Adoption report from the President’s Public Law Working Group published

Professor Julie Selwyn has been a member of the Working Group and contributed specifically to the recommendations for changes in contact between adopted children and their birth families.

The report outlines key recommendations aimed at improving practice and policies in England and Wales in 4 key areas:

1. Changes in actively  considering whether face-to-face contact with the birth family can continue post-adoption order.
2. A national protocol for access to case records to simplify and remove the variability in practice.
3. The law on international adoptions to be consolidated in one single Act of parliament and guidance issued.
4. National strategy on ensuring adoptions with consent are not subject to long delays.

Julie said: “This report marks a sea change in the way adopted children’s important relationships should be considered and maintained when safe to do so. There is a need for greater transparency and a call for action by government to update guidance that is many years out of date.”

Read the report.