A PLEA for more adoptive parents has been made by Dorset County Council with more children than ever before needing a permanent home.

The announcement comes as the Government publish adoption performance tables of the best and most under-performing local authorities.

In Dorset, Borough of Poole fared best as figures showed 92 per cent of children put up for adoption found homes within the year, while in Dorset the figure was 88 per cent and in Bournemouth 78 per cent.

The figures were taken from a three-year average from 2008-2010.

All three local authorities were above the national average of 74 per cent.

David Cameron said yesterday the nation needed a culture change towards adoption and to move away from a “tick-box mentality.”

The Prime Minister urged officials to stop asking pointless questions such as when prospective adoptive parents gave up smoking and to show more “discretion, judgement and responsibility.”

Cllr Toni Coombs, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “The process for becoming an adoptive parent is rigorous – but there are no blanket bans – so please don’t think we’ll turn you down because you’re over 40 for example, single or don’t own your own home.

In regard to the latest figures she said: “Statistics in the area of adoption are relatively unreliable because numbers can be low and so percentages are exaggerated.

“Although our numbers have fluctuated between eight and 15 children adopted over the last few years current activity is showing a marked increase.

“In the first six months of 2011/12, 10 children have been adopted and we expect more during the rest of the year.”

Gerry Moore, head of Children and Young People’s Social Care, Borough of Poole said their policy was to achieve permanence through adoption in care wherever appropriate.

“Our practice is to ensure that adoption takes place within a timescale right for the child without compromising the likelihood of a successful adoption and the life long benefits that this can bring”, he added.

In 2010/11, 10 children were adopted in Poole – all of these were within the target 12 months timescale.