We’re delighted to share that Kibble Adoption has achieved the highest possible grade in key areas of its first Care Inspectorate report, just over two years after launching. The result comes ahead of Adoption Week Scotland, when the service will invite anyone considering adoption to meet the team and hear from adopters.
Established in August 2024, Kibble Adoption received a ‘6 – Excellent’ grade for leadership and quality assurance in its first Care Inspectorate inspection, alongside ‘5 – Very Good’ grades for helping children to lead positive lives and ensuring they receive the right support at the right time.
Inspectors praised our service’s personalised, attachment-focused approach, recognising how its comprehensive assessments and tailored support help identify the right families for children, including older children and sibling groups who can wait longer for adoption.
The Care Inspectorate noted in its key takeaways that Kibble Adoption excelled in several areas. These included adoptive parents being highly prepared and supported through training, peer support, supervision and therapeutic resources. In addition, there was clear evidence of the service aspiring to expand and become a centre of excellence for adoption practice nationwide; and importantly, children were thriving and living fulfilling lives within loving adoptive families
The achievement comes as Scotland prepares to mark Adoption Week Scotland, from 16 to 20 November, raising awareness of adoption and celebrating the families and professionals helping children find permanent homes.
To coincide with the national awareness week, Kibble Adoption is hosting a series of events for anyone interested in learning more about adoption, offering opportunities to meet the team, hear first-hand experiences, and ask questions about the process and the support available.
The programme includes:
- In-person drop-in, Paisley: Monday 16 November, 10am to 4pm at Kibble Community Services, 1 Station Rd, Paisley, PA1 2SB
- Online ‘Ask the Team’ drop-in: Tuesday 17 November, with 30-minute appointment slots available between 2pm and 8pm.
- Online ‘Ask the Adopter’ session: Wednesday 18 November, 8pm to 9pm. Hear directly from an adopter about their experience.
- Online information session: Thursday 19 November, 7pm to 8pm. Find out more about the adoption process and the support available to families.
Paula Harkins, Operations Manager at Kibble Adoption, said: “As a new voluntary adoption service, receiving such positive feedback in our first Care Inspectorate report is an important milestone. It provides valuable independent recognition of the foundations we have built and the standard of service we are working hard to deliver.
“This recognition is testament to the experience, commitment and care our team invests at every stage of the adoption journey. It also reflects the dedication of our volunteer panel members, the invaluable contribution of our ambassadors with lived experience and, most importantly, the insight, voices and experiences of the children and families at the heart of our service.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved together and remain committed to listening, learning and continually improving our service in line with the needs and voices of adoptees and adopters. Adoption is not a one-off event. Every child has their own history, identity and experiences, and every family’s journey is different. Finding the right family for a child is key, but ensuring that family has the right support and investment around them is just as vital. That’s why, during Adoption Week Scotland, we’re inviting people to come along, meet the team, hear from adopters and find out more about the services Kibble Adoption can offer.”
Mark Macmillan, Chief Executive of Kibble, said: “At Kibble, we know that the right support at the right time can change the course of a young person’s life. That principle is at the heart of everything we do, and our adoption service adds another avenue that can be explored for children and young people in-need across Scotland.
“Our experience in supporting children who have faced adversity helps inform our approach with our adoption service, and we know better than most that every child’s story is different. By combining specialist adoption expertise with ongoing, tailored support for families, we can help build the strong relationships and stability children need to thrive.
“This inspection result is an important milestone for the service and reflects the foundations being built for its long-term impact.”