Aberdeenshire adoption services win praise

Adoption and fostering services in Aberdeenshire have received a glowing report from inspectors. Officials from the Care Commission praised Aberdeenshire Council’s handling of adoption and fostering cases after an inspection earlier this year.

The local authority received high marks in all of the areas inspected in February.

It is the first time that the council has received a grading from the Care Commission, which changed its inspection process last year.

Bryan Livingstone, of the Care Commission, said: “We are pleased that each service achieved very good grades and expect Aberdeenshire Council to continue to maintain these standards in the future and, hopefully, further improve them.”

In 2008 20 children in Aberdeenshire were adopted.

The Care Commission report found adoption service staff were both “professional and motivated” and concerns raised by staff or people using the service were taken seriously, the report continues.

When inspectors arrived in Aberdeenshire there were more than 150 children across the region receiving short and long-term foster care, including some in respite care.

An additional 120 children were in kinship care arrangements.

When asked for their views, foster carers said they were “very happy”. They said the service was “very proactive” and one which “values and respects” what they do.

The Care Commission made no recommendations for the local authority to make improvements before the next inspection in 2010.

Councillors will discuss the results at a meeting of the social work and housing committee on Thursday.

They are also asked to approve two civic receptions later this year to recognise the valuable contributions made by foster carers in Aberdeenshire.

In a report to go before councillors on Thursday, social work director Ritchie Johnson says “significant strengths” were identified in all areas of adoption and fostering that were inspected.

“Provision of alternative family care for children who are unable to be cared for within their own families is at the forefront of our child care service,” he continues.

“The Care Commission inspection reports reflect the significant strengths of Aberdeenshire’s adoption and fostering service.”