Inspection report identifies strengths and areas for improvement at Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Adoption Service

Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) has published its findings following an inspection of Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Adoption Service (VVC) conducted between 1 and 5 December 2025. The inspection, which focused on how the service promotes the well-being and safety of children through permanent adoptive placements, identified strengths alongside areas requiring improvement.

Vale, Valleys and Cardiff Adoption Service is the regional adoption collaborative serving people living in the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Strengths identified

CIW inspectors found that VVC benefits from strong governance arrangements, with a regularly reviewed partnership agreement and clear terms of reference supporting transparency and accountability. Leaders demonstrate a clear vision and ambition for the service, and the collaborative maintains a strong partnership with the National Adoption Service (NAS).

Assessments of prospective adopters are robust and comprehensive, with practitioners gathering detailed information about applicants' backgrounds, motivations and capacity to meet children's needs. Most prospective adopters report feeling well supported throughout the assessment process. Training for adopters is well regarded, preparing applicants for the realities of adoptive parenting and promoting understanding of the impact of adverse childhood experiences.

The service has embedded Welsh Early Permanence (WEP), supporting timely, child-centred decision-making and promoting early stability for children. The region has approved the highest number of WEP adopters in Wales.

Family finding is proactive and child-centred, with practitioners working collaboratively to identify suitable matches without avoidable delay. Equality, diversity and inclusion are visible in practice, with support for single and same-sex adopters and proactive attention to culturally matched placements.

The workforce is stable and experienced, with managers described as visible, approachable and supportive. Practitioners report high morale and value the support provided. The volume of compliments received highlights the positive impact of practitioners, who are frequently recognised for their advocacy, empathy and commitment.

Areas for improvement

The inspection also identified areas requiring improvement. While the Statement of Purpose is reviewed annually, not all practitioners and panel members are familiar with the most recent version. VVC must ensure the Statement of Purpose is routinely shared, discussed and embedded in all aspects of service delivery.

Although the active offer of Welsh is routinely made, a few people reported gaps in Welsh language provision. The service must ensure consistent compliance with Welsh language standards in line with the 'More Than Just Words' framework.

Adoption support services are valued by families, but can vary depending on which local authority is responsible for the child. Waiting times for specialist therapeutic support remain a challenge. VVC must review its capacity and resource allocation to ensure equity and consistency of adoption support services across the region.

The inspection also found that systems do not currently ensure unannounced visits to prospective adopters following the placement of a child are consistently recorded and monitored. VVC must establish suitable monitoring arrangements in accordance with NAS safeguarding guidance.

Next steps

CIW requires that VVC compile an improvement plan outlining how they will address the findings in the report. CIW will review progress through a meeting with the Head of Children's Services and the Regional Adoption Manager within 18-24 months of publication of the report.

For all our findings and recommendations, read the full inspection report available on the page linked below.