Issue - meetings

Regional Adoption Agency - Medway Council, Kent County Council and London Borough of Bexley

Meeting: 22/09/2020 - Cabinet (Item 4)

4 Adoption Partnership - The London Borough of Bexley, Kent County Council and Medway Council Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) pdf icon PDF 524 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Background

This report outlined how the recommendations made by Cabinet in January 2020 have been discharged and provided an update on progress made to develop a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) in line with Government’s expectations for Adoption Services nationally.

 

The report outlined the plans for Medway Council’s involvement in the establishment of an RAA with the London Borough of Bexley and Kent County Council, which would be known as Adoption Partnership South East and was due to ‘go live’ on 1 November 2020.

 

The legal Partnership Agreement, attached as Appendix 1, outlined the arrangements for the exercise of adoption functions and operating practices of Adoption Partnership South East.

 

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

The report was accompanied by an exempt appendix which detailed the financial implications of establishing an RAA, including a Financial Protocol with regards to the relationship between the partners.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

109/2020

The Cabinet noted the content of the report and approved the Partnership Agreement, subject to there being no significant changes and delegated authority to the Director of People – Children and Adults Services, in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer to approve any changes.

 

Reasons:

Approving the Partnership Agreement will enable Medway to proceed with the partnership and meet the timescales indicated in the report.