COUNCILS across Dorset are considering combining their adoption services.

The proposal to create a “regional adoption agency” would see Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth councils merging their services.

On Wednesday Bournemouth council’s cabinet is expected to give approval to its officers’ request to draw up a formal plan, which can then be submitted for assessment by the Department for Education.

“The move towards a proposed regional adoption agency will not discharge the council of its statutory responsibilities but will effect far reaching changes in how those functions are organised and managed," said Bournemouth council’s adoption manager Heather Freeman, in a report on the proposal.

“While Bournemouth continues to be a high performing service, central government expects that regional adoption agencies will be better able to target the recruitment of prospective adopters, speed up the matching and placement of children, improve adoption support services and may create efficiency savings.

“The Education and Children Bill is currently moving through parliament and will give the secretary of state the power to order local authority adoption agencies to combine services if they do not voluntarily do so.”

The idea will be discussed by cabinet members at Bournemouth Town Hall on Wednesday at 10am.