PLANS to merge adoption services across Dorset has been given the green light to become national trailblazer project.

The partnership project to improve the adoption process will become a ‘demonstration project’ as part of the Government’s Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) initiative.

The Government expects local authorities and voluntary agencies to join forces and set up RAAs across England.

This is to enable better targeting for the recruitment of prospective adopters, speed up the matching and placement of children, improve adoption support services and potentially create efficiency savings.

Work is currently underway to develop an RAA by Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council, The Borough of Poole and adoption agency, Families for Children.

Plans for the proposed agency have received approval from the department for education to progress as one of only five demonstration projects across England.

Councillor Mike White, cabinet portfolio holder for children, young people and capital projects at Borough of Poole, said: “This is an excellent result for all the partners involved in delivering the new agency and we are delighted to be selected as one of only five trailblazer projects in England, recognised for our hard work, ambition and combined expertise.

"As a demonstration project, we will help to define what a successful RAA will look like, helping other future proposed agencies to model their work on our best practice and experience.”

It is hoped that the agency will be launched and fully operational by summer 2017.