Adoption

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About adoption

Why adoption?

What is adoption?

Who is suitable to become a prospective adopter?

How do I become a prospective adopter?

About adoption

Adoption is a means of providing permanent families for children who cannot be brought up within their birth families. The Family Placement Team recruits and assess people who wish to adopt a child. People who wish to adopt undergo a thorough screening and assessment process before being approved as suitable people to adopt a child. Staff provide support to adoptive families after a child has been placed, will help them lodge an adoption application and provide support following adoption if required.

A member of staff in the team will be identified as the link worker for a specific child. In this role they will work closely with children's social workers to identify suitable matches between children for whom the plan is adoption, and approved families. Also, they are a source of information and advice to colleagues within Social Services.

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Why adoption?

• Children have a right to grow up within a family, for some children who are unable to stay with their birth family , this is a positive way forward
• A wide range of people from all walks of life choose adoption, with or without birth children, single people, married couples or partners in a stable relationship can apply
• Our children come in all shapes and sizes, we need adopters in all shapes and sizes. Your age, race, gender and class will add diversity to your application
• Our children come from many different backgrounds, they have many different needs.

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What is adoption?

Adoption is committing to caring for a child for life. Even grown-ups need a family. It’s a way of giving a child a chance to grow and play in a safe and secure home, whilst also helping you to complete your family.

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Who is suitable to become a prospective adopter?

Lots of people are suitable to adopt and we recognise that families come in all shapes and sizes. The most important criteria is that you and your family are caring people who can help the children we have waiting for a permanent family. You could be single or a couple, working either in or out of the home and you may or may not have your own children. Variety is good; it helps us meet the needs of the very different children we want to place in permanent homes.

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How do I become a prospective adopter?

The process of becoming a foster carer takes about 12 months from your enquiry. At all times you’ll be supported by the Family Placement Team and your own social worker. Here’s what will happen…

1. Fill in the enquiry form and send it back to us. We’ll then send you an information pack and application form. Send the application form back to us.
2. A Family Placement Team worker will contact you to discuss adopting. It’s likely this discussion will take place in your home.
3. You’ll be asked to fill in a more detailed form giving us permission to carry out police and other checks.
4. Whilst the checks are being completed, you’ll be invited to our training sessions where you’ll be able to meet existing carers and learn more about adopting.
5. Once you’ve completed training if you still feel adoption is for you, your social worker will work with you to produce a report on your suitability to become a prospective adopter.
6. At the same time as writing this report the council will follow up your personal and professional references and you will undertake a health check.
7. Your report and references will be presented to the Adoption Panel. You are able to attend this panel. They will decide on your suitability to adopt. If you are approved your social worker will support you and look for the right child for you. If you’re not approved you will be given reasons in writing, and offered support.
8. After approval, your details will be sent to the national register. We will look within the East Riding for the right child for you, if after 3 months you are still waiting we will send your details to our consortium to widen our search. If after a further 3 months we have not found the right child, your details which were sent to the National Register on approval will be activated and a nation wide search will begin.
9. You will continue to be supported by your Family Placement Social Worker during all the stages of the child’s move to join you and your family and in learning to live together. They will still be there with you through the court processes.
10. We offer a number of ongoing support services including support groups, family days, post box contact, and counselling for adults who were adopted.

Please click here for an enquiry form.[PDF : 35k]

Please click here for an Adoption information booklet.[PDF : 251k]

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