Information about the IRM for Agencies

This web page gives you access to information from the IRM leaflet, the leaflet for social workers and our agency newsletters. There are also links to the key legislation and guidance which apply to the IRM. It is not intended to be a complete and authoritative statement of the law.

Agencies are encouraged to download and print off the IRM leaflets (from the right hand side of this page) to circulate to workers & applicants at an early stage of the adoption process, to inform them about the IRM. Printed leaflets have been sent to all adoption agencies in England to be given to prospective adopters who may want to apply to the IRM.

All Agencies are required to appoint a Link Person to liaise with the IRM office when a case from their agency is being dealt with by the IRM. All correspondence on the case will then take place between IRM staff & the Link Person.

IRM staff Chris Blythe (left) and Elaine Dibben (right)

The IRM office is based in Birmingham and is staffed by a small team. The Contact Manager is Elaine Dibben, who is a qualified social worker experienced in adoption work. She is supported by the Administrator Chris Blythe, who previously worked for a Local Authority.

All the administration for the IRM Panels is dealt with by the IRM office.

Any queries can be directed to the IRM staff who will be happy to help.

Review of the Independent Review Mechanism

The DCSF have published their review of the Independent Review Mechanism and the Adoption Register. Follow this link to the report.

Statement on the Operation of the Independent Review Mechanism

The following statements give statistics and information about the operation of the IRM in the first three years and can be downloaded from the Every Child Matters website. Year 1, 2004-05
Year 2, 2005–06
Year 3, 2006 - 07

The IRM Newsletter - The IRM intends to keep agencies informed on it's operation and will in time provide information on outcomes and statistics.

Download issue 4 - November 2006 (pdf)
Download issue 3 - November 2005 (pdf)
Download issue 2 (sent out August '05)
Download issue 1 (sent out October '04)

For more information please contact:
Elaine Dibben, Contract Manager, IRM Head Office
Dolphin House, 54 Coventry Road, Birmingham B10 0RX
Tel: 0121 766 8086 | Fax: 0121 766 8557 | Email: irm@baaf.org.uk