Who Can Adopt?

You don’t need any special qualifications to be an adoptive parent. You can adopt if…

You are a British citizen
You are 21 years of age or above
You are fit and healthy enough to care for a child through to adulthood
Your home is a safe and secure environment and there is enough space for a child – it does not matter if you own your home, rent a flat or live in council accommodation
You are able to consider a child or children who are currently in need of an adoptive family.

You cannot adopt if…

There is anything in your past which suggests you might harm a child
You have a criminal conviction for a violent or sexual offence
You have a criminal conviction for a crime against a child
You want to adopt a child under 5 years old and you or anyone in your home smokes. It is possible that an older child may be placed with you but a non-smoking environment is required for all children.

Warrington Borough Council is firmly committed to equality of opportunity. We value the experiences and skills of all individuals and welcome expressions of interest from all sections of the community:

The health of all prospective adopters will be assessed, and whilst you may have a disability or health issue, this will only limit your approval if it impacts on your ability to care for a child in placement.
Married, civil partnership or single adopters are all considered equally. However, couples must show stability and permanence in their relationship and are confident that it can withstand the demands that an adoption placement is likely to bring.
Gay and lesbian adopters are considered equally to heterosexual adopters. We are only interested in the skills and ability that you have to offer a child.
Unemployment would not prevent you from adopting. You can apply even if you are in receipt of state benefits.
Full time workers who can demonstrate they have the time to meet the child’s needs can adopt. However, some jobs may restrict the type of child you could take. Find out from your employer what options are available, such as flexible hours, time off at short notice, child care facilities and/or adoption leave. We ask adopters to spend a period of time at home after a child is placed, because it is important that you spend time getting to know each other.
Adopters with a criminal record will be considered on a discretionary basis. Those who definitely cannot adopt are listed above. People with convictions for less serious crimes will be considered depending on how long ago and how serious the crime was and how you have lived your life since. We carry out comprehensive checks on all applicants.
Adopters with an ethnic, religious or cultural background are particularly needed. Children from a wide range of backgrounds need adoptive families and it is very important for children to be cared for by people who share their identity, who can respond to their different needs and understand their background.
Applications from employees of Warrington Borough Council may be referred to another local adoption agency. If you work within the Children and Young People's Services you will definitely be referred. Applicants who work for other sections of the Borough Council will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with referral being an option where the link is considered too close to ensure independence in the approval and matching process.
Pet owners do not usually have a problem with their application unless the pets are known to be dangerous. If you are a dog owner you will be asked how you control your pet and if you own many pets, you will need to show that there are no health risks and you have enough time to care for a child.
People who are already biological parents or already have an adopted child need to be clear about why they want to adopt another child. Offering a home to a child will affect everyone already living in your home and you will need to carefully consider the effect of adoption on any children you already have. The child or children already living in your home will be included in the preparation and assessment process.
Adopters who are undergoing infertility treatment will need to understand that before they apply it is important that they have completed any investigations or treatment, such as IVF. If your treatment is not successful or you choose not to continue, you will need time to come to terms with your situation and to carefully consider why adoption is the route you now wish to follow. The child you adopt must be able to settle into a family where there are no emotional difficulties or unresolved issues.
Adopters with other issues such as a significant life event, a divorce or a bereavement are strongly recommended to wait at least 12 months before applying to adopt. This makes sure you have had sufficient time to adapt to the changes or come to terms with your loss.

We welcome applications from people who live outside the Warrington area, because many of our children need to be placed out of borough. We work very closely with our colleagues in Halton and St Helens and have arranged to 'swap' adoptive families, in order to increase the placement choices for children. If you are a Warrington resident, it is quite likely that we will refer you on to Halton or St Helens.

Related pages:

Leaflets and publications:

Guidance for prospective adopters:

Contact 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 14:59:45

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