NEW figures reveal that Cheshire West and Chester Council is the best in the north west for arranging adoptions.

The data is featured in the newly-published Adoption Scorecard which lists the adoption statistics of 152 authorities in England.

It also shows that Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) is one of just 36 councils nationally to achieve both targets, known as thresholds, under a rigorous new Government approach to improving performance in the adoption system.

CWAC achieved the threshold for children being adopted within 20 months of entering into care, the process taking an average 538 days against a national average of 647 days, which places it 22nd out of all local authorities.

The figures also reveal that the council met the threshold for matching a child to an adoptive family within six months of receiving court authority.

The authority achieved this within an average 111 days compared with 210 days nationally, ranking it in 16th place.

Covering the three years to March 2013, the data shows CWAC is the region’s top performing authority in both thresholds.

Clr Mark Stocks, executive member for children and young people, said: “The scorecard results are very encouraging and reflect our commitment to providing secure and loving new homes for those children who need them, in which they can flourish.

“I would like to thank our dedicated social work teams who have worked hard to secure these pleasing results.

“However, there will be no complacency. We must keep on improving to meet the demand from rising numbers of children coming into our care, and encouraging even more potential adopters to come forward is absolutely vital.”

To find out more about fostering or adoption text SMILE to 80010, ring 01244 972222 or visit smileadoptionandfostering.co.uk.