1. In Limbo Adoptive Placements and Large Sibling group adoptions
Ellen Paladini-Stone and Katie Law

2. Adoption Types of adoptions Who can adopt Local authority care
Concurrent/foster to adopt
Intercountry
Who can adopt
One or two parent households
A relative or non relative (i.e. step parent)
Must be at least 21 years old
Of any religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender,
Who can be adopted?
children up to the age of 18
Sibling groups/singletons
Children with complex needs

3. The adoption journey for looked after children
Adopters are prepared, assessed and approved
Placement Order made for child
Family finding – social worker identifies suitable adopters for the child
Introductions arranged, then child is placed with adopters
Though this is an adoptive placement, the child is still in care and so there are regular social work visits and LA reviews etc.
After 10 weeks the adopters can apply to adopt the child
Implications of the making of the adoption order

4. Sibling groups defined
Biological- children who share one or two parents. All children share some, if not all, genetic material. Full and half siblings.
Legal/Blended- children who may not be genetically related but are related legally, through marriage (step siblings) or adoption. Children in blended families can be raised like step siblings without legal relationship, i.e. unwed parents with children from separate relationships.
Psychological- children who are not related biologically or through parental and/or legal relationships but have been brought up together and share an emotional bond and identify as siblings. For instance, children raised together in foster care.

5. What is a Large Sibling Group?

6. What is a Large Sibling Group?
Usually defined as 3 or more children who share a parent(s) and/or experiences who are raised together.
The motivation to have a large family may vary widely.
The “19 Kids and Counting” family cite religious reasons as one motivation
Cultural reasons
Family expectations
Desire for children to not feel alone/isolated/separated
There is little known about large sibling groups aside from information on birth order and education attainment.
Large sibling groups wait for permanency

7. Keeping siblings together
UK policy aims to keep siblings together when placed into local authority care unless there are extenuating circumstances that require their separation.
Research, generally, indicates favourable outcomes for siblings placed together (Argent 2008, Hegar 2005, Hegar, Rosenthal 2011, Herrick, Piccus 2005, Tarren-Sweeney, Hazell 2005)
Benefits of keeping siblings together include;
Shared experience of the sibling group which can help them make sense of their transition into care.
Maintains familiar roles and routines
Mutual support

8. When to separate siblings
There are times when it may be appropriate to separate siblings
Together or apart assessments
Determines the quality and significance of the sibling relationship
Weighs the risks vs benefits of the remaining together or being separated
If separation is recommended, plans for the separation should be carefully thought out
Often times, inter sibling abuse is cited as a reason to separate
We must however distinguish between a negative sibling relationship and an insignificant sibling relationship.

9. When to separate siblings
Other reasons siblings might separate Lack of resource families Lack of approved adopters for large sibling groups Lack of attuned support for sibling groups
Individual needs vs sibling group needs
The wait

10. Statistics on large sibling group adoptions 2014/2015
97 children in a large sibling group were referred (1 group of four, 1 group of six)
1993 adoptive families referred with only 1% (or approximately 20 families) approved for a sibling group of three and none approved for more than three siblings

11. Why I think research is needed about “in limbo adoptive placements”
My work experience
Other LAs - Freedom of Information requests

12. Information provided in response to FOI request by 175 English and Welsh local authorities
For over 12 but less than 24 months
137
For over 24 but less than 36 months 40
For over 36 months. 25
Totals
202

13. Possible implications of in limbo adoptive placements
No research about frequency of and reasons for delayed applications
Julie Selwyn et al (2015) states there is increased rise of disruption if application is delayed by more than two years
No other research about implications for children or adopters

14. Possible reasons Practical reasons
Adopters felt mislead and not prepared well enough for the placement?
Concerns about provision of adoption support
Attachment issues

15. Research plans Freedom of Information Requests Online surveys
Meeting with adopters
Meetings with social workers

16. The adoption triangle Birth parents Adopted person Adoptive parents
10/24/2017
The adoption triangle
Birth parents
Adopted person
Adoptive parents

17. What can we do?
Targeted recruitment for resource families
Comprehensive and creative support plans
Appropriate training and knowledge about sibling groups

18. Your thoughts, views and advice please