Welsh Ministers have made the Adoption Support Services (Adoption Support Agencies) (Wales) Regulations 2026. Signed by Dawn Bowden on 23 January 2026, the instrument takes effect on 1 April 2026 and replaces the 2019 framework that prescribed adoption support services in Wales. (legislation.gov.uk)
For providers, the scope is limited to adoption support agencies rather than adoption agencies or local authority functions. Under section 8 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, an adoption support agency is an undertaking whose purpose includes the provision of adoption support services; service providers operating in Wales are required to register with the Welsh Ministers (via Care Inspectorate Wales) under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 and the Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019. (legislation.gov.uk)
Definitions sharpened by the 2026 Regulations include adoptive child, covering both agency and non‑agency routes, and adoptive parent, covering prospective adopters approved for a particular child, those with a child placed, applicants who have given notice under section 44 of the 2002 Act, and those who have adopted, including where the adoptee is now an adult. Step‑parents and birth parents are expressly excluded from the definition of adoptive parent.
The term agency adoptive child covers children an adoption agency has decided should be placed for adoption, those already placed, and those adopted following an agency placement. A non‑agency adoptive child covers cases where the applicant is neither a birth parent nor a step‑parent. The definition of related person includes statutory relatives and individuals with a relationship that a local authority considers beneficial to the child’s welfare.
The Regulations prescribe adoption support services beyond the statutory baseline of counselling, advice and information. Prescribed services include assistance with contact between an adoptive child and birth family or related persons; therapeutic services addressing adoption‑related needs; support to sustain the parent‑child relationship including targeted training and, in specific circumstances, respite care; assistance where an adoption placement disrupts or is at risk; support for adopted adults to obtain information and make contact; support for adult relatives seeking information or contact; and services enabling peer discussion for adopters, adopted children and, where appropriate, birth parents or former guardians.
Where respite is provided as accommodation, the route is limited to existing statutory schemes: accommodation provided by or on behalf of a local authority under section 81 of the Social Services and Well‑being (Wales) Act 2014, or accommodation provided by a voluntary organisation under section 59 of the Children Act 1989. This aligns respite with looked‑after arrangements and regulated voluntary provision. (legislation.gov.uk)
For disruption support, “disruption in an adoption placement” spans the period from first introduction of a child to prospective adopters through the placement and beyond the making of an adoption order. For adult information services, “relative” includes those who, but for the adoption, would be related by blood (including half‑blood), marriage or civil partnership.
The 2019 Regulations are revoked. Consequential amendments update the Regulated Adoption Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 so that definitions of “adoption support services”, “adoptive child”, “adoptive parent” and “related person” now point to the 2026 instrument rather than the 2019 text. (legislation.gov.uk)
Operationally, adoption support agencies should review statements of purpose and service descriptions to reflect the prescribed services; ensure staff training covers adoption‑specific therapeutic support and disruption response; formalise respite referral pathways with local authorities and voluntary organisations; and update procedures for adult adoption information requests and relative enquiries. Care Inspectorate Wales will continue to inspect regulated adoption services under the 2019 provider and responsible individual framework, so registration scope, notifications and quality assurance should be checked against those standards. (socialcare.wales)
Local authority duties continue alongside this agency regime. Law Wales confirms local authorities must maintain an adoption service, including adoption support, delivered through regional collaboratives within the National Adoption Service. The 2026 Regulations address the functions of adoption support agencies and do not alter those local authority obligations. (law.gov.wales)