I Want to Express An Interest in Adopting My Foster Child

Adopting a child is very different to fostering. This is about making a forever commitment to the child so this needs to be considered carefully. The most important thing is that there is a Permanence Plan for the child to be adopted and if this is the case and you would like to find out more, speak to your Supervising Social Worker.

If the decision is to proceed, an assessment will be done focusing on your potential as prospective adoptive parents and whether this will be in the long-term interests of the child. You will receive the same assessment, preparation and training as other prospective adopters.

1. You should notify in writing the child's Social Worker of your interest in adopting a child. The child should have been placed with you at all times for at least twelve months before you do this.
   
   The child's Social Worker will call a Professionals Meeting within ten working days; those attending will include representatives from the Adoption Team, Fostering Team, the child's Independent Reviewing Officer and the Social Worker's Manager;
2. The meeting will reach a decision as to whether or not the interest in adopting the child supported by the Local Authority. Clear reasons will be recorded;
3. If the decision is that the Local Authority is not supporting you, then the child's Social Worker, Fostering Support Worker and a member of the Adoption Team will visit you within seven working days to explain the reasons and the Adoption Worker will advise you of your legal right to initiate your own adoption application and eligibility under the Adoption Support Services Regulations, 2005, for counselling, advice and information only.
   
   If the decision is that the Local Authority supports you, then the child's Social Worker, Fostering Support Worker and a member of the Adoption Team will visit you within seven working days. The Adoption Social Worker will provide the initial information pack and discuss the Adoption Agency process including the timescale and assessment process. The assessment will be discussed at adoption panel and a recommendation about your suitability to adopt. This will then be considered by the Agency Decision Maker and a decision about your suitability to adopt made. This needs to be approved by the Agency Decision Maker then your suitability to adopt a specific child or children will be addressed as part of the matching process.
   
   The Adoption Social Worker will explain about the statutory checks and references required for you and any adult member of the household and that if the enhanced DBS check identifies that you or an adult member of the household as having been convicted of a specified offence or Police caution that they will not be considered suitable to adopt;
4. The Adoption Team Manager will allocate a Social Worker to complete an initial assessment and provide further counselling and information;
5. A report of the initial assessment will be completed and shared with the Adoption Team Manager. A decision will be made regarding accepting an application based on the Initial Assessment;
6. If, following the initial assessment, concerns are raised, then the Adoption Team Manager will convene a further Professionals Meeting within ten working days to reconsider your expression of interest.
   
   It the meeting decides not to proceed, then the child's Social Worker, Fostering Support Worker and Adoption Social Worker will visit you within seven working days to advise of the decision and the reasons. The Adoption Social Worker will again give you advice about your legal right to initiate your own adoption application;
7. If following the Initial Assessment a decision is made to accept an application, you will be invited to attend the next Integrated Training and Assessment programme;
8. The Adoption Team Manager will allocate a Social Worker to complete your assessment to adopt;
9. Following Assessment and Training, the prospective adopters report (PAR) will be presented to the Adoption Panel for a recommendation regarding suitability to adopt;
10. The Adoption Panel will consider the report and make a recommendation regarding your suitability to adopt. The Adoption Panel may also give advice regarding the number and age of the child/children;
11. The reports and minutes of the Panel are considered by the Agency Decision Maker, who will make the decision regarding suitability to adopt;
12. If the Agency decision is that you are suitable to adopt, the child's Social Worker will complete the matching paperwork (APR and Proposed Adoption Support Plan) giving clear reasons why it is felt that you are able to meet the long term needs of the child/children.
    
    The Adoption Social Worker will ask you to make any comments on the APR.
13. A life appreciation day will be held to ensure you have an opportunity to meet and have all the available information regarding the child. You will also have the opportunity to meet the medical advisor.
14. The match will be presented to the Adoption Panel for a recommendation;
15. The paperwork and minutes of the Panel will be considered by the Agency Decision Maker, who will make the decision regarding the match;
16. You, the child's Social Worker and Adoption Social Worker will agree a date when the children will become placed for adoption under the Adoption Agencies Regulations and the relevant paperwork and notification letters will be completed;
17. The child's status within the placement will have changed and the reviewing arrangements will be:-
    • Review within four weeks of placement;
    • Review within three months of first review;
    • Review within six months of second review and then at six monthly intervals until the Adoption Order is granted;
18. You can make your application to adopt once the child/children has/have been placed with you for ten weeks on this basis. Ideally, the decision to make an adoption application will be part of the Independent Reviewing process;
19. If the Adoption Panel does not feel able to recommend you as being suitable to adopt, then the minutes and paperwork go to the Agency Decision Maker.
    
    If the Agency Decision Maker agrees with this, then you will be notified of this and the reasons and your options.