The term "adoption-related issue" extends beyond working with individuals currently involved in the adoption process. It also includes providing support to adults who were adopted in the past, as well as their adoptive families, biological relatives, or siblings, who may seek therapeutic guidance or assistance later in life.
Children and young people who have been adopted are often vulnerable due to past experiences prior to their adoption which impacts on the here and now. Qualified therapists working with this population require specialist skills, application of solid theoretical knowledge with the ability to hold and support family members in a manner unique to post-adoption therapy.
PIP Solutions Training and Consultancy recognise that child therapists face a unique set of dilemmas when working with adopted children, a situation that often brings significant challenges and anxiety. We acknowledge that this may also be the case for adult therapists too.
Questions often arise about where the boundaries lie in terms of our role, particularly when adoption-related concerns become a central theme in the therapy.
Updated guidance of Introduction to Adoption Agencies (24th May 2024) is summarised as follows:
Counsellors cannot provide adoption-related counselling to children without registering with Ofsted unless the service is delivered through a contract with a registered adoption agency, adoption support agency, or a local authority adoption agency.
Counsellors must register as an adoption support agency if they plan to independently offer counselling on adoption issues or intermediary services to children or adults.
Registration is not required if adoption-related issues arise after counselling begins and are not the primary focus.
If adoption becomes the focus during counselling, counsellors should inform clients about their right to access adoption support services and consider referring them to a registered adoption support agency.
Often, there can be difficulties when local services and referral options are limited, or when it is unclear whether adoption is the central focus of the therapeutic work. For example, if a client seeks assistance with family tracing or reconnecting with their birth family, this is clearly an adoption-related matter that falls outside the scope of your practice. On the other hand, if a client discloses that they are adopted and wishes to explore how their past experiences have shaped them, you may be sufficiently qualified and competent to provide continued support. In such cases, abruptly ending the therapeutic relationship could potentially do more harm than good, particularly if a strong foundation of trust has already been built.
Adoption: National Minimum Standards issued by the Department for Education (July 2014) are used by Ofsted when inspecting local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies and adoption support agencies. They do not apply to individuals in private practice who are not registered with Ofsted as an adoption support agency.
PIP Solutions Training and Consultancy designed the Certificate in Post-Adoption Therapy for Children and Young People specifically for child therapist which is linked to Adoption: National Minimum Standard 23: Learning, Development and Qualifications as follows:
Standard: 23.1
There is a good quality post-qualifying training equipping the individual with the skills required to meet the needs of the children.
Qualifications: 23.6/23.7/23.8
All therapists are trained to work with adopted children and are registered with an appropriate professional body.
Navigating these complexities requires careful consideration of ethical responsibilities, legal obligations, and the therapist’s own competence.
It is the therapist’s responsibility to determine if their services qualify as adoption support, which depends on the nature of the service provided. Ofsted takes a proportionate approach to enforcement, aiming to protect therapeutic relationships while ensuring providers are qualified and regulated. Counsellors uncertain about their obligations are encouraged to seek legal advice. As Ofsted explains: ‘You do not have to register if an adoption-related issue only emerges after counselling begins and is not the primary concern or focus’.
Therapists should continuously assess the scope of their practice, consult with supervisors, and determine whether they have the necessary expertise to address the client’s needs. If the adoption-related aspect becomes the dominant focus, it may be appropriate to discuss a referral to a registered adoption support service while ensuring the client feels supported and understood throughout the transition. Maintaining this perspective allows therapists to navigate these situations with both sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring the client’s best interests are upheld.
Further details and enrolment for the online Certificate in Post-Adoption Therapy for Children and Young People can be found at: https://www.pipsolutions.co.uk/certificate-in-post-adoption-therapy
Authors: Karen O’Neill & Tara McDonald
Published: 1st December 2024
Copyright© 2024 PIP Solutions Training Ltd All Rights Reserved.
Reference List
Adoption: National Minimum Standards (July 2014)
Introduction to Adoption Agencies (updated 24th May 2024)
https://www.pipsolutions.co.uk/certificate-in-post-adoption-therapy
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