A requirement for providers of adoption-related therapy to adults to be registered with Ofsted could be removed.

The Department for Education has published a consultation asking for views on potential changes to regulations to adoption support services.

This includes proposals to end the need for Ofsted registration for those who provide therapy to adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents aged over 18 in England.

We鈥檝e repeatedly called for this change to be made and it鈥檚 a topic that members and clients have contacted us about on many occasions.

We met with Ofsted last year to raise our concerns about the restrictions, and have also worked with other organisations and members to highlight this problem.

We鈥檝e been worried about the lack of clarity for therapists and clients, and that it restricts people鈥檚 access to therapy.

One of the issues of the current system is that it鈥檚 sometimes difficult to know if counselling will centre around adoption before therapy starts.

If adoption-related issues are unearthed in counselling, under current rules the therapist is prevented from continuing to work with the client.

However, there has been some confusion about whether discussions in therapy that relate to adoption more broadly could continue.聽

Martin Bell, our Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: 鈥淲e know members and clients have had concerns about the regulations around adoption support for a long time, and it鈥檚 something we鈥檝e challenged both the Department for Education and Ofsted on.

鈥淭his consultation is a positive first step in making the system clearer and fairer for clients and therapists.

鈥淲e hope if changes are made they鈥檒l help increase access to therapy for adult adoptees, adoptive parents and birth parents who need counselling support.

鈥淎doption can have a life-long impact on people and it鈥檚 crucial that anyone affected by it can access the mental health support they need.鈥�

The proposal document refers to a Joint Committee of Human Rights (JCHR) inquiry which said that 鈥渢herapy is not sufficiently accessible鈥� and that the registration requirement for counsellors 鈥渁cts as a restriction on the availability of counsellors鈥�.

This report recommended 鈥渢he Government should consider as a matter of urgency how to make sure that the necessary regulations to protect standards do not prevent mothers and adopted children getting the support they need.鈥�

The document also talks about how removing this Ofsted registration requirement would mean adopted adults would be able to access counselling services in the same way as other adults.

It says that providers will work in line with any usual professional registration and training requirements.

The consultation document adds that providers of other types of adoption support services to adults, including counselling offered as part of intermediary services support, will still be subject to the registration requirement.

We鈥檒l be responding to the consultation as an organisation 鈥� and would also encourage therapists and clients to submit their own individual responses too.

The consultation closes on 20 March 2023.

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