Birth Parent Adoption Support

Under section 3(2)(b) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, a local authority adoption service must include the provision of adoption support services. Local authorities are required to make a range of adoption support services available in their area to meet the needs of people affected by adoption.

Adoption agencies must, when adoption is decided upon:

• provide or commission certain support for birth parents which is independent of the child's social worker. • provide or commission certain post adoption services to birth relatives including grandparents, siblings and others who are significant to the child.

The elements of Adoption support services this contract will be looking to provide are:

• counselling, advice and information • services to enable discussion of matters relating to adoption • assistance in relation to arrangements for contact