A new survey shows that most social workers believe that more children should be adopted from care but do not feel their managers see it as a priority.

The research by Community Care magazine showed that nearly two thirds of frontline staff believed that more children should and could be adopted from care and nearly all - 92 per cent - said that delays in the adoption procedure were damaging to children.

But only a quarter said they had been pressed by their bosses to increase the number of adoptions despite it being a key Government priority.

Three quarters of the 200 social services staff who took part in the survey said they felt that current adoption services were effective but this was against two thirds who said there was not enough post adoption support available to children or their new parents.

And the survey seemed to dispel the myth that 'political correctness' overtly influences adoption policy.

Nine out of ten social workers wanted to see changes in the law to allow unmarried couples - including gay couples - to adopt jointly. As the law stands at the moment, only one half of a partnership can legally adopt a child.

Only one in ten of staff questioned said they had refused someone because they smoked, while less than 10 per cent said they had rejected someone because they were over 40 or because they were overweight or because there were of a different social class.

They were more divided, however, on the issue of race with 44 per cent saying there should be more emphasis on same-race adoptions.

About the same number felt that race should be less important regardless of whether or not there were enough same-race adopters available.

The survey was done by the magazine as part of its new year-long Children First in Adoption campaign in which it encourages local authorities not rush into an adoption without fully assessing a child's needs

It also wants to see moves to ensure that the failure rate of adoptions is minimised and a wider variety of people are considered as potential adopters.

Other aims include getting the Government to commit extra money for post adoption support.

Editor of Community Care Polly Neate said: "There is no dispute that thousands of children have benefited from adoption, and many more need stable homes, but adoption is a difficult choice which does not always work out for the best.

"Our campaign calls for a common sense approach to adoption which recognises the pitfalls.

"The one overwhelming message which are study highlighted was that the welfare of the child is paramount. Yes, the process currently suffers unacceptable delays, and yes, there is a chronic shortage of potential adoptive parents.

"But in resolving these problems through new targets and regulations, neither the Government nor the adoption worker should forget that the needs of the child come first."