The long-term future of the national adoption register has been called into doubt after it emerged parents for the hardest to place children are not being found.

A year after one of the Government's flagship initiatives was set up to boost adoption rates, the register has failed to make a single 'match' in 12 local authority and voluntary agencies across the country contacted by Communitycare - a leading social care information magazine.

So far the Department of Health and Norwood, the voluntary agency that runs the register on behalf of the DOH, have refused to reveal the number of matches made in the last year, but experts believe it is no more than a few.

Since its launch, adoption agencies across England have placed the names of 1,700 children and 1,400 approved adopters on the register.

These children are often the hardest place, such as those aged over five, groups of siblings, or those of ethnic minority orgin or with medical or behavioural problems.

Ann Davison, team leader of Chester-based voluntary agency, Adoption Matters, believes it was always going to be a struggle.

She said: "Local authorities are struggling to place the same children.

"This is a well meaning initiative, but what we are seeing is the number of adopters to adoptees doesn't marry up."

Other concerns are the register is hampered by administration demands, restrictive financing and lack of resources on the ground.

Philly Morrall, director of Adoption UK, said none of its 1,500 potential adopters had been matched through the register.

The register was also set up to suggest links between children awaiting adoption and potential adopters, encourage closer links between local and regional adoption groups and collate information on adoption to inform on trens and best practice.

(Parts of this article appear courtesy of Communitycare Magazine)