More children in care being adopted in North

The number of children taken into care in the North who go on to be adopted has increased, it was revealed today.

However health boards vary hugely in their decisions on long-term placements of children, according to a study by Queen’s University.

An examination of 374 children in care and under five in 2000 showed by 2004, 140 – 38% – had been adopted.

Over the same period the proportion of children in foster care fell from 61% to 22%.

Dr Dominic McSherry from the Institute of Child Care Research said their report highlighted inconsistencies of approach by differing boards.

A higher proportion of children in the Northern and Southern Board areas were adopted, while in the Western Board children were more likely to be placed in foster care.

But in the Eastern Board area more children were returned to their birth parents.

Dr McSherry said: “The needs of the child must be central to deciding the type of long-term care placement that child should receive, but the findings suggest that inconsistencies across board areas appear to arise from differences in decision-making within Health Boards and Trusts.

“These inconsistencies must be addressed if we are to achieve a consistent service across Northern Ireland.”

The report also showed the majority of parents – adoptive, foster or real - experienced parenting stress, but that it was most prevalent among natural parents who had their children returned to them.

They also experienced more emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Dr McSherry said his report recommended more targeted support services for all families, and the development of a dedicated support service for the parents of children who have returned home from care.

“The longer a child remains in care, the less likely it is that he or she will return to their birth parents. This is particularly true if they come from a lone parent family, or if their mother or father has a history of alcohol problems.

“Health authorities must ensure that long-term foster and adoptive parents are given the support and resources they need to care for those children who do not return home to birth parents. Lone parents and those with alcohol problems should also be given support to help prevent their children being taken into care,” he said.

Children in care deserved to be placed in an environment that met their specific needs and supported them through what must be a difficult time in their childhood, he added.

Dr McSherry concluded: “This report should help inform the decisions of those who determine what care pathway is most appropriate for each child, and help ensure that every child in Northern Ireland receives the long-term placement that allows them to achieve their full potential.”

Jonathan Pearce, Director of Adoption UK, said he welcomed the report, in particular, its findings in relation to adoptive families.

He welcomed “the evidence that adoption is a beneficial outcome for children who cannot live in their birth families. Adoption UK is pleased to see evidence that backs its call for a regionalised adoption service along with support services available to adoptive families after, as well as before, adoption.”