What is adoption?
- Adoption is a way of providing families for children. It
creates a new relationship which can provide long term security and
love. This helps children to overcome much of their sadness
about the circumstances that have led to them needing a new family.
- Adoption is a legal process. It is a permanent commitment
and should be undertaken after careful thought. You can find
out more about the legal aspects of adoption on the government
website relating to adoption
click here.
- Adoption enables people without children to experience the
delights and difficulties of being a parent.
- Adoption enables people who have children to use their
experience to help other children.
Could I adopt?
Children waiting for adoption come from diverse backgrounds and
we therefore need a wide range of adoptive families in order to meet
their needs.
- People from minority ethnic communities are especially welcome
as many children of Black, Asian and mixed heritage are waiting for
families.
- You can be single or a couple, working or unemployed, with or
without children, a home-owner or living in rented accommodation.
Adoption support, including financial help, may be available.
- You must be at least 21 years old. There are no upper age
limits but generally younger children will be placed with younger
applicants.
- Couples need to have been in a stable and committed
relationship for at least two years.
- We are seeking prospective adopters with strong and healthy
relationships, who are able to communicate with children, who have
open and non-discriminatory attitudes, lots of perseverance, a
willingness to reflect on their own life experience and a commitment
to learn about the challenges and rewards of parenting hurt
children.
- We are keen to discuss adoption with anyone who feels they have
something to offer to waiting children.
- If for any reason we feel unable to accept an application from
you we will explain our reasons honestly and, if appropriate, direct
you to another Adoption Agency in your area.
Don't rule yourself out! Please contact us for more
information if you would like to know more about adopting under your
particular circumstances.
What happens during the adoption process?
We will arrange an Information Interview, where you can discuss
adoption with a social worker, giving you the opportunity to learn
more about the process and our agency.
We offer a full day Information Course, aiming to
give you basic information about adoption and help you decide
whether or not an application is right for you. Please do contact us for further
information if you would like to attend.
Following application, the next stage
is attending a three day Preparation and Assessment course, helping
you to reflect more deeply on the implications of adoption for you
and the child.
Your adoption practitioner will need to
get to know you very well, and will wish to see you several times,
and to interview each applicant alone.
Three referees (not relatives) will be required and two will be
interviewed. Your local authority and health authority will be
asked to provide any relevant information. Medical
certificates will need to be completed by your G.P. Criminal
Record Bureau checks on you and anyone over 18 in your household will also be required.
All applications must be referred
to the agency's Adoption Panel, and recommendations from the Panel
have to be taken into consideration before an application can be
accepted. Your adoption practitioner will complete her report
for the Panel in conjunction with you. You are welcome to
attend the panel meeting, and you will be advised of the panel's
recommendation immediately. This then has to be ratified by
the agency's decision maker, and confirmed to you in writing within
seven days. We aim to reach this stage approximately six
months after your formal application. However, each
application is unique, and there may be a variety of reasons why
some take longer. The assessment review process will keep you
informed of timescales. Once approved, you are able to consider
specific children and move forward to a potential adoption
placement. We will work closely with you at this important
time and continue to offer support throughout and beyond adoption.
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We can provide by post an information pack which
will help to answer any general queries you may have about adopting.
To request a pack, please telephone us on 08451 22 00 77 or
e-mail us, being sure to give your full name and address with post code, and
telephone number in case of queries. If you would like one of our team to
call you (during office hours), please let us know.
If you would like to be informed by e-mail of the
dates of Information Days, please
e-mail us.
If you would like to talk in confidence to one of our specialist
adoption practitioners about your individual circumstances, or have any
other queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Privacy policy : your enquiry will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The personal information you provide will be used solely for the purpose of
sending you an information pack or contacting you in relation to your enquiry.
If you decide not to pursue your enquiry, your details will be removed from our
records.
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