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This study forms part of a major longitudinal research project collaboration between the Anna Freud Centre, Coram and Great Ormond Street Hospital, which set out to explore adopted children's and adoptive parents' outcomes and experiences from middle childhood through to adolescence. In this paper, 17 adoptive mothers of late adopted children, currently in early adolescence (aged 12 to 15 years), were interviewed. The focus of the study draws upon their worries and fears regarding their children during adolescence and as they approach adulthood. The Parent Development Interviews (PDI) were analysed using thematic analysis and generated five overarching themes: Vulnerability, Violence, Derailing opportunities, Autonomy and Anxieties about the birth family. This qualitative exploration provides strong evidence for how these parents reflected upon very concrete challenges and anxieties about their child's journey, including both their current context and anticipated outcomes. The overwhelming majority of research to date on this population examines negative outcomes quantitatively; this study adds an important qualitative layer of the parents' own perspectives. Plain Language Summary: This study draws upon the experiences of adoptive parents, all of whom were mothers, of late-adopted children, currently in early adolescence (aged 12 to 15 years). The study focused on their worries and fears regarding their children during adolescence and as they approach adulthood. Seventeen adoptive parents were interviewed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI) and the data were analysed using thematic analysis and generated five overarching themes: Vulnerability, Violence, Derailing opportunities, Autonomy and Anxieties about the birth family. This study provides strong evidence for how these parents identified and reflected upon very real challenges and anxieties about their child's journey including both their current lives and anticipated futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about the need for adoption support services and the legal obligation of adoption agencies to provide them. Topic include It discusses the importance of evidence-based assessments and multidisciplinary approaches in addressing the diverse needs of adopted children and families, highlighting a two-year funding program by the Department for Education to develop innovative support services.

An introduction is presented in which editor discusses articles in issue on topics including impact of neurobiological science on family placement policy; domestic violence as a risk factor for children and adults; and the planning and decision-making for children whose parents faces challenges.

The Adoption Support Fund in England, which was rolled out on 1 May 2015, seeks to improve the lives of adopted children and their families by providing resources to fund therapeutic interventions for the child. Accessing the Fund requires that the needs of the child and family are fully assessed and the expected outcomes are identified. This raises questions about the use of standardised and validated assessment tools as a part of the process. This article reviews the benefits and challenges of using established instruments, such as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and considers the relevance of the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) for adoption situations. It is argued that given the legal requirements to link need, services and outcomes, the importance of using validated assessment tools is strong. However, social workers need training to administer them and interpret the results. While using the SDQ should be firmly embedded in practice, the contribution of the DAWBA, although promising, requires further exploration. Social workers will also need training on how best to use it, and how to interpret the results and integrate these into a comprehensive assessment of the child and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]