build strong relationships with their new family.

Alison Barker, Adoption Service Manager for Plymouth City Council said: “We know that some children who are adopted from care can sometimes present real challenges to their new families as a result of their early experiences. The Adoption Support Fund will help us to make sure that more tailored support is available to prevent adoption breakdowns.

“Adoptive families provide loving, secure family homes to some of our most troubled children so we’re hoping that the reassurance of extra support if it is needed should also help to bring more potential adopters forward in the future.”

The fund will be used to support adopted children and young people up until and including the age of 18. Support from the fund will be available after the adoption court order and can be used to purchase services from the private and voluntary sector, as well as councils and Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS).