Publication of ‘Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2014/15’

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the ‘Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2014/15’.

This bulletin details statistical information relating to children adopted from care in Northern Ireland, during the year ending 31 March 2015. The tables within the bulletin present a range of information about these children and their adopters, including durations between different stages in the adoption process. The bulletin is based on the DHSSPS statistical return AD1 2014/15, which was collected from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Key findings:

• seventy two children were adopted from care during the year ending 31 March 2015, seventeen less than in 2014 (89)
• the average age of children at the time of adoption was 4 years 1 months
• from the last entry into care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2014/15 was 3 years 1 month. This was 2 months longer than in 2013/14
• for children adopted in 2014/15, the average duration from the Trust LAC Best Interest Proposal to adoption was 2 years 4 months, one month more than in 2013/14
• thirty eight children were adopted by their foster carers in 2014/15. This represented 53% of the overall number of adoptions
• children adopted by their foster carers were in general slightly older at the time of adoption than the other adopted children and the duration of the adoption process was generally longer
   

Notes to editors: 

1. ‘Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2014/15’ publication

2. About the data:

The source of the data contained in this release is the Departmental AD1 statistical return, collected from Health and Social Services Trusts and relating to the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

3. This statistical bulletin was produced by Community Information Branch, DHSSPS.

Further information is available from:
Community Information Branch
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Room 11, Annexe 2,
Castle Buildings,
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3SP

Tel: 028 9052 2580
Fax: 028 9052 3288
Email: cib@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet:http://dhssps.nigov.net/topics/dhssps-statistics-and-research

4. Media enquiries about this press release to DHSSPS Press Office on 9052 0575, or out of hours contact to Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned. 

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