HILLINGDON Council has been awarded the Early Permanence Quality Mark for its adoption services, in partnership with Coram Ambitious for Adoption.

The award signifies high standards, and Hillingdon is the sole London council to currently have the full award.

Early Permanence is a slightly different type of adoption process for babies and young children, usually under the age of two.

Placements allow babies and young children to be placed with a potential permanent family earlier than a conventional adoption. 

It enables young children to experience a loving and secure home in which they feel safe and settled as quickly as possible.

Babies are often moved between several foster carers while the courts reach a decision on their future. 

Early Permanence removes this disruption by placing a child early with foster carers who would go on to adopt them if the court decides that’s in the child’s best interests.