A SERVICE which aims boost the number of children that are placed with families for adoption has been safeguarded after a leading charity went into administration.
Scotland's Adoption Register had been operated by The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAFF) on behalf of the Scottish Government for the past four years and had put together 200 adoptive children with families.
But the BAFF is to close after running into financial difficulties. Three jobs are to be lost in Scotland and another six under threat.
The register has now been transferred to St Andrew’s Children’s Society, with the minister responsible saying its continuation is 'fundamental' to the wellbeing of some of the country's most vulnerable children.
Fiona McLeod, Acting Minister for Children and Young People, said: “The news of BAAF’s closure will come as a shock for many families across the UK and the thousands of people who work tirelessly to give vulnerable children and young people a permanent, stable and loving home.
" Our focus is on minimising the potential impact of this situation on children and families and I am pleased that we have been able to transfer the register to St Andrew’s Children’s Society with immediate effect.
Until the register was established, local authorities would often only look within their own area for matches. It has already brought together more than 200 'new' families and was due to be placed on a statutory footing next year.
The work of BAAF Scotland on the adoption register is to be transferred, along with two members of staff, to Edinburgh based adoption and fostering charity the St Andrew's Children's Society, which will now manage the Register.
The database is used to match children and young people with adoptive families and encourage councils to adopt similar methods for doing so effectively.
Ms McLeod added: "Earlier this year we marked the milestone of 200 families being brought together using the register. We are determined not to lose that momentum on something this fundamental to the well-being of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and young people.
“We will continue to work with all who work with adoptive families to find sustainable solutions to this unexpected situation."
Stephen Small, St. Andrew’s Director, said: “We are happy to respond to a request at very short notice from the Scottish Government to take over the running of Register. We are keen to ensure that there is as little disruption to the operation of the register as possible at this difficult time.”
St. Andrew’s will also launch a new Adoption Advice Line for Scotland in the coming weeks to complement the work of the Register.
Mr Small added: “At this time of upheaval for the Register it is important that we continue its smooth running.”
The transfer and information helpline will be funded by a temporary grant of £89,028 to the St Andrew's Children's Society until March 2017. The Scottish Government is also funding BAAF's administrators to retain Scottish staff while the charity is being wound up.
BAAF, which has been in existence for more than three decades, appointed new CEO Caroline Selkirk earlier this year in a bid to save itself from financial problems, caused by a combination of pension liabilities, a loss of income from grants and project funding, and high infrastructure costs. However the rescue was not possible.
Several of BAAF's services in England will now be transferred to children's charity Coram. Ms Selkirk said: "In the face of significant changes and prevailing economic conditions, it has sadly not been possible to sustain the organisation.
"We have been working hard to ensure that some of BAAF's vital services for vulnerable children continue. The new opportunity offered by Coram will allow the legacy of BAAF to be taken forward.
"We appreciate that this is a very challenging time for our dedicated staff and are committed to giving them as much support as is possible during this period."
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