The National Care Standards Commission

NCSC Stratford (East London), Area Office 4th Floor, Gredley House, 1-11 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ
Tel: 020 8221 3360
Email: Enquiries.Stratford@ncsc.gsi.gov.uk

Tower Hamlets is regulated and inspected by the National Care Standards Commission.

British Agencies for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF)

Skyline House, 200 Union Street, London SE1 0LX
Tel: 020 7593 2000

BAAF is the leading national organisation,which promotes high standards of practice in adoption and fostering and social work with children and families.BAAF,as well as being a publisher and supplier of books on adoption,also publish Be My Parent,a newsletter featuring children currently in need of adoptive placements and articles of interest to anyone involved in adoption.

Adoption UK

Manor Farm,Chipping Warden,Banbury,Oxfordshire OX17 1LH.Tel:08707 700 450. Adoption UK is a national voluntary self-help group supporting families before,during and after adoption.Their helpline number is open from 11.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

Post-Adoption Centre (PAC) - http://www.postadoptioncentre.org.uk

5 Torriano Mews, Kentish Town, London NW5 2RZ. Tel: 020 7284 0555. Advice Line: 020 7284 5879. PAC provides independent advice, information and support to anyone involved in adoption, including adoptive parents and other permanent carers, birth relatives and adopted adults. PAC’s services include: telephone Advice Line; face to face counselling; family therapeutic work; support and advice around contact arrangements between birth and adoptive families; regular drop-in for “contemporary” birth mothers; seminars, groups and workshops for all parties to adoption. A service level agreement between Tower Hamlets and PAC entitles residents to discounted rates on some of PAC’s services. The first port of call is PAC’s Advice Line, open Monday to Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm, and Thursday evenings 5.30pm to 7,30pm, or email advice@postadoptioncentre.org.uk

NSPCC - www.nspcc.org.uk

National Organisation for Councelling for Adoptees and Parents - www.norcap.org.uk NORCAP is a charity which can offer its members help and support for those who are adopted, birth relatives of adopted people and adoptive families.

NORCAP

Post Adoption Centre provide independent advice, counselling and support to anyone affected by or dealing with the challenges and opportunities of adoption. National Organisation for Councelling for Adoptees and Parents - www.norcap.org.uk NORCAP is a charity which can offer its members help and support for those who are adopted, birth relatives of adopted people and adoptive families.

The Fostering Network - www.thefostering.net

The Fostering Network's aim is to help children in foster care to thrive by providing practical assistance to those who can make it happen.

British Association for Fostering and Adoption - www.baaf.org.uk

BAAF Adoption & Fostering is the leading UK-wide membership organisation promoting the highest standards of child-centred policies and services for children separated from their families of origin.

Voice of the Child in Care - www.vcc-uk.org

VCC is committed to achieving change for children and young people in the care system. They aim to do this by empowering children and young people in care to speak out for changes in their lives, campaigning for improvements to the lives of children and young people in care and supporting the active participation of children and young people in our services and campaigning work.

Teenage Pregnancy Unit - www.teenagepregnancyunit.gov.uk

The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is a cross-Government Unit located within the Department for Education and Skills which was set up to implement the Social Exclusion Unit's report on Teenage Pregnancy. It provides information about the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, including guidance issued by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit as well as relevant publications from other Government Departments. There is also information about local implementation of the strategy and details about the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy.

Refugee Council - www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. They provide help and support, and also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed

Centre for Evidence Based Social Services - www.ex.ac.uk/cebss

The Centre for Evidence-Based Social Services (CEBSS) was set up in 1997 with the main aim of ensuring that decisions taken at all levels of Social Services are informed by trends from good quality research. CEBSS' member organisations receive support, training and advice from CEBSS about how this and the aims below can be achieved.

Department of Health - www.doh.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren

For all those who come into contact with children and families in their everyday work, including people who do not have a specific role in relation to child protection, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.