If you are an adoptive parent, or caring for a child under a Special Guardianship Order, you are eligible to apply for financial support from your Local Authority and Regional Adoption Agencies to fund specialist assessments, therapeutic support and parenting support. We have compiled a guide to explain all that you need to know about the fund, what it covers and how to apply for it.
What is the Adoption Support Fund?
The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) was established as many adoptive and special guardianship families needed further specialist support, and many families struggled to access services and the support needed. The ASF enables families to access funding for specialist assessments, therapeutic intervention and parenting support. Each adopted child can access a Fair Access Limit of £5000 for therapy and a separation, additional specialist assessment fund if required of up to £2500.
Pupil Premium Plus is a further source of funding available to children in local authority care, who have been adopted or are under a Special Guardianship Order. It is currently £2530 per child per year, intended to support educational outcomes by addressing additional barriers they may face. This can include specialised diagnostic assessments, such as cognitive assessments.
Who is eligible for the Adoption Support Fund?
The adoption support fund is available for children and young people living in England up to and including the age of 21 (or 25 with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health & Care Plan) who are adopted, and previously in local authority care, are adopted internationally or subject to a Special Guardianship Order. The fund is available to all adopted families, regardless of how much time has passed since the adoption.
What therapeutic support and services are available?
Services can be provided through the Adoption Support Fund by Local Authorities, NHS services and independent providers, who are OFSTED registered or the local authority applying ensures quality assurance. The fund will cover therapeutic services such as :
Specialised, complex assessments: including mental health, attachment, behavioural or relational difficulties, and cognitive or neuropsychological assessments.
Trainingg for Adoptive PArents
Psychotherapy: including integrative methods for the treatment of children and young people with psychological difficulties relating to complex trauma and attachment disruption
Systemic Therapy: Therapy involving the young person and wider family
Trauma specific Therapies: such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dynamic Developmental Therapy.
Theraplay
Filial Therapy
Creative Therapies
Non-Violent Resistance Trining.
At The Lotus Psychology Practice, we are experienced in working with Local Authorities to support adoptive families through the Adoption Support Fund. If you would like to discuss further with us, please get in touch.
What is the application process?
Your Local Authority are responsible for carrying our an assessment of support needs. The first step is to contact them directly and arrange an initial assessment to access funding.
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