What happens after an Assessment of Need meeting?

The Adoption Support Fund is funded the government and may provide specialist assessments and a range of therapeutic interventions for adopted children and families following an Assessment of Need. £2,500 per year per child can fund a specialist assessment and £5,000 per year per child can fund therapeutic intervention. Assessments and therapy must meet the ASF funding criteria to be approved. At present the Adoption Support Fund is only secured until March 2022.

The Adoption Support Fund requires each application to identify the desired positive outcomes for the family as follows:

• Improved relationships with friends, family members, teachers, and school staff
• Improved engagement with learning
• Improved emotional regulation and behaviour management
• Improved confidence and ability to enjoy a positive family life and social relationships.

The ASF makes their decision within 25 working days, but this may take longer if the ASF requires further information. A Working Agreement and Set Up Meeting with you, the provider and social worker is completed before any therapy commences. This is to ensure that all parties have a clear understanding of what is expected.

Each intervention commissioned requires a Review Meeting to take place which include the family, provider, and social worker. These meetings will consider:

• Whether the therapy continues to meet the needs of the family
• The agreed therapy is being delivered
• The format for remaining therapy sessions
• Any changes to the Working Agreement must be agreed by the social worker
• Outcomes and whether a further application to the ASF will be required.
• How to bring therapy to an end.

Further information on the Adoption Support Fund