Skip Navigation



BJSW Advance Access published online on May 31, 2009
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp061
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Cossar, J.
Right arrow Articles by Neil, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved

Supporting the Birth Relatives of Adopted Children: How Accessible Are Services?

Jeanette Cossar and Elsbeth Neil

Elsbeth Neil is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Centre for Research on the Child and Family, University of East Anglia, Norwich. Dr Neil has a BSc in Psychology, Leicester University (1986), an MA (DipSw) in Social Work, UEA (1994), Ph.D., UEA (2000). She worked as a social worker with children and families before joining the faculty at UEA as a lecturer in 1999. Jeanette Cossar is a Lecturer in Social Work, Centre for Research on the Child and Family, University of East Anglia, Norwich. Ms Cossar has a BA (Hons) Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge University (1992), MA Philosophy, University of Memphis (1995), MA (DipSw) in Social Work, UEA (2004). She worked as a social worker with children and families before joining the faculty at UEA as a lecturer in 2006.

Correspondence to Dr E. Neil, Centre for Research on the Child and Family, Elizabeth Fry Building, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.


  Abstract

This paper focuses on how birth relatives in England and Wales can access adoption support services, using data obtained from a mapping study of adoption support services. The survey aimed to gather data from all local authority adoption agencies, voluntary adoption agencies and adoption support agencies in the second half of 2005. The questionnaire included questions relating to how local authorities provided birth relative support services, how birth relatives could access them and how agencies promoted them. The response rate was 63 per cent. Answers to open questions relating to the provision of services and access were examined. Four patterns were found in relation to local authority arrangements for provision of services and the role of the independent sector in these. Seven different models of accessing services were identified. Low uptake of services was found to be a problem and the advantages and disadvantages of the different models of accessing services are discussed.

Keywords: Adoption, birth family support services, adoption support


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.