Scotland's first adoption activity day: evaluation

1. Introduction

1.1 This report is about the Adoption Activity Day held in Scotland in October 2015 and sets out the feedback from all who took part. The report also draws upon a recent study ' Beyond the Adoption Order, challenges, intervention, disruption 2014 University of Bristol and the Department of Education.'

1.2 A number of Activity Days have been held in England and the Scottish Government decided to fund the first one in Scotland and to commission an evaluation of the day to report on the impact on the children and their carers and prospective adopters. The first day was organised by staff from Scotland's Adoption Register assisted by an advisory group of experienced adoption practitioners.

1.3 BAAF set out that the primary purpose of activity days is to give children waiting for a permanent placement and prospective adopters the opportunity to meet in a relaxing and child friendly environment with a focus on a range of activities that both can engage in together. It is an opportunity for prospective families to respond directly to children and hopefully enhance the chances of finding families for those children who might otherwise miss the opportunity of having a permanent family. ^[1] These are not decision making days for either children or prospective adopters

1.4 There have been a number of such days in England but this one is the first in Scotland. Therefore the day was to be evaluated. The evaluation has six themes.

1. To learn from all involved, the children, their current carers, prospective adopters and social work staff their impressions and views of the day

2. To review the outcomes of the day in terms of views on the day and subsequently when carers will have feedback from the children and prospective adopters and staff will have had time to reflect on the experience

3. To review the event and to evaluate what worked well, what could be improved in a future event, which resources, and organisation and management would be required for future events

4. To identify outcomes in terms of the intention to enhance the adoption process for some families and children. It is recognised that this may not be appropriate for all children awaiting adoption or for all prospective adopters.

5. To review the longer term impact of the process in terms of the wider benefits of the day to the children, in particular how well they were prepared, how well they understood what adoption could mean. (this will inevitably depend on the children's ages and stages)

6. To hear from foster carers and professionals the implications they have identified for the children, for themselves and for future planning.