Children and young people

When prospective adopters make contact with the council's Adoption and Permanence Team, they are asked to give some basic information about themselves. The team tries to answer any questions they have about adoption.

Applying to adopt

If they decide to go ahead, they will be sent written information and be invited to one of the regular information evenings for prospective adopters. They will also have a private appointment arranged with an adoption social worker to discuss any queries.

Preparation

At the next stage, they are invited to attend a preparation group, where they will meet other prospective adopters and find out more about adoption from professionals and adoptive parents. Childless couples will also have the opportunity to discuss their situation with others in a similar position.

Checks and references

Statutory checks will be made, including police and health records. References will be sought from:

• employers,
• building societies,
• banks,
• schools,
• the probation service,
• health visitors,
• two independent referees and
• a relative.

Prospective adopters will be asked to attend a medical with their own doctor.

Assessment

If all the checks and references are satisfactory and they wish to continue after the preparation course, the prospective adopters and their family will undergo a home assessment. This will involve between eight and 10 visits to their home.

Decisions

The completed home assessment is presented to Medway Council's Adoption Panel, which the prospective adopters may attend if they wish. Subject to the Panel's recommendation, the council's adoption agency will approve them as an adopter.

The council's aim is to provide comprehensive information about adoption to enquirers and about individual children to approved adopters, so that applicants can make their own judgements about whether or not adoption is right for them at every stage of the process.

Once the assessment has started, applicants have the right to have their case presented to the Medway Adoption Panel, which will make its recommendation to the council's adoption agency decision-maker.

If the agency decision-maker feels unable to agree their approval, adopters may attend a meeting of the Adoption Panel to state their case. Following this, the final decision will be taken.

Prospective adopters who are not recommended have a right of appeal to the council or through the Independent Review Mechanism (www.irm-adoption.org.uk).

Adoption

Although this may appear to be a lengthy process, it gives adopters time to reflect on whether adoption is right for them and their family. Remember, adoption is a lifelong commitment. Adopters take full responsibility for the child once an adoption order is made in court. The child then legally takes the adopters' surname and gains the rights of any natural child, including inheritance rights.

^ (back to top)