How to Apply to Adopt a Child

Potential adopters must go through an extensive process of preparation and assessment.

1. If you are interested in adoption, you will first need to contact the adoption team by telephone. An experienced worker will have an informal discussion with you about your interest and your personal circumstances. If we feel you have the potential to adopt a Warrington child we will send you an information pack and a registration form.

2. You will need to let us know that you are interested in applying to adopt, by returning the completed the 'registration form'. We will then arrange to visit you so that we can begin the process of getting to know more about you and giving you more detailed information about adoption. This process will happen within eight weeks from the time that we recieve your registration form.

3. We will visit you in your own home and might also ask you to attend an information evening. We will then assess whether we think you have the potential to become and adopter and confirm that. When we visit you must be sure that you want to continue to the next stage.

4. You will need to fill in and complete various forms about yourself and all the other members of your household. These forms give us permission to carry out detailed background checks with the Police, NSPCC, Education, employers and various other relevant agencies. We’ll ask for proof of your identity (like a passport, birth or marriage certificate) and ask you to have a health check with your GP, to show that you don’t have any major health problems.

5. You will need to complete an application form, which includes information about your family, marital status, employment, income, housing, health and various other aspects of your background and current circumstances.

6. We will ask you to give us the details of three personal referees, including one family member and two friends or colleagues. We will also contact previous partners if you had children together and in some cases we may interview other people who are significant in your life. Please note that personal references are confidential.

7. If you meet all the requirements to be considered as an adopter we will invite you to attend our ‘Preparing to Adopt’ training. These courses are delivered on a rota basis by Warrington, St Helens and Halton and take place up to six times a year. The course consists of eight sessions, which take place over three days. In some instances we may agree to offer a different process in order to tailor preparation to meet individual needs, for example, if you are a ‘second time’ adopter or experienced foster carer, if you have a particular disability or if English is not your first language. During the training you’ll learn more about what’s involved with adoption and the children needing placement. You will meet other people who are going through the same process and will have the opportunity to talk to experienced adopters.

8. An experienced Social Worker will then assess your suitability to adopt. The Social Worker will arrange regular assessment sessions during which a range of subjects will be discussed, such as relationships, family history, past experiences and your lifestyle. You will discuss the number, ages and characteristics of the child or children you wish to adopt.

9. The Social Worker will then complete a comprehensive report called a ‘prospective adopters report’ which will include all the information collected about you during the preparation and assessment process. You will have the opportunity to read and comment on your report. Your completed report will be presented to the Warrington Adoption Panel who recommends whether or not you should be approved as an adopter.

After the approval
Only now will the process of linking you with a child or children begin. It may be that you are linked very quickly or you could wait for a long time.

Once you and your Social Worker believe you might be a suitable match for a particular child or children, you will be given detailed information
If everyone agrees, all the information about you and the child will be presented to the Adoption Panel, who will decide whether to recommend that the child is placed with you

Once you are officially matched, introductions to the child will begin. How long this takes varies depending on the needs of the child. If everything goes well the child will be placed with you for adoption.

It is our policy to place children with adopters who share the same or very similar ethnic background, culture, race, language and religion.

How long does it take?
It is difficult to put an accurate time-scale on how long it might take to complete a successful adoption as each case is different.

It may take up to a year to go through the initial preparation and assessment stage and then a further three years before a child is placed with you. Even though it is unusual, it is important to know there are no guarantees that a child can ever be placed with you.

Related pages:

Leaflets and publications:

Guidance for prospective adopters:

Contacts us:

Adoption Team
St Werburgh’s
Irwell Road
Warrington, WA4 6BB
Tel: 01925 457104
Fax: 01925 457107
Email: fostering.adoption@warrington.gov.uk

Last updated 28/09/2009 14:38:21

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