Praise for our adoption service
The Government's education watchdog has judged our adoption service as good with some outstanding features.
The Ofsted report − released during National Adoption Week − identified the commitment and expertise of our staff as a significant strength.
Inspectors, who visited in October, found:
"Committed, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and skilled" staff working together as a team to place and support children with their adoptive families.
Children's health needs are well met.
Staff ensure children are placed with adoptive families who are prepared for the task of adoptive parenting and keeping children safe.
There are effective methods to recruit adopters.
Children engage in meaningful activities with their adoptive families which help them develop their confidence and self-esteem.
Prospective adopters get lots of information to decide if they can meet the needs of children.
Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for education, said:
"In Derbyshire we're committed to finding the right adoptive home for the right child as fast as we can."We always put the needs of children first and aim to do our best to give them a safe, happy and successful future.
"In their report Ofsted inspectors identified the calibre of our staff which is key to providing a good service."
The report added:
"Matching children with adopters is a real strength of the agency, which ensures children benefit from stable families who can meet their needs."
Inspectors found that children's wishes and feelings were taken into account, recorded and used to develop how things are run.
They also found a commitment to improving the chances of adopted children doing well at school.
One way of doing this is by adoption support workers providing information to schools so they can care better for adopted children.
In addition, measures are taken to ensure there is no delay in progressing children's cases or approving adoptive families.
Areas where the service could improve, according to inspectors, were in obtaining the wishes and feelings of younger children and the timing of life story books and later life letters.
No child should be considered unable to say what they are thinking.
We are always looking for local families to provide much-needed homes for local children.
If you are interested in adoption please ring Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190 or 08 456 058 058.