Process for Prospective Adopters

Applications are accepted from Tameside residents and from people who live outside the area who wish to adopt older children

• Initial Referral
• Information Meeting
• Initial Home Visit
• Training
• Suitability to Adopt Assessment
• The Adoption Panel
• Matching You With A Child
• Placement
• The Adoption Order
• Post Adoption Support

Initial Referral

An information pack will be sent out within 5 days. If you are still interested then complete a reply slip indicating your intention to attend an Information evening or day time session.

The pack includes:-

• General information about adoption and the adoption process.
• Children who need adoptive families.
• The agency's expectation of prospective adopters.

Information Meeting

We hold monthly Information Meetings which give you the opportunity to find out more about adoption, and you can also hear from and speak to adoptive families about their experiences of the adoption process and parenting an adopted child.

You will have the chance to share perceptions, ask questions and (hopefully) share answers with others in the same position and to help clarify whether adoption might be right for you.

Initial Home Visit

If you wish to proceed with adoption after attending the information meeting, an adoption social worker will visit you at your home.

There is a formal checklist/format that that we must discuss with you.

The social worker will help you understand the possible consequences of adoption and answer any questions you may have.

Once we are satisfied that you have been given sufficient information and counselling, a decision will be made by the Adoption Team Manager about whether to invite you to formally apply for an assessment for your suitability to adopt. You will receive this decision in writing, and if successful will be invited to the next available training sessions.

Training

This is a 4 day course which covers the needs of an adoptive child, including attachment and behavioural issues. It also looks at the challenges of adoption and the commitment needed by an adoptive parent.

Suitability To Adopt Assessment

Following receipt of your formal application, an Adoption Social Worker will complete a suitability to adopt assessment The adoption assessment process needs to involve everyone in your immediate family and the view of your parents, close friends and whoever may be important to you will be taken into account.

Personal and statutory references, plus an enhanced C.R.B. (Criminal Records Bureau) check will be sought.

If either applicant has had a previous relationship which involved caring for children, we would also need to speak to the previous partner. Please request the fact sheet entitled "Previous Partners".

The assessment process is intensive and needs to delve into personal and emotional issues. This is necessary as we need to ensure you are suitable to be parents to some of our most vulnerable children.

You will be encouraged and supported to contribute to your assessment report and to write some of it yourself, if this is something with which you are comfortable.

When the report is completed but still in draft form, you will see it and have an opportunity to discuss it with your social worker, before it is signed and presented to Panel.

At the end of your assessment and prior to Panel you will be visited by another Social Worker or Manager from the Adoption Team after that person has read the draft copy of your assessment. The purpose of this visit will be explained to you at a later stage.

The Adoption Panel

The assessment report goes to an Adoption Panel which is made up of Social Workers, other professionals and independent people. Your Adoption Social Worker will attend to answer any questions from the panel members. You will be invited to attend if you wish to do so. The Panel make a recommendation as to whether or not you should be approved as an adoptive parent and for which types of children.

Matching You With A Child

Once you have been approved Tameside will consider those children waiting for adoption in the North West (or occasionally further away) whose needs you are able to meet. Your Adoption report is used to help the matching process of considering children and your details will be passed to the 22 authorities in the North West (known as Adoption 22) to help us identify children within this area whose needs you may be able to meet and therefore for whom you may be a "good match"

Placement

Once a child or children have been identified whose needs you may be able to meet you will be given full background information. If you want to continue with their adoption, their Social Worker will visit you. They will tell you about the child, about their personality, history and needs. The Social Worker will talk about the type of contact the child needs with their birth family. If all agree this would be a "good match" and after a gradual introduction, your adoptive child will come to live with you.

Remember you are not on your own - we will offer support and advice after placement and will be responsible for keeping in touch with you and your family until the adoption order is made. The Adoption Social Worker will find out about what adoption support is available in your area. Your child may also need to keep links with their birth family and this will be fully discussed with you.

The Adoption Order

When your adoptive child has successfully settled in with your family and if everyone, including the child's Social Worker, agrees - you will be able to apply to the court for an Adoption Order. Once this order is made, all rights and responsibilities originally held by the birth parent transfers to you

Post Adoption Support

Prior to a child being placed with you, an assessment of their adoption support needs will have been undertaken and formally recorded. This is the child's Adoption Support Plan.

Access to Post Adoption Support Services is available to adopters, birth parents and the adopted child.

Tameside Adoption Support Services recognise that adoption is a life long commitment and whilst it can provide huge rewards, there are times when it may be difficult.

To assist adoptive families through these times Tameside Adoption Support Services are committed to providing supportive services and post approval training to all adopters within their area.

What Can You Expect

• Access to qualified social work staff
• Access to professional advice, information and counselling
• Telephone consultation and a fortnightly drop in surgery
• Access to group work and support group meetings with other adopters
• Opportunities to meet with other adopters, to share experience, problems and exchange information
• Assistance in managing contact with birth families
• Access to adoption support worker
• Direct work with children who have been affected by the adoption process
• Information on financial support available and how to access this support
• Assessment of adoption support needs
• Support in accessing services identified as a need

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Children's Social Care Tameside Adoption Team Union Street Hyde SK14 ND  View local map
0161 342 4162
0161 342 4123