To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children’s Services.

1. That Trafford support the establishment of a Regional Adoption Agency between Stockport, Manchester, Trafford, Salford and Cheshire East local authorities.

2. That, subject to the execution of a partnership agreement as set out below, Trafford agree that the Regional Adoption Agency will exercise delegated functions on its behalf with regard to the recruitment and assessment of adopters, adoption panels, family finding and adoption support.

3. That Stockport MBC become the host authority for the agency subject to the conclusion of a partnership agreement which will include:

•    The appointment of a Management Board with representation from each local authority and attendance by key voluntary sector partners.

•    Satisfactory secondment arrangements for staff to be managed by Stockport MBC and, a process whereby Stockport will take on responsibility for recruitment to vacant posts, at nil cost to Stockport and neutral cost to Trafford.

•    The agreement of a business plan, budget and funding formula to reflect Trafford’s contribution to the regional agency.

•    Agreement of the commissioning needs and mechanisms for the new agency.

•    Identification of the ICT and information sharing requirements of the new agency.

•    The appointment of a Regional Adoption Manager as lead officer to be accountable to Stockport’s Director of Children’s Services.

4. That the Corporate Director, Children, Families and Well-being in consultation with the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Chief Finance Officer and the Executive Member for Children’s Services, be authorised to agree the final details of the arrangement subject to there being no substantial changes to the current plan.

5. That this decision be deemed to be urgent, for the reasons set out in paragraph 5.0 of the report, and not subject to call-in.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services submitted a report setting out proposals in relation to the establishment of a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA), in line with the principles set out in Section 16 of the Education and Adoption Act 2016. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise observations and queries on the report’s content.

            RESOLVED -

(1)        That Trafford support the establishment of a Regional Adoption Agency between Stockport, Manchester, Trafford, Salford and Cheshire East local authorities.

(2)        That, subject to the execution of a partnership agreement as set out below, Trafford agree that the Regional Adoption Agency will exercise delegated functions on its behalf with regard to the recruitment and assessment of adopters, adoption panels, family finding and adoption support.

(3)       That Stockport MBC become the host authority for the agency subject to the conclusion of a partnership agreement which will include:

•    The appointment of a Management Board with representation from each local authority and attendance by key voluntary sector partners.

•    Satisfactory secondment arrangements for staff to be managed by Stockport MBC and, a process whereby Stockport will take on responsibility for recruitment to vacant posts, at nil cost to Stockport and neutral cost to Trafford.

•    The agreement of a business plan, budget and funding formula to reflect Trafford’s contribution to the regional agency.

•    Agreement of the commissioning needs and mechanisms for the new agency.

•    Identification of the ICT and information sharing requirements of the new agency.

•    The appointment of a Regional Adoption Manager as lead officer to be accountable to Stockport’s Director of Children’s Services.

(4)       That the Corporate Director, Children, Families and Well-being in consultation with the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Chief Finance Officer and the Executive Member for Children’s Services, be authorised to agree the final details of the arrangement subject to there being no substantial changes to the current plan.

(5)       That this decision be deemed to be urgent, for the reasons set out in paragraph 5.0 of the report, and not subject to call-in.