The Adoption Process

Pre Stage One

Exploration

If you are interested in adopting with us we would love to hear from you. To do this, request an information pack through the contact us page on this website.
Information Evening

We regularly hold information events where you can meet us and find out more about adopting. To book your place contact us: 0800 023 4064. During the phone call we will ask you to share some basic details.

The information evening is an informal event for anyone who is interested in adopting with us. At the end of the session we will give you a pack containing more information about adopting with us. We recommend that you also take some time to reflect on what you have heard, read and researched to make sure that adoption feels like the right route for you at this point.
Initial Visit

If you decide that adoption feels like a route you want to continue to explore we ask that you contact us to book an initial visit. A member of the recruitment team will arrange to meet you to: get to know you, find out more about your personal circumstances, have an in-depth conversation about adopting and answer any questions you may have.

We will ask you some detailed questions at this stage regarding, your motivations to adopt, your personal history, health and lifestyle. If you decide to proceed further and we are able to invite you forward we will ask you to complete a Registration of Interest Form.

Stage One (Two Months)

Checks and Training

During Stage One we will ask you to formally apply with us using a Registration of Interest form (ROI). Once we have received your Registration of Interest (ROI) we will:
• Invite you to our three day ‘Preparing to Adopt’ Training

• Introduce you to your assigned social worker

• Undertake checks

If all requirements are met at this stage, then we will invite you to Stage Two.

Stage Two (Four Months)

Home Assessment

During Stage Two your social worker will undertake an assessment with you. Your social worker will meet with you on a regular basis (weekly or fortnightly depending on capacity) to have more in-depth conversations with you which will help them to assess your suitability to adopt. A Prospective Adopter’s Report (PAR) will be completed by your social worker containing the information they have gathered and the report will contain a recommendation to our Adoption Panel about your suitability to adopt.
Adoption Panel and Approval

The Adoption Panel is made up of independent adoption experts. Their job is to consider all of the information gathered by your social worker and recommend on your suitability to adopt. You’ll be invited to attend part of the panel meeting. The panel will then make a recommendation to the agency and our Agency Decision Maker (ADM) will make the final decision about whether you are suitable to become an adoptive parent(s).
Matching

Once approved, your social worker will work with you and our Family Finding Team to find a child or sibling group who would be a good match with you. Once we have identified a match we will give you lots of information about the child and you will meet people who have been involved with the child, such as a medical advisor. The Adoption Panel from the child’s Local Authority will then meet and make a recommendation whether to approve your match, and the Agency Decision Maker will again make that final decision.
Introductions and Homecoming

A period of introductions will be planned with the goal of allowing you and the child(ren) to begin to become familiar with one another before they move into your home. Once your child moves in your social worker and the child’s social worker will continue to visit and support you until you become the legal parent of the child via an Adoption Order. The earliest you can apply to legally adopt the child(ren) is after they have lived with you for a minimum of 10 weeks.
Adoption Support

We love to keep in touch with our adoptive families and provide support where needed. We provide a comprehensive service of adoption support for all our adoptive families which includes: providing advice, undertaking an ‘Assessment of Need’ at any point during their childhood and implementing any support needed, family fun days, toddler group, training, regular communications, letterbox system, signposting and access to birth records.