Recommendation 40

The Department must end the annual cliff-edge of uncertainty faced by adoptive families and make funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. It should monitor the impact of the reduced funding limits after 12 months of the reduced personal limit and engage with organisations representing adoptive families to assess whether there have been significant negative effects and commit to increasing the limits in the future if so. The Department must also consult on introducing a support plan for adopted children with appropriate duties to ensure that support is provided. (Recommendation, Paragraph 95)