Today, Adoption England launched the National Practice Standards for Staying in Touch/Contact. These standards set out clear expectations for how agencies can support adopted children to maintain safe, meaningful connections with the people who are important to them. Developed in consultation with sector leaders, professionals and those with lived experience, they provide practical guidance from the earliest stages of care planning through to adoption and beyond.

Vicky Swift, National Practice and Development Lead – Maintaining Relationships at Adoption England, said:
“Agencies across the sector are encouraged to use the National Practice Standards for Staying in Touch/Contact to support individually planned approaches for adopted children, recognising that each child’s lifelong needs and relationships are unique. The standards support practitioners in considering a child’s whole identity when maintaining important relationships after adoption.”

These standards mark an important step towards modernising adoption practice, helping to ensure that children and young people are supported to maintain the lifelong relationships that matter most to them.