OXFORDSHIRE will lead the way in a new regional adoption service due to its expertise in finding children a loving home.

From 2020 a regional adoption agency (RAA) will be created for the Thames Valley in a bid to match children with families more quickly and improve support services.

Adopt Thames Valley will be made up of seven councils, with Oxfordshire County Council hosting the service.

On Tuesday the county council's cabinet agreed to join the agency.

Speaking at the meeting cabinet member for children and family services Melinda Tilley said: "We settled on these six authorities because they are similar to us, although they are not as good as us.

"I am very pleased that we are going to be hosting it because we can show all our partners they good practice we have.

"This gives us a wide range of potential adopters and children needing placements."

She added: "It is clear that the Government expects all adoption services to be delivered in this way in the coming years, and we want to get ahead of the game and bring our plans to fruition in good time.

"We’re also really pleased to have the support of all partners for Oxfordshire to be the host authority, enabling us to build on our already strong record on adoption services."

The Government has said it will provide £300,000 to help set up the new service, which will include Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, Swindon and Reading councils.

It is hoped it will also cut waiting times and save money as all adoption services move towards RAAs by 2020.

Labour county councillor Gill Sanders said: "This council has an exceptional record on promoting adoption and we have an extremely good team of officers working on these issues.

"I and the Labour group would be more than happy for Oxfordshire to become the lead to ensure our work could be passed on to the other authorities involved."

Between 2012 and 2014 73 per cent of Oxfordshire children waited less than 16 months between entering care and moving in with their adoptive family.

This was the third-highest figure out of 149 local authorities in England.

It was also sixth-best for the average time taken between a child entering care and moving in with its adoptive family.

A further report will now be produced by the council setting out the detailed financial and staffing implications of the RAA, which will be presented to cabinet in spring.