Adoption South East

What Adoption South East does

Adoption South East is a Regional Adoption Agency formed on 1 April 2020 that consolidates the adoption services of four UK local authorities: Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council, and West Sussex County Council. Headquartered in Lewes with regional offices in Woking, Horsham, Eastbourne, and Brighton, the agency employs 128 staff, the majority of whom are Adoption Social Workers qualified and registered with Social Work England. It delivers the full statutory adoption lifecycle across Southeast England, including enquiry handling, Stage One and Stage Two adopter assessments, family finding and matching, placement support, post-adoption therapeutic and educational services, the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) referral pathway, the Keeping in Touch service for birth-family contact, and an Adopted Adults Service providing access to birth records and intermediary support.

The agency operates as a joint public-sector partnership governed by an Executive Board of Directors of Children's Services from each partner council, with Surrey County Council acting as the administrative host. Carolyn Fair (DCS East Sussex) chairs the board and Michael Wilson serves as Head of Service and Agency Decision Maker. It does not register as an Adoption Agency in its own right and instead participates in Ofsted thematic reviews of Regional Adoption Agencies. Technology is limited to standard local-authority infrastructure, principally the Charms case management system, with no proprietary platforms or AI components.

The business model is non-commercial: the service is funded entirely through the four constituent local authorities and provided free of charge to prospective adopters, adoptive families, adopted adults, and birth relatives. Demand is generated through a website enquiry portal, social media (Facebook, X), the monthly Adoption Voices newsletter, eight regional events per year, and partnerships with Adoption UK, CATCH, New Family Social, IAC, and Linkmaker. There are no user fees, no commercial revenue streams, and no investor ownership; the entity is a cost center within the UK local government system.

Name

Adoption South East

Legal name

Adoption South East

Website

https://adoptionsoutheast.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adoption South East is a publicly funded Regional Adoption Agency formed in 2020 by four UK local authorities (Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Surrey, West Sussex), employing 128 staff to deliver statutory adoption services free of charge across Southeast England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Adoption Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

Keywords

• Regional adoption agency
• Adoption services
• Post-adoption support
• Adopter assessment
• Family finding matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Funding: Adoption South East is funded by four local authority partners: Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council, and West Sussex County Council. The service is provided free of charge to adopters and those affected by adoption. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Adoption South East is a Regional Adoption Agency delivering the full adoption service lifecycle across four UK local authority areas: enquiry processing, two-stage adopter assessment, family finding and matching, placement, post-adoption support (including therapeutic, education, and Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund access), adopted adults services (birth records, counselling, intermediary contact), Keeping in Touch contact arrangements, training courses (with Adoption UK), and intercountry adoption referrals (via Intercountry Adoption Centre). All services are delivered free of charge to individuals and families in the ASE region, funded by the four constituent councils.

