Children and young people

The intention is to achieve the optimum level of security and stability for a child within a loving and caring family environment wherever possible. The decision to place a child for adoption is not taken lightly and adoption will only be considered when:

• it is not possible or suitable for a child to remain within their birth family,
• the child's parents or guardians request adoption.

The needs of the child placed or to be placed for adoption will be the primary consideration in approving a placement for adoption.

The majority of the children placed for adoption will have had an unsettled early life and may have physical, emotional and educational delay. Apart from their clearly identified individual need, all the children placed for adoption will have a need for stability and will have already experienced loss. Therefore every effort will be made to provide the maximum possible security for their childhood and their early adult life.

Children placed for adoption will already feel different to the majority of their peers and careful consideration will be given to any placement that adds to this sense of difference.

The assessed needs of the child are the primary consideration of the adoption agency but everybody making enquiries of the agency or receiving services from the agency can expect to be treated with respect and openness.

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