Children and young people

Contact

Contact between members of the birth family and the child being placed for adoption can take many forms and will always be considered on an individual basis.

• Initial contact - there may be contact between the birth family and the adoptive family at the point of placement. This is usually done without the exchange of identifying information but does enable the birth parent or other birth relative to meet the adoptive family and can provide the opportunity for them to give their blessing to the placement. It enables the adopters to have their own live memory to pass on to the child and can assist them in helping the child learn about and understand their pre-adoption history.
• Continuing contact between members of the birth family and the adopted child can range from the annual exchange of information to regular telephone or face-to-face contact. These arrangements should be able to accommodate changes that may occur for any of the parties involved but especially the child whose needs or views may change as they grow older.

Considerations of future contact between the child and any member of the birth family will be a part of the planning process for the child. Contact will not be considered in isolation and will be seen in the context of all the requirements of the adoption placement and will not assume a disproportionate emphasis. It is important for all parties to be clear about the purpose of the contact. Contact arrangements will work well if all the adults involved have an agreed understanding of its purpose and the benefits for the child.

Plans or arrangements for continuing contact after adoption will be based on the needs of the child. Contact will usually be agreed because the child has a positive attachment and it will be beneficial to maintain the attachment or the contact will benefit the child's understanding of their identity and allay any fears or fantasies which they may have.

Careful thought must be given to balancing all the effects of contact against the effects of no contact. Children's understanding about contact will be varied and not having adult verbal skills, they may not be able to explain any anxieties they may have.

Adoption applicants must be given the opportunity to explore their concerns or anxieties about contact and be enabled to understand the benefits and how it can be managed. However, the priority will be to provide a child with security and the adoptive parents' view about maintaining contact is vital to its success. If the adopters who are considered the most suitable to meet the majority of the child's identified needs cannot accept the contact, it may be more important to secure the placement and achieve a compromise on the level of contact.

Geography

In many cases it will be necessary to ensure that the child is protected from any chance future contact with the birth family and they will need to be placed away from their area of origin. This will provide the child with maximum opportunity for security and to settle in their new family.

To achieve this, Medway belongs to the South East Adoption Consortium and will consider Consortium arrangements before using the National Adoption Register.

Information

The Adoption Agency Regulations 1983 require that birth parents are given all information about the adoption of their child that does not compromise the confidentiality of the placement. It is obviously good practice to be as open as possible with birth parents and other members of the birth family, as this will facilitate the best quality of work for the child. Birth families will be treated with respect at all times and it is acknowledged that it will not always be easy to share information with birth parents who do not agree with the plan for adoption. Whatever the view of the birth parents, this will be a difficult process and all information will be confirmed in writing for them to retain and read at a later time.

Post-adoption

Birth parents and other birth relatives of a child who has been adopted will be provided with advice and counselling. They do not have any right of access to the confidential information about the adoption but will be advised of the adoption contact register. If the child has been placed for adoption through the Medway Adoption Agency, the Agency will be able to add information from or about the birth relative who desires contact to the adopted person's file.

The Adoption Agency will also provide support and advice with continuing contact arrangements.

Medway has an arrangement with the Post-adoption Centre to provide independent counselling and advice to all the parties to an adoption. It may be contacted directly by telephone and a local appointment can be arranged if necessary.

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