Kent placed 110% more children with adoptive families in the year 2012-13, compared with 2011-12 and has been recognised for its commitment and ambition in improving adoption services.
Coram has worked with Kent on establishing a new family finding team, as well as reviewing and developing how prospective parents are assessed and how children are matched with them.
In the report, Ofsted rated the service overall as ‘adequate’ and found leadership and management to be ‘good’ with significant progress being recognised across the service.
Ofsted said that Coram had an ‘inspirational and incredibly energising’ effect on staff, and referred to the partnership overall as very positive and productive.
Coram’s Director of Operations, Renuka Jeyarajah-Dent, said: “We are very proud that 143 children were placed with adoptive families in the last year, a 110% increase on the year before. This has been achieved in the first year of our partnership with Kent.
“Behind these figures are 143 individual children with their own poignant stories who now have a family to give them the love and security that every child deserves.
“We are delighted that the passion to find families for children at all levels of the service has been noted in this report.
“The Coram/Kent partnership shows what can be accomplished through continual hard work and commitment to improving outcomes for children.”
Jenny Whittle, Kent County Council cabinet member for specialist children’s services, added: “The inspectors recognised that we are well along the path to creating a service which is good across the board.
“That would not have been possible without our talented and highly motivated social work staff and the partnership we have developed with Coram.
“Everyone in KCC and Coram has ambitions to make it an outstanding service which will achieve the best futures for adopted children and their families.”
For Kent County Council’s full press release, click here.
Useful Links
Ofsted’s report Our local authority partnerships