News
Kibble Adoption Awarded Excellent Care Inspection Grades
11 November 2026
We are delighted to share that Kibble Adoption has achieved the highest possible grade in key areas of its first Care Inspectorate inspection, including a ‘6 – Excellent’ for leadership and quality assurance. Established in August 2024, reaching this milestone in just over two years is a wonderful achievement for the new and thriving service.
Kibble Adoption was also graded ‘5 – Very Good’ for helping children and young people get the most out of life and ensuring they receive the service that is right for them.
A Service Built Around Children and Families
Inspectors praised the service’s personalised, attachment-focused approach, recognising how its comprehensive assessments and tailored support help identify the right families for children, including older children and sibling groups who can wait longer for adoption.
It was especially heartening to see inspectors recognise that children were thriving and living fulfilling lives within loving adoptive families.
Adopters spoke warmly about the consistent, personal support they received. One shared: “Their support, guidance, compassion and encouragement have been unwavering, and I have felt genuinely supported every step of the way.”
The inspection also recognised the importance placed on wider family relationships and lifelong connections, alongside the service’s work to find families for children who can wait longer, including sibling groups and older children.
Personal, Knowledgeable Support
From first enquiry through to assessment, matching and post-adoption support, inspectors found a highly organised and responsive service. Assessments were comprehensive and child-centred, with adopters benefiting from specialist knowledge and tailored support.
Training, peer support, supervision and therapeutic resources helped adopters feel well prepared and supported along the way.
Therapeutic play, peer support and family events have also helped create a welcoming community where families can learn, build relationships and celebrate milestones together.
Excellent, Sector-Leading Leadership
The ‘6 – Excellent’ grade recognises leadership that keeps children at the heart of every decision. Inspectors praised the service’s robust quality assurance, meaningful self-evaluation and innovative, child-centred approach, shaped by feedback from adopters, staff and partners.
There is plenty to look forward to, too. Inspectors recognised the service’s ambition to grow and become a centre of excellence for adoption practice nationwide, building on the strong foundations already in place.
What shone through most strongly was the team culture. Inspectors described colleagues as “so positive and passionate”, while staff and adopters spoke of a service that felt “like a family”.
Celebrating an Incredible Team
This exceptional result is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire team, guided by Sandy Mayhew, Paula Harkins and Chris MacDonnell. Paula has been instrumental in establishing and growing the service with the support of colleagues who have helped bring the vision to life.
Paula Harkins, Operations Manager at Kibble Adoption, said:
“As a new voluntary adoption service, receiving such positive feedback in our first Care Inspectorate report is an important milestone. It provides valuable independent recognition of the foundations we have built and the standard of service we are working hard to deliver.
“This recognition is testament to the experience, commitment and care our team invests at every stage of the adoption journey. It also reflects the dedication of our volunteer panel members, the invaluable contribution of our ambassadors with lived experience and, most importantly, the insight, voices and experiences of the children and families at the heart of our service.”
A huge congratulations to everyone at Kibble Adoption on this wonderful achievement. With children and families at the heart of the service and such strong foundations in place, there is plenty to look forward to as its story continues.
View Latest Care Inspection Report
