West Midlands councils uniting for adoption scheme

Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin councils and adoption charity Adoption Focus have been chosen by the government for the scheme.

The government will provide funding and support for councils and adoption agencies to enable them to bring services together.

Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We are delighted that we have been hand-picked by the Government to form one of the new regional adoption agencies.

"Our work has been noted at the highest levels and we are delighted to begin to look at ways of joining together.

"The Government will provide financial and practical support to enable us to bring services together regionally, and change the way children are matched for adoption."

Children and families minister Edward Timpson, who grew up with two adopted brothers, said "Every single day a child in the Midlands spends waiting in care for their new family is a further delay to a life full of love and stability – and so I'm delighted to announce one of the first regional adoption agencies.

"Where adoption is proven to be in the best interest of the child, we have a moral mission to make sure they're matched quickly with the parents right for them - regardless of where they

"By coming together and joining forces, councils and adoption agencies across the region will be able to reach across artificial boundaries and access an ever growing pool of approved adopters, creating families quickly and successfully."

Earlier this month, latest figures showed that the number of children in care in Wolverhampton has fallen this year, bucking the national trend.

The amount of looked after children in the city show has fallen from 780 in March to 710 this month.

Nationally, the number of children in care has risen by one per cent over the last year.

People can find out more about adopting a child at www.adoptionblackcountry.co.uk