Publication of “Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2020/21”

Date published: 30 September 2021

This bulletin details statistical information relating to children adopted from care during the year ending 31 March 2021. 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 DoH statistical return AD1 2020/21, which was collected from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts.

Key Findings

• During the year ending 31 March 2021, 57 children were adopted from care in Northern Ireland, almost half the number of the year before (111);
• The average age of children at the time of adoption was at 3 years 10 months, somewhat younger than in previous years;
• From the child’s last entry into care, the average length of time for a child to be adopted in 2020/21 was 3 years 2 months. This was similar to the last three years;
• For children adopted in 2020/21, the average duration from the HSC Trust proposal that adoption was in the best interest for the child (the Looked After Child Best Interest Proposal) to the Adoption Order was 2 years 6 months, slightly longer than in recent years; and

In 2020/21, children adopted by Concurrent Carers[1] were younger at the time of adoption (3 years 3 months compared with the national average of 3 years and 10 months) and they also had a shorter last duration in care (2 years 9 months compared with the regional average of 3 years 2 month).