BOURNEMOUTH’s adoption team has hit out at claims that delays in placing children with adoptive families are because of racial issues.

The government recently criticised local authorities across the country for taking too long to find suitable families for children, blaming a reluctance to go ahead with mixed race adoptions.

But Heather Freeman, who manages the adoption team at Bournemouth Borough Council, said the department does an excellent job and that the most important factor was to place a child with the right family, regardless of race.

She said: “It’s not as simple as placing a black child with a black family or a white child with a white family.

“They key thing is if they can provide a safe environment for the child.

“When we look at adoption for a child we are looking at what the child’s needs are and there will be a whole range of things.

“But the one overriding need is that they will stay with the family for the rest of their lives and stay happy.

“It may be that the child has got some physical disability which is a more important need than finding a family that are half African, half Caribbean for example.”

Heather said the team only had two adoptions which did not work out between 2000 and 2011, out of 133 children placed with new families during that period.

Mum-of-two Nicky (name has been changed), 32, from Cranleigh Road in Bournemouth, was adopted by a white family at the age of five, and insists she has no regrets about her upbringing.

She said: “We lived in a very rural village with not many ethnic minorities.

“My parents suffered a bit of abuse, but my mum set up a support group for different ethnic minority groups and that helped me to identify with other people in my situation.

“I did question things, but I think that’s just a part of growing up and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family.

“It’s a more diverse society now and people are more accepting. It’s just about being able to provide a better life.”

• The Bournemouth adoption team, which recently received an “outstanding” Ofsted report, desperately needs more adoptive families.

To find out more email adoption@bournemouth.gov.uk, visit the website Bournemouth.gov.uk/adoption or call 01202 456743.