A Regional Adoption Agency covering Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral is set to be established. New Adoption Agency launched for Liverpool City Region.



It follows a successful bid to the Government last year by local authorities on Merseyside to create a new organisation to get more children placed successfully as quickly as possible.

The new agency – set to be launched in January 2018 – will bring together a team of around 50 staff from across the four councils who will be seconded into the new organisation on their existing terms and conditions.

Responsibilities will include recruitment, approval and ongoing support for adopters, tracking, linking and matching of children and the training and development of staff.

Although the Regional Adoption Agency will have a centralised hub, staff will continue to have a presence in each of their local authority areas to ensure they retain close links with social work staff.

Every year, the four local authorities approve around 100 adopters each year and place approximately 140 children for adoption.

John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding at Sefton Council, said:

“In Sefton, we are currently looking for adoptive families for 16 local children and young people. We know that we often receive enquiries from across the Liverpool City Region, so it makes sense that we are collaborating with our neighbours to meet the challenges we face together and increase the potential for our vulnerable children to find a forever family.

“I’m looking forward to this new regional adoption agency making the process for would be adopters quicker and more effective as both they and children in Sefton and the wider region are matched so they begin their new family life.”



Consultation has already taken place with staff and trade unions, and adopters are also being kept informed.

Reports recommending the approval of the Regional Adoption Agency will be considered by each council’s Cabinet over the coming weeks, with Wirral Council the first to do so on Monday 27 March.