FAQs
Can I adopt a baby?
Are there older children available for adoption?
I already have children can I adopt?
I am in a homosexual / lesbian relationship, can we adopt?
I have suffered from mental illness in the past, can I adopt?
Is there anyone who can't adopt?
Will I be told about the child's background?
What happens next if I want to adopt?
What is the adoption panel?
How long does it all take?
How is an adoption made legal?
What rights do birth parents have after the adoption?
Will the child still see their birth parents or other relatives?
Can I adopt a baby?
There are usually more people waiting to adopt babies than there are babies available for adoption. There are many children over the age of 4 years waiting for the right family to adopt them. Applicants wanting to adopt children between the ages of 0-4 years will usually have to wait longer to be assessed than those wanting to adopt children over the age of 4 years. Are there older children available for adoption? There are children waiting for adoptive parents up to the age of 10 years and even older. Many are part of a sibling group of brothers and sisters and need to be placed together. Some children waiting for adoption are disabled or have specific health needs.
Are there older children available for adoption?
There are children waiting for adoptive parents up to the age of 10 years and even older. Many are part of a sibling group of brothers and sisters and need to be placed together. Some children waiting for adoption are disabled or have specific health needs.
I already have children can I adopt?
We welcome interest from both childless families and those with children. Experience of parenting can be an advantage, but bear in mind that adoptive parenting is very different. Think about the ages of your existing children. What would be the impact on them of a demanding child who needs a lot of your time and love?I am in a homosexual/lesbian relationship, can we adopt?
The law has now changed to enable those in a homosexual/lesbian relationship to make a joint application to adopt.I have suffered from mental illness in the past, can I adopt?
An adopter's health is important, as adopters have to look after the child until s/he reaches adulthood and beyond. If you have had a health problem in the past, what matters is that you are fit enough to look after a child now and in the future. All prospective adopters have to have a medical and the opinion of medical advisers will be given to ensure that they will be able to care for the child.Is there anyone who can't adopt?
There are very few people who can't adopt - feel free to ask our adoption team. But anyone who has committed certain criminal offences, including crimes against children or violent offences, will not be able to adopt.Will I be told about the child's background?
It is very important that you know as much as possible about the child's past. The law says the adoption agency must give you all the information about the child. This includes details about his or her background, time in care, school history and any medical needs. This knowledge will help you to understand the child when they come to live with you and help to support them in the future.What happens next if I want to adopt?
There are several steps to go through. You can refer to the route to adoption page for further information.What is the adoption panel?
The adoption panel is a group of people appointed to meet regularly. They deal with all agency matters relating to adoption. This includes making recommendations on:-
prospective adopters;
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whether a child should be placed for adoption;
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matching of children to approved adopters.
How long does it all take?
The National Adoption Standards say that from the point when your application is accepted, to being approved as a prospective adoptive parent, should take no more than eight months. All adoption agencies are working towards this goal.Once you are approved, the process of matching you to a suitable child may take anything from three to 18 months. We aim to place within one to two years.
How is an adoption made legal?
Your social worker and the child's social worker will continue to visit you until the court grants a formal adoption order. The social workers are there to advise and assist through the settling in and adjustment period.After the child comes to live with you, the court will make an adoption order. An adoption order ends all legal ties the child has with the birth family. The child can take your surname and become a full member of your family.
What rights do birth parents have after the adoption?
Once an adoption order has been made, the birth parents have no legal rights over the child and cannot claim him or her back.However, we do arrange for birth parents to have news of their child, and adoptive parents are asked to write to birth parents each year via the adoption team.
Will the child still see their birth parents or other relatives?
There may be some direct contact arrangements between some children and their birth relatives.Many children are benefiting from continuing to have direct contact with some members of their birth family. It will depend on the child, but this could be a birth parent, foster carer who has looked after them for a long time, brothers or sisters, grandparents or other relatives. If they have made strong attachments, it can help a child a great deal to keep these up.
Birth families are an important part of an adopted child's life. It's natural to be curious about your background. So we encourage adoptive parents to be positive about the role birth parents play in their child's life.