The number of adoptive families in Scotland facing severe challenges or at crisis point has increased from 29% to 40% in just one year.

Adoption UK has published its sixth annual Adoption Barometer report, the most comprehensive stocktake of adoption in the UK. 

The charity says that adoption remains a vital intervention for children who cannot safely grow up with their birth family, but support services for adoptees need urgent and dramatic improvement.  

In Scotland the survey revealed that in the last 12 months:  

• Nearly one in five (19%) of adopted children were known to have harmed themselves or attempted to do so;
• 83% of adopters felt it was a continuous battle to get the support their child needs;
• 34% of adopted young adults were not in positive destinations (education, employment or training) at the end of 2023, compared to the UK’s national average of 12%.

Adoption UK Scotland director Fiona Aitken said:

“We can’t ignore the messages from adopted individuals and their families of the critical impact of lack of vital support services available throughout their lives.

“We have a real opportunity to respond to need – we know the value of support interventions and the importance of early access to help when it’s required. We must make this more accessible, available, and responsive, and be proactive to ensure that young people and their families don’t reach crisis when we can help them to avoid it, for the sake of all involved.”

There has been tangible progress in areas that have been targeted by governments and adoption agencies, particularly at the start of the adoption process. This includes training and preparation for prospective adopters, and a sense among adoptive parents that schools were more understanding of their child’s experiences and needs.

However, there are still too many new families who do not have essential life journey materials to support their children’s developing sense of identity and understanding of their own history, and most new adoptive parents either do not have, or are not aware of written plans for ongoing adoption support.

Summary of Recommendations

• Early stages: Ensure up-to-date statutory guidance on the training and preparation of adopters, improve diversity amongst the social care workforce and on adoption and matching panels, and ensure new adopters have access to peer support.
• Established families: Commit to permanent, ring-fenced funding for adoption support and mandate regular ‘keeping in touch’ opportunities for all adoptive families; issue national guidance on support for contact and ensure training for all health and education professionals on the impact of early childhood trauma and care experience.
• Families with older children and young people: Extend adoption support services for children and young people to at least age 26, provide a targeted support pathway for teens and young adults and access to specialist advocacy services.
• Adult adoptees: Establish national adult and youth adoptee advisory boards to inform policy making; ensure access to adoption-informed counselling, therapeutic support and peer support at no cost for all adult adoptees and review intermediary services for tracing and reunion with a view to mandating national standards.

Adoption UK is calling for permanent funding for adoption support, including a ring-fenced pot for crisis support in all four nations of the UK. Currently only England has a fund – the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund – but it is tied to short-term spending rounds.

The charity is also calling for tailored support for teen adoptees and their families, and access to adoption-informed counselling and therapy for adult adoptees.

It is also joining calls for the Westminster government to make an official apology for historic forced adoptions, to follow the apologies made in Scotland and Wales. 

Fiona Grahame