What is Accreditation?

Accreditation helps adoption service providers look more closely at how they provide services and whether they meet current standards of good practice. Accreditation can help adoption service providers recognise if there is a need for change or improvement in their services.

An accreditation program gives adoption service providers a formal framework based on accepted standards for service delivery. Undergoing accreditation can help agencies to:

• Have a common understanding of good practice
• Make systematic judgements about performance against standards
• Encourage greater scrutiny of outcomes and quality by service users.

Standards establish what is expected of adoption service providers in relation to quality and effectiveness of services. Accreditation is the process of evaluating the service provider's performance and certifying that standards have been met to the level required.

Child development research has found a child's best interests are promoted by care which is stable, secure and gives them a sense of belonging. The permanence of adoption can therefore help to promote a child's growth and ability to function both now and into adulthood.

Children who are adopted are very vulnerable as they have been separated from their families. Although adoption might be the best possible option for a child's ongoing care, it can have long lasting effects on the child and their birth and adoptive parents. It is for this reason that adoption service providers need to provide support and services that best help the child and their adoptive and birth families.

The Office of the Children's Guardian has set up an accreditation program which will encourage adoption service providers to focus their work on meeting the needs of children being adopted.

Adoption service providers have to be accredited by the Children's Guardian in order to be able to provide adoption services.

Visit this website regularly and you will be kept up to date with any important information about accreditation of adoption service providers.

Together, the Office of the Children's Guardian will work with adoption service providers to ensure their services meet the best interests and rights of children, and their adoptive and birth parents.