COUNCIL chiefs have moved to reassure Cumbrian families looking to adopt following news of a planned shake-up of services.

Cumbria County Council, which runs adoption services for the county, will join up with Durham County Council and Sunderland City Council later this year to create a new adoption agency.

Once in action, the agency will be run by the three local authorities, with one council to be selected as a ‘host’, who will take responsibility for aspects such as staff, and its budget.

All three councils have expressed an interest in becoming the ‘host’ authority for the new adoption agency.

An independent organisation has been commissioned to select the authority, with a decision to be announced in the spring.

While the move aims to create a quicker, more seamless process, Ruth McHugh, Cumbria County Council service manager, stressed that frontline services will remain local.

Ruth said: “Those looking to adopt will still have meetings locally with our adoption team.

“For example, if the services were to be hosted by Durham County Council, there is no need to travel across there at all, meetings will still be held as usual in Cumbria, at places such as Barrow or Carlisle.

“The one authority which takes responsibility for the agency will simply be giving it a place to live.

“One of the benefits of us joining with Durham and Sunderland is that a larger pool of children and adopters would be created, which in turn will make it much easier, and faster to match the right children with the right families.”

Ruth added that small financial savings may be made by the merger, but it wasn’t a driving force behind the decision.

The county council hopes to create more forever families this year, and is encouraging anyone thinking about adoption to come forward or chat with someone from the social work team.

Barrow councillor Anne Burns, cabinet member for children and family services, said: “We know the adoption process can seem scary and intrusive but adopters who’ve been through it tell us that it can be a really positive experience and well worth it.

“Our teams want the best for the children and adopters, and work tirelessly to match children with the right forever families.

“Our team is always ready to talk to people who are considering adopting, so if that’s you, please contact us.”

A number of drop-in events will be held, in a number of libraries in locations across the county this month, providing the opportunity to meet members of the council’s social work team. Attendees will have the chance to speak to staff, and get further information and advice.

The events will take place between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday at Penrith Library and on Friday at Workington Library. For more details call 0303 333 1216.