News

We are pleased to announce that Suzanne Griffiths, Director of the National Adoption Service for Wales, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to children’s social care.

This honour recognises Suzanne’s sustained leadership and significant contribution to the development of adoption services in Wales. Since the establishment of the National Adoption Service, Suzanne has provided strategic direction and oversight, supporting a collaborative national model that brings together regional adoption services, local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies to improve consistency, quality and outcomes for children and families.

Suzanne has also confirmed her intention to retire from her role at the end of March 2026. During her tenure, she has overseen a period of substantial development and consolidation for NAS, embedding national frameworks, strengthening partnership working and supporting continuous improvement across the system.

In 2025, NAS delivered on a number of key priorities. These included the launch and implementation of a new Qualities and Skills Framework to support adoption practice across Wales; the piloting of an updated Child Adoption Report (CAR B), developed in collaboration with Coram BAAF, to reflect modern adoption practice; and the delivery of the national ‘Now is a Good Time’ campaign to respond to emerging recruitment challenges within the adoption system.

Throughout this period, Suzanne has remained focused on ensuring that adoptive families continue to access appropriate information, support and post-adoption services, particularly in the context of wider pressures on families and public services.

As the National Adoption Service looks ahead to 2026, we would like to formally recognise Suzanne’s leadership and long-standing contribution and congratulate her on this well-deserved national honour. We also extend our thanks to colleagues across regional services, local authorities, voluntary adoption agencies and partner organisations for their continued commitment to supporting children to achieve permanence within loving, stable families.