This Briefing Note adds to the developing picture of adoption support issues by analysing data on 20 children and young people consecutively referred to the special adoption and fostering service at the Maudsley – a wellrespected and established national CAMHS service. The analysis of the 20 consecutive cases includes the reasons for referral, the original formulation of the issues and the interventions provided. This is then compared to the reformulation of the diagnosis and the resultant services and/or interventions by the Maudsley team. The contrast is striking.
While this is a small-scale analysis, the issues raised are highly significant. They reinforce the importance of the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) specifically and other services more generally developing a more robust interdisciplinary perspective on the challenges facing adopted and special guardianship children, informed by experience and expertise. The ASF has opened a significant opportunity but it has not so far enabled the development of a coherent strategy informed by evidence. This Briefing Note indicates just why this needs to happen.
