Adoption - cost of external placement

Summary

The request sought the cost charged to external adoption agencies for placing children with Isle of Man adopters. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that the current interagency fee is £27,000, based on Coram BAAF guidance.

Key Facts

• The interagency fee for placing a single child from any Local Authority or Regional Adoption Agency is £27,000.
• The DHSC Family Placement Service follows guidance provided by Coram BAAF.
• Coram BAAF defines the interagency fee as covering costs for preparation, approval, matching, and support during the first 12 months of placement.
• The fee is the recommended amount an Adoption Agency should charge to a Local Authority wishing to place a child.
• The request was received on 8th March 2019 and responded to on 25th March 2019.

Data Disclosed

• £27,000
• 2019-03-08
• 2019-03-25
• 758665
• 12 months

Original Request

I would like to know the cost to adoption agencies outside of the Isle of Man when placing a child with adopters registered with Isle of Man Family Placement Services. If a child from England is placed with an Isle of Man adopter, they service charges a fee which relates to the cost of assessment & approval of the adopters.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC, Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas IM1 3QA

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 758665 25th March 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 8th March 2019 and states:

"I would like to know the cost to adoption agencies outside of the Isle of Man when placing a child with adopters registered with Isle of Man Family Placement Services. If a child from England is placed with an Isle of Man adopter, they service charges a fee which relates to the cost of assessment & approval of the adopters."

Our response to your request is as follows: The current interagency fee (see definition below) is £27,000 for the placement of a single child from any Local Authority or Regional Adoption Agency. The DHSC Family Placement Service follows the guidance provided by Coram BAAF. CoramBAAF is an independent membership organisation for professionals, foster carers and adopters, and anyone else working with or looking after children in or from care, or adults who have been affected by adoption. It is a successor organisation to the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF). The above fee is the recommended amount that an Adoption Agency (including the DHSC Adoption Service) should charge to a Local Authority wishing to place a child for adoption with an adopter approved by the Adoption Agency. With respect to your statement If a child from England is placed with an Isle of Man adopter, they service charges a fee which relates to the cost of assessment & approval of the adopters” we would like to offer the following information: CoramBAAF defines the interagency fee as a nationally agreed mechanism for covering the costs incurred in the preparation, approval and matching of prospective adopters, and the support provided during the first 12 months of a placement.

Please quote the reference number 758665 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely