Our aim is to take you through the adoption process as quickly effectively and sensitively as possible. You will be prepared for adoption and assessed as suitable to adopt within an 8 month timescale.
The process of matching you with the right children can take a while longer, but we find that those adopters who have a wide offer in terms of the ages and children they are interested in, wait for only a short time.
A step by step guide to the adoption process:
- Making an enquiry
You can contact us by phone, email or letter and we will send you a copy of our information pack. Included in this pack is an initial enquiry form which you can complete and return to us.
Alternatively you can download the information pack from the website including the initial enquiry form which you can then fill in and return to the Adoption Matters Northwest Office.
More details about the process can be found in our information pack. We encourage every one making enquiries about adoption to take the time to read our information pack and understand each aspect of the process and the information regarding the children waiting to be adopted.
Which ever way you decide to contact the agency we will provide you with written literature and if you decide to proceed further we will invite you to arrange an interview with an adoption practitioner. All enquiries remain informal at this early stage yet all the information we gather will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence, any details submitted are used only to help social workers deal with your enquiry.
- Making Checks
We need to be sure that any children we place with you are safe in your care so we need information about your background. We’ll carry out a series of checks with organisations such as The Criminal Records Bureau and Social Services. You will also need a medical.
- Preparation
If you and Adoption Matters Northwest agree, you will be invited to make a formal application to be approved as adoptive parents. You will need to attend a series of preparation groups to prepare you for the task of becoming an adoptive parent.
- Home study
You will be allocated an Adoption Practitioner who will undertake an assessment of your suitability to adopt. Your family members and personal referees will also be interviewed. A written report – Prospective Adopter’s Report- will be produced. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the report to ensure that it is factually correct and include your views of the social worker’s opinions and recommendations.
- Panel
You will be invited to meet an experienced Adoption Panel. The panel will consider your report and make a recommendation about your suitability to be an adoptive parent. Adoption Matters Northwest will consider the recommendation and make the final decision about your approval.
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Linking to a Child
Once you are approved, Adoption Matters Northwest will endeavour to find a suitable child to be linked with you. Once a possible link is found you will be given written information and meet with people who know the child. If all parties agree, the child’s agency will be asked to approve the match. You can then be involved in arranging to meet the child. After a period of introduction the child can move into your home.
- Adoption
Once a child is settled you will apply to the court to obtain an Adoption Order. Post adoption, there may be an agreement to send regular progress reports about the child to the birth family, via the child’s agency. Information may be sent by the birth family, in return, again via the agency. Ongoing advice and support will be available at any time in the future.
Make Contact
Once you have read our information pack and you feel you are ready, do get in touch with us to progress your enquiries.
