Adopting

The assessment process includes a full medical examination and is normally carried out by your GP and then sent to our medical adviser.  During the process your Adoption Social Worker will discuss your medical history as well as your current physical and mental health with you.

Adoption is a positive option for many people who can’t have children of their own and is sometimes considered when fertility treatment has not worked.  We understand that having fertility treatment is very stressful so if you are receiving treatment we recommend that you take your time and wait for it to be completed before applying to adopt.  Even after it’s finished it’s worthwhile giving yourself enough space to allow your emotions to settle and be sure it’s the right time for you.

Applying to adopt is a lengthy and sometimes challenging process so it’s important that you feel ready.

When you apply we’ll ask you, and anyone who lives with you who is over 16, to complete a PVG form. This national checking procedure is used to confirm you have no serious offences which could stop you adopting a child.

We don’t necessarily turn down applications from people who have minor or insignificant offences, but we appreciate being told about any police convictions as soon as possible.

We do not accept applicants who have been convicted of any offence against a child.

Initial home visit

The visit is very informal and gives you the opportunity to find out more about adoption and whether it is right for you.  The Adoption Social Worker will explain the assessment process in more detail and discuss the information that we need to gather.  They will also talk about the needs of children who are looking for adoptive homes. Together you and the social worker will agree if you should progress to the next step which is to attend a preparation group.

To arrange the initial home visit, phone our Adoption Team Duty worker on 03451 555 555 ext 471074.

Preparation group

The three-day preparation groups take place throughout the year and are designed to give you as much information as possible. They will give you the opportunity to explore the challenges involved in adopting and to hear from foster carers and adopters. We ask that everyone attend an introductory session and all three days because it is an important part of the formal assessment process. We encourage single applicants to identify a support person to participate in the preparation group alongside them.

The three-day preparation group covers a wide range of topics including:

• The effects of separation and loss on children
• Physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect
• Talking to children about adoption
• Issues of contact with birth families
• The legal and medical aspects of adoption
• Contact with Social Workers and other professionals

After completing the preparation group, the next step is to arrange a pre-application visit to your home to discuss your formal application.

Pre-application visit

The pre-application visit is about discussing your reasons for wanting to adopt in more detail and the needs of the children who are looking for adoption.  Based on the topics covered in the preparation group our aim is to explore how you will provide the physical and emotional support a child or children will need.  If we mutually agree that the time is right for you to go ahead, we will give you the formal application form to complete.

The application form

We will give you an application form to fill in and consent forms to sign for the necessary checks to be carried out.   We need the names and addresses of four personal referees who are not relatives. Each referee will be asked to provide a written reference about you and at least two will also be interviewed as part of your assessment.  If you have been married or had a long relationship before, we will ask to speak to your previous partner too.  We will ask for a reference from your employer and from your GP.

Once we receive your application and complete the checks and references, we begin the home study assessment.

Home study assessment

The prospect of being assessed might seem daunting, but it gives you and your Adoption Social Worker the chance to get to know each other. It’s important to get to know you well, so we can find the best match for you and the most suitable family for every child. You will be allocated a Social Worker, or two, if you are a couple.

The home study assessment is very thorough and can take about six months. Some people can find it challenging because it involves reflecting on their past and difficult experiences.  It requires openness, trust and awareness of your own strengths and vulnerabilities.

The assessment involves a series of visits by your allocated Social Worker(s) from the Adoption Team.  These visits take place regularly over several months with gaps in between to allow space for reflection.  As part of the home study your Social Worker(s) will ask you to complete some exercises in advance of their visit as preparation.

The home study assessment covers the following areas;

1. Family background
2. Relationships
3. Motivation to adopt
4. Parenting capacity and hopes and expectations of parenting
5. Financial assessment

If you have children of your own they will also be as fully involved in the process as possible depending on their age and understanding.  Your Social Worker(s) will need to spend time with them to explain what is proposed and will want to find out how they feel about adopting. We have found that their response can be significant to the success or failure of a placement.

Once your application and assessment has been completed your application will be put forward to Fife Council’s Adoption and Fostering Panel.

Panel

The Panel’s role is to consider all the information and make a recommendation which is then considered by a Senior Manager, as Fife Council’s decision maker.

The Panel is made up of Fife Council staff and several independent members who have a variety of relevant experience to make sure fair and appropriate decisions are made.

You will be invited to attend the meeting with your Social Worker(s).  The Panel may want to ask you or your Social Worker(s) some questions to clarify information within the assessment report. The decision to approve you as a prospective adopter is based solely on your ability to promote the welfare of a child throughout their life. The welfare of the child is always at the heart of any decision made.  If you are unsuccessful your Social Worker(s) will discuss the reasons with you and let you know about our appeals procedure should you disagree.

Once you are approved you will receive our Adoption Support Handbook and we then begin the matching process.

Matching

Once you have been approved as an adopter it’s difficult to say how long you may have to wait before a child or children are matched with you.  It depends on the needs of the children waiting for adoption at any one time.

Your Adoption Social Worker will continue to visit you regularly, discuss the support available to you, share information about any changes in personal circumstances, and when appropriate consider links with a child or children.

After your adopted child or children come to live with you, you will continue to receive support and access to a wide range of training and support groups.  There are several support groups that take place throughout the year.  These include an opportunity for children’s activities as well as offering parents the space to meet and share experiences. All our training and support groups take place locally in Fife.

It is possible to adopt a child from another country.  If you are considering this option, you will need to find out as much as possible about the adoption rules for the country from where you want to adopt. These regulations can be very complex and often change frequently.

We can help you with an overseas application by directing you to an independent assessor who will undertake the home study on behalf of Fife Council.   However, there is a charge for this service which you need to pay at the start of the assessment process, regardless of whether your application is successful or not.