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Written question asked by Nicholas Brown (Independent (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 28 March 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 March 2023. It was answered by Claire Coutinho (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 April 2023 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Adoption: Mental Health Services

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to increase the number of adoption registered therapists providing counselling to adults who were adopted as children.

Answer

The department recognises the importance of the availability of counselling and therapeutic support to adults who were adopted as children. We agree that adult adoptees should be able to access the support that they need, particularly around their mental health needs.

The department has recently consulted on amendments to regulations to simplify arrangements for providers who provide support to adopted adults. One of the proposed changes in the consultation is to remove the requirement that therapists be registered with Ofsted when providing counselling services to adopted adults. One of the aims of this is to increase the availability of counselling for adult adoptees. We are currently analysing the responses.

The government is also improving NHS mental support availability. The NHS Long Term Plan and mental health expansion plans will increase funding for mental health services.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
175519
Session
2022-23
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Adoption Recruitment Mental health services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk