Find out how we support Local Authorities to fulfil their statutory duty for intercountry adoption, from early stage enquiries to post adoption workshops.
Service Level Agreement
Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide advice to residents on intercountry adoption. Coram IAC offers a full and comprehensive Service Level Agreement to Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to fulfil the statutory duty on their behalf. For families that go forward in the process, we offer them a contract directly to carry out their assessment and support them with the adoption process to bring the child to the UK, and provide life-long adoption support services.
Coram IAC’s specialist knowledge of adoption procedures and practices in different countries reduces costs to the partner Local Authority / Regional Adoption Agency by eliminating the need to train and support staff to deliver this complex and niche service. We also support families who are adopting kin, or have already identified the child they wish to adopt abroad.
Under this service Coram IAC undertakes the following work on behalf of the Local Authority/Regional Adoption Agency:
- An unlimited number of enquirers, including provision of an information pack and attendance at an Information Day and conducting an unlimited number of counselling interviews where indicated.
- Work in both Stages One and Two covering statutory checks, preparation workshops, assessment, adoption Panel, DfE administration and support during waiting for all applicants, including those from prospective kinship adopters.
- Support at matching and following placement as outlined above for applications approved by Coram IAC, including a post placement visit and access to adoption support workshop.
Additional services
It is also possible for a Local Authority / Regional Adoption Agency to contract for additional services to be provided by Coram IAC including:
- Post approval service for prospective adopters whose Local Authority has already approved and are awaiting a match. Coram IAC will undertake the review of suitability of waiting adopters, prepare and assess for change of country if indicated and present the change of country assessment to the LA’s Panel. Coram IAC will support the PAPs through the matching stage and until the child returns with them to the UK.
- Where the child does not enter the UK with a full and final order, monitoring and reviewing the child’s placement and reporting to the Court or where the child is placed on an interim basis. This is pending the making of an adoption order in the state of origin, where we can support with preparing reports for the relevant foreign authorities.
The cost of these services is by case. For further information please contact our Contracts Business Support at info@coramiac.org.uk.
Our Subscription Service
For Local Authorities and Regional Adoption Agencies who don’t hold a full Service Level Agreement with us, a Subscription Service is available and includes:
- Priority access to the specialist Intercountry Adoption Advice Line
- Subsidised rates for potential adopters attending Information Sessions, Country Specific Workshops and Adoption Support Workshops
- Access for potential adopters to IAC’s Preparation Course, Kinship Preparation Course and Adopting Again courses
- Subsidised rates for professionals attending Coram IAC training courses
- Subsidised rates for professional consultation and bespoke courses
- Access for two individuals from each subscribing authority to attend the Practitioner Network
- Access to the subscriber site
Please note that residents of non-subscribing local authorities or RAAs cannot access the Advice Line, nor can those agencies refer prospective adopters to Coram IAC’s Preparation Courses. However, their potential adopters are welcome to attend Information Sessions, Country Workshops and Information Days for Family and Friends, for which a service charge will apply.
Join us
Subscription benefits both your prospective and established adopters and professionals within your organisation by increasing your capacity to support those interested in intercountry adoption. For more information, contact us using the link below.