The adoption process
If you are interested in adopting a child who is not a relative or step-child, you should complete an initial enquiry form.
After your initial enquiry, we will contact you with information about adoption and details of our next information session.
The assessment will involve meeting with you a couple of times at your home. We will talk to you about:
- your past and present circumstances
- your family
- your experience of looking after children
- your health and other issues
You will need to have statutory checks undertaken. We will also need to ask employers, friends and families for references. Your referees will be sent a questionnaire to complete, following which the assessing social worker will meet to interview them.
It usually takes 6 months from your initial enquiry to becoming an approved adopters, but may sometimes take longer. Once this is completed we can start the process of matching you with a child, or children.