Councillor Bernie Mooney introduced a report, the purpose of which was to seek approval for the creation of a regionalised adoption service across Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral with effect from 1 April 2018. The regionalisation of the adoption services in the Liverpool City Region was a mandatory requirement as set out in the Education and Adoption Act 2016. The four authorities had worked together over the last two years to develop AiM (Adoption in Merseyside) which would be hosted by Knowsley Council with Sefton Council taking on the role of Commissioner on behalf of the other four authorities and holding the host to account. This would result in the staff of the other three authorities, including Wirral, being seconded into Knowsley Council.

RESOLVED: That:

(a)  the proposed host model arrangements for Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and the Wirral Regional Adoption Agency, be agreed;

(b)  it be agreed that employees from Wirral are seconded into Knowsley as the host authority from 1 April 2018;

(c)  the intention for the service to go live on 1 April 2018, be noted;

(d)  authority be delegated to the Director for Children’s Services and Deputy Director: Children’s Care Services to finalise the terms on which Wirral Borough Council will provide and deliver a shared administration of adoption services with the other participating authorities and, in consultation with the Assistant Director: Law & Governance and the Director for Finance and Investments, to complete all financial agreements and legal documentation as may be required to be executed by the Council to implement the transition.