Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Children’s Services which was presented to report on the performance of the South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS) and the National Adoption Service (NAS) for 2020/21.

The Service Manager, South East Wales Adoption Service spoke to the report and highlighted the three main areas contained within the report:-

•        Recruitment

•        Placing Children

•        Adoption Support

In response to a Member’s question regarding Life Journey Work, the Service Manager (SEWAS) explained that every child who was adopted had Life Journey Work, it comes in various forms and goes with them so their adopters would have an understanding of the history of the child, in a child centred way, and it contained all the information about the child’s birth family.

With regard to recruitment for placements a Member enquired if the format for advertising could be widened, such as localised engagement i.e. a roadshow, when COVID restrictions allow.  The Service Manager said that other regions had invested £6,000 in billboard advertising locally and had gained little response from that investment.  A Marketing Officer was now in post and looked closely at where to invest money to get the best response and that was through social media platforms.  She advised Members that recruitment for this year had doubled and they were above target for their recruitment goals.

The Member felt that with the Blaenau Gwent demographics people liked face to face interaction to ask poignant questions.  The Service Manager advised that they also hold information events for the public to attend.

The Director of Social Services added that they had moved to a more digital platform for advertising with some success.  With the pandemic restrictions they had been unable to hold some public events such as roadshows at supermarkets and when COVID restrictions ease they could consider revisiting this locally as it may work better for Blaenau Gwent than other areas across Gwent.  

A Member said it was pleasing to note that recruitment had doubled this year and enquired if any marketing data was available for Members to compare what type of advertising had the most impact.  The Service Manager confirmed that information was available and would forward it to Members for their information.

The Chair said that potentially they could also look to do some advertising in the locality hubs where people visited regularly.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 2; namely that the information be accepted as reported.