ADOPTION rates in Poole have been flagged after falling well below the national level - but the council has said it expects them to be back up in the next six months.

The proportion of children leaving care to adoption - used as a 'key performance indicator' by Borough of Poole- has fallen to 5 per cent according to the midyear update - well short of the 17 per cent target.

But Gerry Moore, head of children and young people’s social care at the council, has said the dip is a temporary one.

She told the Echo the council's adoption performance has been "consistently good for a number of years," adding: "Since April 2015, two children have been adopted and 21 children are currently placed for adoption awaiting an adoption order.

"The majority of these are expected to be adopted in the next six months which we anticipate will bring the number of children adopted in line with the national figure for performance. Five children are waiting for adoptive placements, all of whom are older children who have significant complex emotional and behavioural needs."

She said the fall in adoptions was down to factors including the complex needs of some of the children, and the rise in the number of special guardianship orders. These are permanent placements, largely with extended family members and connected people who share parental responsibility with birth parents - but they are not adoptions.

Exchange days and Adoption Activity days with neighbouring local authorities and the voluntary sector have helped achieve adoptive placements for hard to place children, including those who are older, have complex and specialist needs or specific religious requirements, he added.

The council currently has 11 prospective adoptive assessments underway and 10 families approved and waiting for a child to be placed with them - but Ms Moore said they were keen to hear from anyone interested in becoming an adoptive parent.

She added: "We are also committed to working in partnership with Bournemouth, Dorset and Families for Children as part of a ‘scope and define project’ to move towards a Regionalised Adoption Agency with the aim of creating an effective regionalised adoption service which minimises delay and maximises recruitment, adoption placement opportunities and adoption support."

For more information please contact the Adoption Team at adoption@poole.gov.uk or call 01202 714711.