A NORTH-EAST adoption agency has been awarded a third consecutive outstanding rating for its work finding families for children in need of a permanent home.

DFW Adoption, which is based in Durham City but works with families across the region, was recognised by Ofsted with a top rating for the effective and lifelong support it provides to adoptive families, birth parents and children.

The registered charity was rated as outstanding for the outcomes it achieves for young people, its safeguarding, management and the overall quality of its service.

Director Margaret Bell said the Ofsted report, which came after a rigorous four-day inspection, recognised the hard work and dedication of her team.

"It was especially heartening to hear the very positive feedback given willingly by our families, including adopted children and their parents' birth children," she said.

"We do pride ourselves on welcoming a diverse range of adopters because the needs of children waiting to be adopted are so diverse. It's great to hear people appreciate the support and confirm they feel like part of a big DFW family."

In the last 12 months, DFW has approved 23 sets of adopters - double the previous year - and 24 children have been placed with its families.