Government set out next steps in adoption policy

Further work to be done to activate new legislation

Government has published its next steps to modernise the Island's current adoption rules.

The Adoption Act (2021) is designed to simplify the process for vulnerable children and prospective adoptive families at the centre of the process.

The Department of Health and Social Care says it expects the initial work will take around seven months to complete. 

Once this is done the secondary legislation can be taken to Tynwald for approval.

Once approved this means the sections of the Adoption Act (2021) can start to come into force, or be ‘switched on’.

It comes after the health service this week re-issued pleas for more families or individuals to consider fostering, as data obtained from Manx Care shows fostering on the Isle of Man is at a four-year low.

Minister for Health and Social Care, Lawrie Hooper MHK, said: "The new Adoption Act places the child at the centre of the adoption process, to ensure the child’s welfare is at the forefront of every decision taken by an adoption agency or court.

"We are committed to getting the implementation of this Act right, for those children and families that will be impacted by the changes. There is still a significant amount of work required in the background before the Act comes into effect, but I am confident that we have set a realistic timetable for implementation."

The Adoption Act (2021) has been designed to bring the Island’s legislation in line with that in operation in England and Wales, due to the frequency of placements between the Island and UK.