Research

Adoption England commissioned Coram to undertake research exploring case holding responsibility practice in Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) in England, in support of the National Adoption Strategy. 

The project started in June 2023 and this report sets out the findings. Download the document to know more. 

In a significant step toward improving adoption processes, Adoption England has commissioned the Institute of Public Care (IPC) at Oxford Brookes University to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of family finding events we previously funded nationally. The report examines the uptake and potential value of 18 family finding events, including adoption activity days, pan-regional family finding events, and exchange events, held across England.

When a child is adopted, there’s an important transition period between leaving foster care and settling into their new adoptive home. This stage includes introductions, visits, and time to adjust as a family before legal permanence is confirmed through an Adoption Order. In England, around 3,000 children are adopted each year, but approximately 2.5% of placements – around 479 children – break down before the order is made. While this percentage may seem small, the emotional impact on the children and families involved is significant. Although we have some data on these disruptions, there is still little understanding of why they happen or how they are experienced. This research aims to close that gap by exploring the real stories behind pre-order disruptions through a qualitative lens.