THE second phase of a ground-breaking scrutiny of adoption in Cheshire West and Chester has been launched.

The report Somewhere Over the Rainbow has already attracted Government attention and is being put forward for the national Good Scrutiny Awards 2013.

Cllrs Margaret Parker and Howard Greenwood spent five months of 2011-12, probing every stage of the adoption process following concerns over the numbers of children placed by the authority.

In their scrutiny year, eight children were adopted in West Cheshire and 15 adoptive parents approved. By 2012-13, adoptions had doubled and the number of approved families had risen to 27.

On March 31 this year, a further 19 children were living with their prospective adoptive family and waiting for an Adoption Court hearing and an additional 22 designated by the authority for adoption.

The report made 16 wide-ranging recommendations including the provision of specific emotional, health and well being support for adoptive children – all adopted by Executive.