Issue - meetings

EXTENSION OF THE ADOPTION IN MERSEYSIDE (AIM) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND REVIEW OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS

Meeting: 27/10/2021 - Children, Young People & Education Committee (Item 43)

43 EXTENSION OF THE ADOPTION IN MERSEYSIDE (AIM) PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND REVIEW OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Children, Families and Education introduced the report which outlined the partnership arrangements for the Adoption in Merseyside regional adoption service and sought agreement for the extension of the current arrangements as well as outlining the proposed review of those arrangements. The Committee was advised that the regional adoption service was established in April 2017 following the introduction of the Education and Adoption Act 2016 which set out the requirement to have a service in place. The agency was a partnership with Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and Wirral Council, with Knowsley acting as the host authority. The existing contract had concluded in March 2021 and had not been reviewed due to Covid-19, therefore approval was sought to extend the contract until March 2022 with a view to a review of the arrangements taking place.

 

It was noted that the option of Wirral Council hosting the service was considered as part of the budget workshops, but it was felt that there was little extra value when compared to just being part of the arrangements.

 

Resolved – That

 

(1)  The current Adoption in Merseyside partnership agreement be extended to 31 March 2022.

(2)  it be noted that a review of the existing partnership arrangements would take place and a further report would be brought back on future partnership arrangements for 01 April 2022.

(3)  the proposal for Wirral Council to not put itself forward as the host authority at the current time be supported.