The experience of adoption (1): a study of intercountry and domestic adoption from the child's point of view.
Adoption & Fostering › Vol. 31 Nbr. 4, December 2007
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The experience of adoption (1): a study of intercountry and domestic adoption from the child's point of view.
Introduction
Listening to the views of children is an increasingly important focus for research, policy and practice in relation to children's services. The government Green Paper Every Child Matters (2003) was followed by a consultation with professionals working within children's services, parents, young people and children. Following the Every Child Matters initiative, the Children Act 2004 was passed, which demonstrated the Government's increased recognition of the importance of the rights and views of children, by aiming to encourage children's services to achieve outcomes highlighted as important by children and young people themselves. As part of this process, the Government appointed the first Children's Commissioner to England to give children (especially the most vulnerable) a voice in government and public life. The Every Child Matters vision for children's services has particular implications for social care, with the Government advising social workers that: To achieve the outcomes for all children and young people it will be essential that listening to and involving children and young people are at the heart of the way services are delivered. (Department for Education and Skills, 2004, p 2) The increasing emphasis on child-focused legislation can be seen in the recently implemented Adoption and Children Act 2002. This Act replaces the previous Adoption Act of 1976 and represents the most radical overhaul of adoption policy for almost 30 years. The new Act places adopted children's interests at the centre of policy and practice decisions, ensuring that the child's welfare is the primary consideration for all decisions relating to adoption, and placing a duty on local authorities to provide more support for adoptive families, including a mandatory requirement to provide post-adoption services. By listening to children's views it may be possible for services to be better designed and targeted to meet their needs. Involving children in adoption research Policy-makers and practitioners recognise that involving service users in polic...See the full content of this document
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