Northern Ireland adoption statistics published

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has today published the ‘Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2013/14’ statistical bulletin.

This bulletin details statistical information relating to children adopted from care in Northern Ireland, during the year ending 31 March 2014. The tables within the bulletin present a range of information about these children and their adopters, including durations between different stages in the adoption process.

The bulletin is based on the DHSSPS statistical return AD1 2013/14, which was collected from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Key Findings

• Eighty nine children were adopted from care during the year ending 31 March 2014, one more than in 2013 (88);
• The average age of children at the time of adoption was 4 years 4 months;
• From the last entry into care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2013/14 was two years 11 months. This was six months shorter than in 2012/13;
• For children adopted in 2013/14, the average duration from the Trust LAC Best Interest Proposal to adoption was two years three months, four months less than in 2012/13;
• Fifty five children were adopted by their foster carers in 2013/14. This represented 62% of the overall number of adoptions;
• Children adopted by their foster carers were in general slightly older at the time of adoption than the other adopted children and the duration of the adoption process was generally longer.

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/statistics/socialcare/children-adopted-from-care.htm