Adoption | CoramBAAF

Our Adoption Consultant develops a range of practice notes, briefings and other resources to support our members in their work. They also support the exchange of ideas and good practice at our regular practice forums.

News and updates

Diary of a social worker | The impact of cuts for therapeutic support

Education Committee: Children’s social care report published

“Adolescence”: How online life can affect children and young people in care

CPR (Child Permanence Report) England (2025)

We have published the updated Child’s Permanence Report (CPR). The form and accompanying guidance have been developed by CoramBAAF alongside a working group of practitioners, including children’s social workers, family finders, panel chairs, advisers and adopters. We have also consulted birth parents and other stakeholders. Feedback was gained through a pilot of the form by Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) and Local Authorities (LAs) during 2024 and consultations with Adoption UK and relevant CoramBAAF forums. The form is compliant with relevant law, regulations and statutory guidance.

The Child’s Permanence Report is an essential tool in enabling the adoption agency to plan for the future life of a child. Adopted adults have a legal right to have a copy of the document. It is designed to be used at key stages of the adoption process – care planning (Agency Decision Maker decision), court application for a Placement Order, as a source of information through matching and as a resource for the child into adulthood.

The importance of planning for a child's future

The Child Permanence Report (CPR) plays a crucial role in helping adoption agencies plan a child's future. As part of their legal rights, adopted adults are entitled to access the full, unredacted document. Jane Poore, our Adoption Consultant, shares everything you need to know about the launch of the new CPR - including briefing sessions, training and more.

Child's Permanence Report (CPR) England: Briefing session recording

The Child Permanence Report is an essential tool in enabling the adoption agency to plan for the future life of a child. Adopted adults have a legal right to have a copy of the document. It is designed to be used at key stages of the adoption process – care planning (Agency Decision Maker decision), court application for a Placement Order, as a source of information through matching and as a resource for the child into adulthood.

Watch here

Child's Permanence Report (CPR) England: AFDiT Framework Briefing

AFDiT is an anti-racist practice tool that supports social workers and family finders in effectively understanding, addressing and protecting the identity need of racialised and minoritised ethnic children; especially when moving into adoptive families. It is, however, a tool that should also be used for self-reflection and team work. It equally applies to transracial foster homes. The Framework was developed by a team at the University of Sussex and was co-created with a team of professionals and people with lived experience of transracial adoption.

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Adoption Support Plan (ASP)

The Adoption Support Plan (ASP) and accompanying guides for adopters, practitioners and IROs have been developed by CoramBAAF, building on work started by Adoption England. We know that a high proportion of adopters report either not being aware of their support plan, or that the support plan does not meet the needs of children and their families. We have addressed this by making it a standalone, more in depth document.

The ASP assessment brings together what is known about the child’s needs. Then, when they are being matched and moving to their adoptive family, the Adoption Support Plan also sets out the support that has been identified for the child and their adopters in the short term, and what may be needed in the longer term. This will enable the adopters to feel confident in knowing what support will be available to them.

Adoption Support Plan (2025): a new comprehensive tool to support children and their families

The new ASP should be used alongside the Adoption Placement Report (APR) England (2025), which has had minor amendments, to reduce duplication. The Adoption Placement Report (2018) remains available for use as a standalone document and will be fully reviewed in 2026.

Adoption Support Plan (ASP) England: Briefing session for IROs

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Adoption Support Plan (ASP) England: Briefing session

Watch here

In our bookshop

All Books

Matching children from Wales with adopters approved in Scotland
By: Jane Poore, Alexandra Conroy-Harris, AFKA Scotland, Sarah Coldrick.
Differences in regulations and guidance between Wales and Scotland mean that there are some additional things to think about when planning to move children. This Practice Note offers guidance on key aspects of children moving from Wales to Scotland to be placed with adopters approved in Scotland, specifically addressing common queries received by AFKA Cymru, AFKA Scotland and CoramBAAF’s Advice Line.
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Matching children from England with adopters approved in Scotland
By: Jane Poore, Alexandra Conroy-Harris, AFKA Scotland.
This Practice Note offers guidance on key aspects of children moving cross-border from England to Scotland to be placed with adopters approved in Scotland, specifically addressing common queries received by AFKA Scotland and CoramBAAF’s Advice Line.
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Adoption now
By: Roy Stewart with Alexandra Conroy-Harris
*NEW EDITION* This handy guide presents the law, regulations, standards and guidance relating to adoption today, covering all stages of the process and related information – in easily digested bite-sized chunks.
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Exploring and assessing motivations to adopt
By: Laura Payne
This guide will help social workers assess motivation to adopt, a key part of future adoption success. Information about fertility treatments, unconscious bias when assessing LGBTQ+ and single applicants, how to explore a wish to adopt for religious or environmental reasons, and discussion around the importance of expectations of family life, provide vital practice advice.
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CoramBAAF Conversations

Our podcast series is dedicated to exploring topics related to adoption, fostering and kinship care. We invite children's social care professionals and experts by experience to join us to share best practices, their experiences and knowledge.

Public Law Working Group report

Chapter summaries and analyses

CoramBAAF welcomes the publication of the Public Law Working Group adoption sub-group report. It contains a wealth of recommendations aimed at supporting the continued modernisation and adaptation of the adoption process.

Assessing adopters

Children whose plan is adoption are some of the most vulnerable in our society and we must ensure that their need for a stable family life with unconditional support and love is at the centre of all decisions we make about the approval and support process.

Implications of the Cumbria Child Safeguarding Practice Review

Following the murder of Leiland-James Corkill by his prospective adopter, the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership undertook a Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR). The report of the review, published in 2022, made several recommendations, including how information is shared, when medical assessments of potential adopters should be updated, how to include the voice of the child in assessments and the use of personal referees.

Influence change

Our multidisciplinary groups and provide a platform to our members so we can advocate on their behalf to Government, and ensure that their voices are heard in the development of legislation, policy and practice.