Characteristics of the children we place – what does the data say?

Children are being adopted at a younger age…

…and are spending less time in care

Adoption timelines for children - by age group Timescales from child entering care to Adoption Order (Average number of days per stage) Adoption timelines for children - by age group Total = 743 days) Total = 670 days) Total = 1,181 days) This is drawn from ALB data collected over the last 3 years to Q3 2016-17. This slide shows the difference, by age, in the timelines of each stage in the adoption process – from entering care to a decision for adoption, through all the way to getting an Adoption Order. Children aged 5 or over account for about 20% of adoptions. It takes 76% longer on average for such children to move through the adoption system (from entering care through to their Adoption Order) compared to children aged under 5. There are 2 main stages where their adoption timelines are much longer – Decisions for adoption takes almost twice as long, whilst the matching stage is 2.5 times longer. Even the time it takes to get an Adoption Order is longer for older children. (A note for Annie: the ages refer to children of that age at each particular stage of adoption – eg aged 5+ when they got their placement order) It takes twice as long on average for a child aged 5+ to reach a decision for adoption after entering care, compared to a child aged under 5. It also takes 2.5 times longer to match these children. Source : ALB 3 years to Q3 2016-17

Adoption timelines for children - by ethnicity Timescales from child entering care to Adoption Order (Average number of days per stage) Adoption timelines for children - by ethnicity Total = 743 days) Total = 727 days) Total = 747 days) Total = 807 days) Total = 1,013 days) Children of a White British origin account for 81% of adoptions. Although children of African, Caribbean or other black ethnicity only account for a small proportion of adoptions (2%) their timescale is significantly longer – it takes 40% longer from entering care through to Adoption Order, compared to children of white British ethnicity. The greatest difference is in the matching stage, which takes 67% longer. Note for Annie - White but not British children = 3% of adoptions Mixed race children =11% of adoptions Asian children = 1% of adoptions Total = 836 days) The timescale from entering care to getting an Adoption Order is 40% longer for a child of African, Caribbean or other black ethnicity compared to a child of white British ethnicity. The greatest disparity is in the matching stage (it takes 67% longer). Source : ALB 3 years to Q3 2016-17

Adoption timelines for children - disability Timescales from child entering care to Adoption Order (Average number of days per stage) Adoption timelines for children - disability Total = 743 days) Total = 732 days) Total = 1,002 days) Disabled children account for 4% of adoptions. Their timescale compared to non-disabled children is much longer. It takes 9 months longer from entering care through to getting an Adoption Order – that’s nearly 40% longer The timescale from entering care to getting an Adoption Order Is 9 months longer on average for a child with a disability, compared to a non-disabled child. The matching stage takes over 6 months longer. Source : ALB 3 years to Q3 2016-17

Adoption timelines for children – placed in sibling groups Timescales from child entering care to Adoption Order (Average number of days per stage) Adoption timelines for children – placed in sibling groups Total = 743 days) Total = 835 days) Total = 703 days) 45% of adoptions were children placed in sibling groups. Their timeline from entering care to getting an Adoption Order was just 1 month longer than children placed individually. We know a lot about the journey time – but much less about what happens at the destination – the outcomes of different types of children. Matt Woolgar will say more about this… The timescale for chlldren placed in sibling groups is on average just 1 month longer overall compared to children placed individually. There is disparity at both the matching stage and the stage from placement to Adoption Order Source : ALB 3 years to Q3 2016-17

The profile of children placed by the voluntary sector The voluntary sector places many of these children – many older, sibling group, BME children.