TBA
Market Context
Essex is part of the Adopt East Alliance which comprises of 8 LA’s (Bedford, Luton, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Southend, Suffolk &Thurrock), to manage the supply of adopters within the eastern region.
Where Birth parents have consented to adoption or the Courts have made the decision that adoption is the right plan for the children and young people. local authorities have a duty to manage the adoption process /placement. Ensuring there is adequate number of potential adopters.
LA partner agencies do not pay an interagency fee for adoptive placements made within the alliance. Meaning there are no barriers to placing our children anywhere in the region. Likewise, adopters are matched with children from across the region. A regional matching co-ordinator organises and supports various family finding events across the Adopt East region.
Essex adoptive families have access to a wide range of support services via a commissioning framework. These are offered through a core regional offer as a well as a localised support. Including therapeutic support services to promote attachment and aid trauma recovery. There is also an extensive training programme, co-run with adopters, available to support and develop our adoption community.
Current Market Status
ECC and regional partners provide some of these services themselves. The rest being met by the voluntary adoption market.
There are some market gaps/ challenges with finding adopters to support in the following areas:
- children and young people with complex health needs and / or disabilities
- Large sibling groups
- children and young people over 7 years old
- Diverse ethnic and cultural needs and having the right mix of adopters to reflect the communities we live in.
- Carers who are prepared to foster children and young people on a fostering to adoption basis.
Market Rating
Across Essex there are a good number of providers and placements. There is an expectation that demand will be met through existing suppliers at reasonable cost. The Council at times struggles to make placements in County particularly in the areas listed above.
| Market Quality | Market Supply | Market Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Low/Moderate | Good | High |
 |
 |
 |
| Market Workface | Market Ambition | Market Maturity |
| Very Low/Low | Increase Supply | Evolving |
 |
 |
 |
|
Total Number of VAA Providers: |
34 – Adopt East <5 - ECC |
|
Total Number of Placements: |
20 – Adopt East 6 – ECC |
|
Total Market Spend per year: |
ECC - -£74k Adopt East - £440K |
|
ECC Funded Placements |
<5 – ECC 24 – AE |
|
Provider Quality – Good or Outstanding: |
100% |
|
Average Accommodation Placement Size: |
Majority 1 or 2 children. 1 sibling group of 3 |
|
Adopt East/external Placement Ratio: |
10:3 |
|
Number of Placements per year: |
198 |
|
Average Pack Cost per placement: |
£33 871 |
|
Expected future Capacity Required: |
20 |
The market needs to evolve to maintain meeting the demand levels and needs of children and young people locally. ECC needs to work with the market to increase access to capacity in this sector
- the number of adopters able to support our specialist placements.
- the number of adopters from diverse backgrounds. In particular from Black Caribbean and Black African communities
- Adopt East and VAAs are working with the same market of prospective adopters.
- The risk from the cost of living is that adopters don't have the resources to take time off work to bond with a child. This is resulting in decreases in enquiries nationally.
- To understand the high number of withdrawals that have been seen at various stages of the adoption process. Ascertaining any practical challenges behind them.
- To put in place extra support for adopters post adoption to maintain stability of the placement.
- To continue to work effectively across Adopt East with the majority of placements made within the region.
- To develop a specialist offer from the Voluntary Adoption Agency sector. To be able to meet the additional needs specified in this document.