ADOPTION services at Cambridgeshire County Council have been rated as good in all areas by government inspectors.

The Ofsted inspection found that the agency had “particular strengths in supporting adopters” and “excellent access to psychological services”. The medical advisor was also praised.

Staff within the organisation were viewed as being “knowledgeable, skilled and committed and appropriately supported to enable them to provide a good service to children and their families”.

The adoption service’s efforts to support adoptive families and help children achieve was rated as outstanding.

Councillor Martin Curtis, the county council’s cabinet member for children, said: “This is an excellent report and a tribute to the hard work and dedication of everyone who works in the adoption team.

“It is clearly going from strength to strength and we now have the endorsement of Ofsted to prove this. Well done to everyone concerned.”

Inspectors highlighted that the small number of placements which broke down - only one sibling pair between April 2010 and March 2011 - was “testament to the support which the agency provides to ensure that parents are enabled to care for their adopted children.”

One adopter said: “Adoption support since the children have been placed is always there with regular meetings and on the end of a phone. I cannot praise my social worker enough.”

The inspectors did recommend that improvements were made in some procedural elements of the adoption process - including a more consistent approach to providing children with “life story books”.

To learn more about adoption contact the adoption team on 0800 052 0078 or at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/childrenyoungpeople/socialcare/adoption

The team is particularly interested in hearing from people from black, minority and ethnic groups as well as those who could consider adopting sibling groups or children with complex needs.