Child adoption services to merge

TOWN Hall chiefs are to be asked to approve a merging of Warrington’s child adoption service with those of three neighbouring boroughs.
The setting-up of a shared adoption service with Wigan, Halton and St Helens could cut staffing costs by up to 25 per cent.
It is estimated that over three years, each of the four councils could achieve efficiency savings of between £200,000 and £270,000.
There would also be savings through an improved ability to place children with adoptive families recruited by the service, reducing reliance on expensive agency adoptive placements.
But because of on-going recruitment difficulties for social work practitioners and managers, it is likely any staff displaced by the amalgamation would be re-deployed, thus avoiding redundancy costs..
There would also be marginal savings relating to premises and training costs.
Proposed name for the new service is WWISH – Warrington, Wigan, St Helens and Halton.
Cllr Sheila Woodyatt, (pictured) Warrington’s executive member for education and young people, said the shared service would be able to recruit adoptive families more easily.
At present it was believed there was a regional shortfall of up to 50 families to meet current needs.
The new shared service would have a target to recruit and match an additional 10 families
If Warrington chose to remain as a sole provider there was a real risk that the council would have increasing difficulty in placing children awaiting adoption in the future.
Cllr Woodyatt added: “The shared service proposal will benefit the children of the borough who require adoptive families, as sufficient numbers of prospective adopters from diverse backgrounds will be recruited.
“This proposal will deliver a positive impact on equality and diversity, not only for children, but also for the adults within the borough who wish to be assessed as adopters.
Staff are to be consulted and involved in the development of the new service.