Product overview

Adoption South East is a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) that operates as a unified service across four local authority partners (Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Surrey, and West Sussex councils). The organization does not offer a technology product but provides a portfolio of adoption services including: adopter enquiry and assessment ( Readiness to Adopt, Stage One and Stage Two assessment processes), family finding and matching (including ASE-led, adopter-led via Linkmaker, and interagency matching), the Keeping in Touch Service (letterbox and direct contact arrangements), an Adoption Support Advice Hub (offering assessments and ASGSF applications), an Adopted Adults Service (birth records access and counselling), training courses delivered in partnership with Adoption UK, and intercountry adoption referral services. All services are coordinated through office bases in Woking, Horsham, Eastbourne, Brighton, and Lewes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adoption Enquiry Service Initial contact service allowing prospective adopters to submit enquiries and receive the Readiness to Adopt information video. Free service for individuals and couples in the ASE region.
• Adopter Assessment Service Two-stage statutory assessment for prospective adopters covering Stage One (background checks, DBS, references) and Stage Two (social worker assessment and Prospective Adopter Report). Free service for prospective adopters in the ASE region.
• Family Finding and Matching Service Identification and matching of approved adopters with children needing adoptive families, including ASE-led matches, adopter-led matches via the Linkmaker national database, and interagency matches. Free service for approved adopters.
• Keeping in Touch Service Letterbox and face-to-face contact arrangements enabling adopted children to maintain connections with birth family members. Free service delivered by the dedicated Keeping in Touch Team.
• Adoption Support Advice Hub Social worker-led advice, guidance, and signposting on adoption matters, including Adoption Support Assessments and Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) applications. Free service available up to age 21 (or 25 with EHCP).
• Adopted Adults Service Access to adoption records, birth records counselling, peer support groups, and intermediary services for adopted adults. Free service based at the Lewes headquarters.
• Training Courses Training programmes for adopters and prospective adopters, delivered in partnership with Adoption UK, covering topics such as therapeutic parenting, talking about adoption, and keeping in touch. Delivered by professional trainers who are adoptive parents themselves.
• Intercountry Adoption Service Information and referral service for those wishing to adopt from overseas, provided under contract with the Intercountry Adoption Centre (IAC). Applicants are referred to IAC for assessment services including home study and statutory checks, with post-placement services provided by ASE.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Family SocialcoreOthersNew Family Social provides membership benefits for LGBTQ+ adopters. ASE has arrangements with New Family Social to provide memberships for LGBTQ+ adopters registered with their service. The partnership badge is displayed on the ASE website.
• Children and Trauma Community Hub (CATCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATCH (formerly The Adopter Hub), developed by Parents and Children Together (PACT), is an online community providing support and information for adopters. ASE provides memberships for adopters to access this resource. CATCH offers training and resources for therapeutic parenting.
• Adoption UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Adoption UK, ASE offers an extensive range of training courses for all adopters and prospective adopters. Training is delivered by professional trainers who are adoptive parents themselves. Adoption UK also campaigns on adoption policy at national level and provides membership benefits.
• National Association of Therapeutic ParentingminorOthersASE purchased a finite number of memberships for this organization which provides support for parents whose children are neurodiverse, have experienced adverse childhood experiences, or have developmental trauma. They run listening circles, an expert-run helpline, and provide resources.
• Coram Children's Legal CentreminorOthersProvides legal advice on family matters including divorce, child arrangement orders, and contact. Also provides services around education and tribunals. Referenced on ASE legal support page.
• Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)minorOthersOffers free, independent, legally-based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Also provides training on the SEND legal framework.
• Intercountry Adoption Centre (IAC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASE has a contract with IAC to provide intercountry adoption specialist services. Applicants are referred to IAC for assessment services including home study and statutory checks. Post-placement services for adoptions with foreign element are provided by ASE.
• CoramBAAFminorOthersIndependent membership organisation seeking to improve lives of those who have been through or are in the care system. Provides resources and training. ASE references their research including Creating a New Narrative theory on adopted individuals readjusting identity in parenthood.
• Beacon HouseminorOthersPrivate therapeutic service with particular specialism in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Also provides training and resource sheets. Listed as an approved therapeutic provider for ASE.
• First4AdoptionminorOthersProvides guidance on adoption support fund application processes and lists eligible therapies under the ASGSF. ASE refers adopters to First4Adoption for information on financial support and therapy eligibility.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Adoption UK: National adoption charity and membership body that delivers training to ASE's adopters; while not a delivery agency, it is the dominant national voice in adoption support and a key strategic partner for any RAA.
• Coram: Large charity operating CoramBAAF and other children's services including voluntary adoption; broader scope than ASE but overlaps heavily on adoption training, resources, and records services.

Direct peers

• Adoption East Midlands: Multi-authority RAA serving several East Midlands councils; same statutory adoption service delivery model as ASE, useful benchmark for regional consolidation economics.
• Adopt Thames Valley: RAA formed by Berkshire and Oxfordshire councils, providing the same enquiry-to-post-adoption service suite as ASE; directly comparable in scope, statutory role, and operating model.
• Yorkshire Adoption Agency: RAA formed by multiple Yorkshire councils delivering adoption services across the region; directly comparable in service portfolio, governance structure, and reliance on council funding.
• ARC Adoption (One Adoption): Group of RAAs (formerly ARC, now One Adoption) covering parts of the Midlands and North; similar multi-authority RAA structure and adoption service delivery model.
• Adoption Now (North East): RAA serving councils across the North East of England; operates the same statutory adoption pathway and post-adoption support services, providing a like-for-like peer on RAA economics.
• Adoption West: Regional Adoption Agency covering seven local authorities across the West of England; the most structurally identical comparator to ASE given its multi-authority RAA model, full adoption lifecycle services, and public sector funding base.
• North West Adoption: Large RAA covering several North West councils; similar RAA model and full-lifecycle adoption services make it a relevant comparator for scale, headcount, and budget benchmarking.

Emerging players

• PACT (Parents and Children Together): Voluntary adoption agency and charity operating alongside RAAs; develops the CATCH therapeutic community adopted by ASE, making it both a partner and a partial competitive comparator in voluntary adoption placements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AdoptionSE
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdoptionSouthEast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adoption-south-east

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adoption South East