Adoptive parents 'angry' at lack of support over delayed law change

The new law was expected to "change lives", according to the former health minister

A three-year-delay in a law aimed at better supporting parents of adoptive children has left families "angry" and feeling let down by Stormont.

The legislation from 2022 placed a duty on adoption authorities to assess children, many of whom have experienced trauma, and help provide support like therapeutic and mental health care.

It still hasn't been fully implemented with the Department of Health (DoH) blaming "a lack of funding and children's social care workforce challenges".

One parent told BBC News NI they'd lost faith in the system and were struggling to cope with their child who had serious emotional needs.

Jasmine, which is not her real name, said she was recently told her child could get an occupational therapy assessment but subsequent therapy would not be funded.

"What was the point in doing the assessment to find out the things that needed to be fixed, but not actually putting something in place to try and resolve the issues?"

Jasmine said the people she has worked with have been great but "they don't have the tools or resources" to help children.

The DoH said work on the law was temporarily paused in October 2024 due to the ongoing Covid inquiry.

How did the law change?

The Adoption and Children Act 2022 was introduced by former health minister Robin Swann, who said it would "change lives".

Part of the legislation provides a right for adoptive parents to request an assessment of their child's needs from post-adoption services, which would then link with health trusts and, if relevant, the Education Authority to provide appropriate services.

Adoption UK said the support needed would be mostly therapeutic, provided either in-house or by the bespoke health trust post-adoption team through the NHS.

New research from the charity shows 81% of adoptive parents in NI said that it felt "like a constant struggle" to get the help and support their child needed.

More than half have reported experiencing violent and aggressive behaviour from children because of previous trauma.

This was based on a sample of over 100 adoptive families in Northern Ireland.

Jasmine said her child struggles with the normal things in life such as a grazed knee

Jasmine said her child struggled with the normal things in life such as a grazed knee.

"They have a kind of fear of someone coming near them with a wet wipe or something to clean their wound," she said.

"It might be the two of us, my husband and myself, in the kitchen doing basic first aid and my child is lying there kicking, punching and screaming and all sorts."

There is no central record of the number of adoptees living in Northern Ireland.

However, latest figures from the Adopted From Care in Northern Ireland Report show that during the year ending 31 March 2024, 97 children were adopted.

'Recipe for disaster'

Jasmine said placing a child with an unknown history of trauma with a family without support was "just a recipe for disaster".

"Even the trauma of being removed at birth - it kind of changes the way your brain is wired and it does make things just a little bit more volatile," she said.

"Every child is going to be different. Every child is going to need a different level of intervention."

Jasmine said they found her child had not developed in certain ways from being a baby which meant they could be "physically unstable".

Adoption UK said families are living with the same services as before the law changed

Mary, whose name has also been changed, said her adopted child struggled with school, even jumping out of the car on the way.

"We had been reassured at our pre-adoption courses that there would be some support if love wasn't quite enough," she said.

"However, being taken from traumatic backgrounds and put into a loving home is not enough to heal trauma."

Mary said she did get support from a social worker who made many recommendations, including an autism assessment.

"I have been reassured that my child will have it before they are 18. Too late. Their chance of education will be over," she said.

EJ Havlin, from Adoption UK, said families deserve better

Director of Adoption UK in Northern Ireland EJ Havlin said plans were two years behind what was originally promised.

"My request to Stormont would be to make sure that you can allocate the budget required to implement the law... adopted children deserve this investment in their future," she said.

"The adoption community is living with the same services that it had before we changed this law."

'Not surprised'

Alliance MLA Nuala Mc Allister said Covid can't continue to be an excuse

The Department of Health said work has been restarted but timescales for implementation of the act will depend on the provision of additional and sustained funding.

Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister said Covid should not still be used as a reason as for delays.

She said it was "disappointing" but not "surprising" that the legislation has not made the the difference it is meant to.

"Is it about financial resourcing or is it about actually focusing on efforts and priorities in the right areas?

"I know our health system is crumbling in ways, but where is the minister's priorities and what is he going to see and push through?"