22 REGIONALISATION OF ADOPTION - FORMAL AGREEMENT TO PARTNERSHIP OF L3R – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report seeking approval to formally agree to North Lincolnshire becoming part of the L3R partnership.
A report was presented to the Cabinet Member in March 2020 (minute 20 refers) seeking approval to continue to explore North Lincolnshire joining as partners of the L3R regional adoption arrangement with Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Rutland councils.
After this agreement was received the council had engaged in formal discussions regarding the commitments, agreements and expectations. A final decision was now sought to formalise becoming part of the arrangements.
In June 2015 the government announced changes to the delivery of adoption services by proposing that all adoption services should consider them being delivered on a regional basis by 2020. The rationale for this was to ensure improved outcomes for both adopters and children.
The council had continued to work with other councils to meet the government mandate to join a Regional Adoption Agency with a model that enabled the council to continue to provide an adoption service which made a positive impact, as evidenced by outcomes and performance.
The report gave details of the proposed regional arrangements for the adoption partnership.
Resolved - That the proposal to enter into the L3R arrangement within the agreed partnership model, as set out in the report, be approved.