The Adoption Process

Once you’ve decided you want to proceed, Adoption Matters Northwest understands that you want to complete the process as quickly as possible. We want you to be properly prepared, and make sure that our assessment and checks are carried out sensitively and comprehensively.

The process of matching you with the right children can also be time consuming - it may take weeks or even months to find the child or children that are right for you. Some of our adopters wait up to a year. Usually those who have a wide offer in terms of the ages and children they are interested in, wait for only a short time.

Preparation and assessment usually take 6 - 8 months.

Other agencies might claim to complete these processes more quickly. Here at Adoption Matters Northwest, we believe in thoroughness and attention to detail so that we minimise the possibilities of anything going wrong and avoid the disappointment and pain that can result for both sides.

A step by step guide to the adoption process:

After your initial enquiry by phone, email or letter, Adoption Matters Northwest will provide you with written information.

If you have gathered all the information from our website you can now download our online enquiry form. If you do wish to telephone the agency, you will be put through to a duty social worker. Either way once you have completed an enquiry form you will then be invited to arrange an initial interview with an Adoption Practitioner.

We need to be sure that any children we place are safe in your care so we need information about your history. We’ll carry out a series of checks with organisations such as Criminal Records Bureau and Social Services. You will also need a medical.

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.

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 – The Prospective Adopters 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.

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.

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 in to your home.

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 anytime in the future.

If you feel you’d like to progress further after discovering more about the adoption process, please download our comprehensive information pack, which contains detailed information about all aspects of the process.

Download our information pack.

If you feel there are some unanswered questions please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the site.

Once you’ve studied the information pack and discussed it with an Adoption Practitioner, you may wish to apply online via an enquiry form.

Complete our enquiry form

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