Council Adoption service recognised in national figures

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s adoption service has been recognised nationally for one of the best success rates in the country for finding homes for children in care.

New national figures have shown that Blackburn with Darwen Council is second in the country for the percentage of children in care that successfully find adoption placements.

45 children in total were adopted last year, which is 34% of the children in care for six months or over within the borough.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s adoption team find suitable placements in many ways, including special ‘activity days’.

The events, which are held at regular intervals throughout the year, offer potential adopters the chance to meet youngsters who have a plan for adoption in a relaxed, informal setting.

Cllr Frank Connor, Executive Member for Children’s Services said:

For children who cannot return to their parents adoption is a really positive outcome, and as a council we use all the methods available to us in making this a reality.

This has included activity days where we have had considerable success, with over a third of the children attending the events being successfully matched with a family.

I want to congratulate all staff on this fantastic achievement which recognises all the hard work they do. For an authority our size this shows we are moving from strength to strength and these figures really validate the work that we are doing and continue to do.