Support to Birth Families Service in Somerset

Tender description

The overall objective of this service is to offer information about adoption, counselling and support and advice to all birth parents or relatives of children where adoption is the plan for the child or the child has already been adopted. The Department for Education (DfE) Statutory Guidance on Adoption, July 2014 sets outs the LA's duty to provide adoption support to the birth parents and relatives of adopted children. The agency should offer the parents the services of an independent support worker - someone who can provide advice and support and is either from another adoption agency or adoption support agency or, at least, not a member of the team of social workers who are responsible for the child's case, to comply with The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (AAR:14). This service is Somerset County Council's independent offer of support and advice to birth parents and relatives and all services and support provided will be independent to those provided by the child's social worker. The Supplier should also seek to enhance knowledge amongst professionals of the perspective of birth parents and to contribute to the training of professionals in this area of expertise.