Adoption support service

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About this service

The Adoption Support Service in Wiltshire was set up in response to the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and is continously being developed. There are two Adoption Support co-ordinators, one covering North and East Wiltshire and one covering South and West Wiltshire. Their role is to provide a point of access for any party involved in adoption, or Special Guardianship for advice. This includes information about adoption support services.

Any adopted person, adopter, Special Guardian or birth relative of an adopted child or child placed under Special Guardianship at any point before or after the order being granted can request an assessment for adoption support services. The provision of any such services is at the discretion of the local authority. The Adoption Support Co-ordinator (ASC) in your local area undertakes these assessments.

Children who have been placed for adoption since December 2005 will have an adoption support plan in place at the time of the Adoption Order being granted.

The adoption support plan or special guardianship support plan is designed to ensure that all of the child's needs, including identity, educational, contact, emotional, health and financial are considered.

The Adoption Support Co-ordinators offer telephone advice to adoptees, adopters, birth family and Special Guardians. This advice can be on any aspect of Adoption for contact issues, process issues or accessing therapeutic services. The Adoption Support Co-ordinators also:

• Manage and review the Adoption post box system
• Review any direct contact arrangements
• Write the Adoption Support Plan/Special Guardianship Support Plan
• Provide training and support for adoptive families
• Liaise with other relevant agencies that may or could be providing support for adopters, birth family members or Special Guardians.
• Undertake the assessment of adoption needs of any party when requested
• Are involved in the development of the Adoption Support Service

If you have any need for advice pre or post adoption, or during the Special Guardianship process, please contact your local Adoption Support Co-ordinator:

Related links

• Adoption UK
• Parents & Children Together (PACT)

Last updated: 26 July 2010