Adoption Support
Cheshire East Council provides a range of services to
support all those touched by adoption, including children and young
people who are adopted and adoptive parents. Adoption support can
be requested at any point and is available even after an Adoption
Order is made. Adoption has lifelong implications and Cheshire
East's Adoption support service is based on awareness of good
practice and the need to take into account the views of service
users. Where there is a request for adoption support, we strive to
make advice and information readily available and, where it is
requested, to undertake a timely assessment of what support may be
needed. If you are an adopter and the Adoption Order was granted 3
years ago or less, you can access support from the Local Authority
that placed the child. Cheshire's Adoption Support service provides
ongoing training workshops and support groups to all adoptive
families in Cheshire. We also offer opportunities for adopted
children and young people to come to groups to meet with other
adopted children.
Assessment for Adoption Support
If there is a
need for additional support services, an assessment can be
requested. The purpose of the assessment is to find out the whole
picture of the issues that are of concern and to agree with all
involved about the best way forward. Other agencies, such as
education or health, may be asked to contribute their views and
information where relevant to the issues. The aim of the assessment
is to clarify how best to meet the needs of the child and their
family. The types of adoption support that can be sought are listed
below and an assessment will give information as to what service
may be suitable:
- counselling, advice and information
- support groups
- assistance with contact where the child is still in contact
with their birth family - financial support
- assistance to help the adoptive relationship remain stable
- assistance if the adoptive relationship is breaking down
- therapeutic services
- financial support
Our adoption service can then help to negotiate a support
service on the adoptive family's behalf. This may involve a
referral to another agency or another part of Cheshire East
Council, for example:
- Cheshire's Children's Centres where parenting help is
offered
- Cheshire's education service where a child may benefit from
support in school
- Welfare rights advice
- CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health services
- Integrated Youth Service
- Youth Offending Teams
