Adoption assessment process
Your adoption journey begins here
Our aim is to have adopters ready to start their forever family within six to nine months from application.
Look below to explore the stages before you become a parent.
- Enquiry and Adoption Information Sessions
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We welcome your questions, so please call us on 0300 3000 011. You will also be offered the opportunity to attend one of our fortnightly Adoption Information Sessions, where you will hear more about the adoption process from our team and adopters.
- Enquiry Discussion
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Once you've attended our Adoption Information Session (AIS), we will contact you to discuss the next steps for you. This may be a virtual call or a home visit by one of our social workers to visit you at home either in the day or evening when it's convenient for you.
We will explain the adoption process and the needs of our children so you can make an informed decision about whether adoption is right for you and/or is the right time to start.
- Complete our adoption application form
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The next step is for you to complete a Registration of Interest Form (ROI). As soon as we receive this back, we will contact you within five working days to confirm if you can progress to the next stage.
- Pre-Assessment Stage 1
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This is a busy stage of the adoption process, as you will be gaining relevant childcare experience and attending our one-day Adoption Skills Workshop, where you will learn more about having a forever family with an adopted child.
We will also visit you at home when it is convenient to run through further checks and references as well as provide you with a unique insight using our Virtual Reality (VR) headsets.
This stage will last up to two months
- Assessment Stage 2
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You will have your own dedicated social worker who will complete a detailed report about you, your background, lifestyle, family and your childcare experience.
There are also four days of preparation training.
- Adoption Panel
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You and your social worker will attend an Adopt South Panel where a recommendation will be made about your approval as an adopter.
Assessment Stage 2 and the Adoption Panel will last up to 4 months
- Matching
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At this stage we will consider our children and your family. We carefully match children to adopters. Once formally matched you will start introductions with your child. When the time is right your child will move in with you. Your family will continue to be provided with support from your social worker and your child’s social worker.
- Adoption Order
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This is a very special day for all parents.
An order of the Court will give you full parental rights as though the child was born to you.
You have given your child or children a forever family.
- Post Adoption Support
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Many new parents like to continue with the support they receive from Adopt South.
We provide an ongoing range of learning, training, counselling as well as our adoption community meet ups and play sessions.
Our friendly and experienced adoption support team will always help you. From a quick question to organising support, please call on 0300 3000 001 or through the adoption support online enquiry form online enquiry form.