Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 3 July 2019.
As I said in answer to the question that you read it out, what we're trying to do is to prevent children needing adoption by trying to keep them at home with their families. So, we're investing in edge of care services, which are now operating in all the regions in Wales. We've given £2.3 million to help prevent children who have been adopted coming back into care, which does happen because of the support that is needed for adoption. The decision to adopt is a very serious decision, as the Member recognises. It does require a decision by a court, so it's not at the whim of a social worker. It's very carefully thought out and it should be the last resort; every effort should have been made before you reach the situation where an adoption takes place, particularly if it is against the wishes of the natural birth parents. So, I think what we are doing in Wales is trying to shift the balance. We're trying to make sure that fewer children come into care and then need adoption, and for the ones who absolutely do need adoption, after making every effort to stop it happening, as much support as possible is given to make those adoptions successful.