Decision details

Decision required including the delegation of the functions of the local authority adoption agency; setting up of the legal and governance arrangements including a joint committee with other West Yorkshire Local Authority’s and a partnership agreement.

Agreement to become the host authority for the Regional Adoption Agency and the transfer of staff from other Local Authorities into Leeds City Council.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing information on the progress made in respect of the regionalisation of adoption services and which sought a formal decision regarding the arrangements for the delegation of the adoption service to a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA).

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the arrangements for the new Regional Adoption Agency, as detailed within the submitted report, be endorsed, and that, contingent upon all the other partner authorities also agreeing these recommendations, the following be agreed:-

(i)  With effect from 10th January 2017:

o  Formally appoint the West Yorkshire Adoption Joint Committee (‘the Joint Committee’);

o  Approve and delegate to the Joint Committee the functions, as set out in the Terms of Reference document, as detailed at Appendix 1C to the submitted report;

o  Approve the Constitution and Procedure Rules of the Joint Committee, as detailed at Appendices 1A and 1B to the submitted report;

(ii)  Formally agree that Leeds City Council hosts the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency that is a shared service and that the name of the Agency is ‘One Adoption West Yorkshire’;

(iii)Authorise the Director of Children’s Services to progress this matter with the other local authorities in order to implement the Regional Adoption Agency;

(b)  That the following be noted:-

(i)  That the Leader will appoint the Executive Member for Children and Families as a principal Elected Member to the Joint Committee, and the Deputy Executive Members for Children and Families as substitutes;

(ii)  The principles of the partnership agreement, as set out in Section 4.5 of the submitted report, together with the process for setting the budget, as set out in section 3.21 of the submitted report. It also be noted that the Director of Children’s Services has the authority to approve the Regional Adoption Agency funding formula, terms and signature of the partnership agreement through their existing delegated powers;

(iii)  That the Joint Committee will be invited to delegate responsibility to the Director of Children’s Services for adoption services including:

o  the recruitment and approval of potential adopters;

o  identification of potential matches between children and adopters;

o  provision of adoption panels; and

o  provision of adoption support services to adopters, adoptees, birth families and relevant professionals;

(iv)  The transfer of staff via TUPE from other Local Authorities into the employment of Leeds City Council to work within the RAA;

(v)  The creation of an organisational unit within Leeds City Council for the West Yorkshire Adoption Agency. The lead officer for this will be the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) and the unit will sit within Children’s Services;

(c)  That it be noted that the submitted report discusses further work required regarding non agency adoption and support for special guardians, and therefore, agreement be provided that the DCS can make further arrangements for extending the breadth of the delegation to this aspect of the function following agreement by the management board and the Joint Committee, as the project develops.