Twenty Years of Adoption Reform in Scotland

Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007

The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 modernised Scottish adoption law and replaced much of the earlier 1978 framework. It strengthened legal arrangements around adoption, permanence and support.

National Adoption Guidance Published

National guidance was issued to support implementation of the 2007 Act and associated regulations, covering adoption practice, permanence planning and support for children and families.

The Independent Care Review

The Independent Care Review began work in 2017 and heard from more than 5,500 people. Its conclusions placed love, relationships, listening and lifelong support at the centre of reform.

The Promise Is Published

The Promise set out Scotland’s commitment that every child should grow up loved, safe and respected. For adopted children and families, this vision has important implications for lifelong support beyond legal permanence.

National Apology To Adult Adoptees

The Scottish Government issued a formal apology for historical forced adoption practices, recognising the lifelong impact of separation, identity loss and adoption experiences on many adult adoptees and families.

Supporting Adoption: Vision and Priorities for Scotland

The Scottish Government published Supporting Adoption: Vision and Priorities for Scotland, reaffirming adoption as a positive permanence option and setting priorities around timely permanence, family time, transitions, life journey work, post-adoption support and lifelong relationships.

The vision aligns adoption policy with The Promise and provides a framework for improvement across Scotland.

The Adoption Task Force

The Adoption Task Force is a national professional forum supporting the development of adoption policy and practice in Scotland.

Supported through CELCIS, the Task Force acts as a critical friend to the Scottish Government and wider adoption sector. It is separate from the Scottish Adoption Alliance, which is an independent coalition and campaigning movement.

Strengthening The Safety Net Report

The Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Social Work published Strengthening the Safety Net: A Framework for Adoption Support in Scotland, drawing attention to gaps in post-adoption support and calling for a stronger national framework.

Children Bill Stage 3 Adoption Support Amendments

During Stage 3 debate on the Children Bill, adoption support amendments were debated, including issues around adoption breakdown, data, guidance and the need for stronger post-adoption support.

Scottish Parliament Adoption Support Debate

Fulton MacGregor MSP led a Members’ Business debate titled Strengthening Adoption Support for Families. The debate highlighted evidence from adoptive families, the Cross-Party Group report and the need for improved adoption support across Scotland.

Seven Government Commitments On Adoption Support

Following parliamentary scrutiny, the Cross-Party Group report and the adoption support debate, the Scottish Government made a series of commitments to strengthen adoption support.

These commitments include reviewing the 2011 Adoption Guidance, considering statutory guidance, improving workforce training, strengthening crisis support pathways, examining support arrangements and working with families and practitioners to improve consistency.

Keeping The Promise

By 2030, Scotland aims to ensure every child grows up loved, safe and respected. For adopted children and families, the test will be whether commitments become meaningful, lifelong support in practice.