Independent bodies to take over adoption assessments

ADOPTION assessments are to be moved from the HSE to independent bodies so social workers can focus more on child protection and family support work.

Minister for Children Barry Andrews told a conference of the International Adoption Association at the weekend that he had informed the HSE that using accredited independent bodies was the way to go in terms of adoption assessment.

Mr Andrews also said his office would place advertisements in newspapers this week seeking expressions of interest for those wishing to set up adoption mediation agencies.