Independent Counselling Service (For the birth parents and other relatives of children with an adoption plan.)

Tender description

National Minimum Standards for Adoption requires that “birth parents will have access to a support worker independent of the child’s social worker from the time adoption is identified as the plan for the child”. In most cases this will be once the Agency Decision that the child should be placed for adoption has been made. However, birth parents who are considering relinquishing a baby may be offered independent counselling as soon as they request adoption. Adoption Statutory Guidance states: 2.31. 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. This requirement significantly reduces the pool of qualified bidders. The contract duration will be for an initial term of three years, with an option to extend annually for a further two years.