Mark Pawsey MP says it is time to "share the focus" with adoptive parents, to ensure they receive the best possible support that they and their adopted children are entitled to.
I recently became aware of the complex array of difficulties faced by parents who adopt a child following a meeting with a constituent of mine. It is their experience that has prompted me to raise the matter of support available to adoptive parents on the floor of the House.
Issues of adoption rightly focus on the needs and support measures offered to adopted children, together with the importance of integration into their new lives. Recent years have seen an expansion in support services for adopted children. Whilst I fully support these measures, I feel that we have often overlooked their adoptive parents, and the very unique set of challenges that they also face.
Important issues for adoptive parents include the ability for birth parents to challenge contact orders, the confidentiality of their personal information and their lack of support measures in some circumstances.
Whilst I appreciate that giving up any child is a heartbreaking task, I do believe that we must respect the legality of adoption orders, and the provisions they make for contact with the birth parents. The key issue must be the ongoing stability of the child, and the provisions of such orders, whether direct contact or not, must be respected by all parties.
Of equal importance is the protection of confidential information relating to adoptive parents. In some extreme cases where there has been a breach of such confidentiality, there can be serious issues relating to security. On adoption, adoptive families need to be absolutely certain that their personal information will not be disclosed without their consent, so that they can raise their adopted children in a safe environment.
It is also worth mentioning in this context the difficulties sometimes experienced by adoptive families when seeking support at times of need. I do not wish to detract from the excellent work that takes place in local authorities and adoption agencies across the country, but when such measures fail or break down, adoptive families can find themselves searching for advice and guidance alone. We must do all that we can to ensure that this vital network of support is maintained.
With government moves to encourage more adoption, I believe that now is the time to share the focus with adoptive parents, and to ensure that they receive the best possible support that they and their adopted children are entitled to.
Mark Pawsey has been Conservative MP for Rugby since 2010. He currently sits on the House of Commons communities and local government committee.