CHESHIRE East Council has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award after reaching a record number of adoptions.


Two of the council’s key services involving child protection and adoption are nominated in the ‘children’s services’ category for the prestigious Municipal Journal Awards to be held in London in July.


The council’s safeguarding teams have been shortlisted for their work across several major areas around child protection and for the way they have engaged with and involved young people in developing ideas and campaigns to raise the profile of the issue of child protection and safeguarding.


The nomination comes after securing a record number of adoptions in 2014, along with its strategic partners – Stockport, Tameside and Trafford, who make up the Four4Adoption.co.uk collaboration.


If successful, it will be their second award since the partnership was established in 2013.


Nigel Moorhouse, Cheshire East Council’s head of early help and protection, said: “It is rewarding to see all the hard work our teams are putting in around child protection and, adoption recognised in this way.


“To have not just one nomination but two for what is a very prestigious award in local government, is a tremendous achievement for a local authority and reflects on the determination and dedication of our staff in the work that they do.”


“To then have both nominations included in the final shortlist is very special.”


The four authorities have worked together to raise the number of adopters and successful placements in Cheshire East and the three Greater Manchester boroughs.


A concerted campaign using press and social media brought about a 65 per cent increase in approved adopters and a 74 per cent rise in the number of children who found adoptive parents.


Mike Suarez, Cheshire East chief executive, added: “I congratulate our teams on being nominated for these awards.


“Adoption and child protection are two extremely important areas of work for local authorities and Cheshire East has worked extremely hard with partners and agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for young people and families and to engage with young people in raising awareness.


“There are 101 nominations across 16 categories and to have two nominations from Cheshire East shortlisted in one category is a great achievement.”