Becoming an Adoptive Parent
We hope that the following information will answer some of your
initial questions about adoption and becoming an adopter.
Our commitment to adopters
We understand that choosing to adopt is not a decision that you
will make quickly or easily. We hope that the information
provided will inform you sufficiently to take the next step. We
will assist you through every step of the process, answering your
questions and giving guidance to ensure that you make the right
decision.
Cheshire East Council recognises that adoption is a lifelong
process and there may be times even after the Adoption Order has
been made that you may need advice, information or support. We have
experienced and dedicated social workers who can work out with you
what support may be needed and can advise where to seek further
support where this is required.
We like to recruit a diverse range of adopters because the children
who need an adoptive family also are of differing ages and have
different needs. We are particularly keen to recruit adopters who
could consider adopting children of school age, brothers and
sisters together, children of mixed ethnicity and for children with
learning and / or physical disabilities. We sometimes need adoptive
families for young children and babies, some of whom may have a
disability.
Our priority is to ensure we can find the right families for the
children from Cheshire East who need to be adopted. Here’s what 2
of our adopters have said:
John, an adoptive parent says:
"Some people think that it takes a special person to adopt a child.
But I think there is one special attribute that you need more than
anything else and that's patience. Because it's not the same as
looking after your own children, if you have them. There will be
challenges but in life if there aren't challenges - there aren't
the same rewards. And it's overcoming those challenges that give
you a reward that probably you wouldn't find in any other way in
life".
Christine and Pete, adoptive parents,
say:
Christine and Pete had no children of their own and were approved
to adopt by Cheshire East Council’s Adoption Team.
After approval, six year old James was placed with them. James has
a statement of Special Educational Needs for behavioural
difficulties and the Education Support team has been able to give
considerable assistance in helping him transfer to his new school.
James’ behaviour has improved markedly in the 6 months that he has
lived with his new family, which is giving him the chance of making
and keeping friends. He has understandably been very anxious and
clinging and needed a lot of reassurance but is now feeling much
more settled and excited about his approaching adoption day.
Christine has taken a year's adoption leave from work, even though
James is at school and has found it essential to have time to
attend educational and social work meetings as well as keeping the
household running smoothly.
Christine and Pete have met James' birth mother and his younger
brother who is placed separately. They will be supporting James to
meet his family members from time to time. It has been beneficial
to James to know that seeing his birth family will not affect his
security and happiness in his adoptive home. James also keeps in
touch with his foster mum, who looked after him for 2 years and is
still an important person in his life.
Although the last 6 months have been challenging and demanding they
have also brought happiness. Christine and Pete certainly feel it
has all been worthwhile. They say: “Looking after James has been
both rewarding and challenging. His behaviour has settled down,
however every new event in the family (birthdays, weddings,
holidays) still makes him anxious. At these times the support
networks put in place by Cheshire’s Adoption Service have been
useful and beneficial for all involved.
James is developing into a lovely little boy and fits into our
family very well.”
Skills and Qualities
Every adopter receives pre-approval preparation during their
assessment period. This is designed to provide you as a prospective
adopter with the knowledge and information that you require to gain
a realistic picture of what's involved in adopting a child or
children.
In the borough, we are supporting the Government's ‘Every Child
Matters’ agenda - that whatever the child’s background or their
circumstances, they should have the support they need to:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
As an adopter we will prepare and support you to achieve these
aims for the adopted child. Like any parent, as an adopter you'll
provide a warm and loving family. You will also offer tolerance,
patience and flexibility to help your adopted child develop
physically, socially and emotionally. Most of all, the child will
need your individual attention and time and for you to understand
the difficulties which may stem from past experiences. A good sense
of humour can also be an asset!
Every child will need your ongoing support to help them in knowing
about their birth family and why they were adopted. Increasingly,
adopted children have ongoing contact with their birth family, if
it is best for the child. Children may have occasional meetings
with their birth family, or contact may be through exchange of
letters or photographs facilitated by the Adoption Service, usually
once or twice a year. During their childhood, their understanding
of the adoption will change and develop and their need to
understand their roots may continue into adulthood. From the age of
18, they can apply for their original birth certificate and they
also have the legal right to pursue their own enquiries about their
adoption.
The Assessment and Approval Process
There are 4 key stages in becoming an approved adopter:
- Your initial enquiry followed up by a home visit by a social
worker from the Adoption Team.
This visit can tell you more about adoption and is one of your
opportunities to ask lots of questions!
- Your formal application to become an adopter, the statutory
checks and the preparation groups.
The preparation groups, as well as giving you more detailed
information about what adoption entails, also gives you an
opportunity to meet others who are wanting to adopt, as well as
some experienced adopters who help us run the groups.
- The visits to your home by a social worker to complete the
‘Prospective Adopters’ Report’.
The report will cover such information as the type of family life
you will be able to offer a child, your views on bringing up
children and how your own background may have influenced who you
are today. It will also look into the possible attributes of the
child who may fit into your family.
- The Adoption Panel and the decision about approval.
The Adoption Panel is made up of independent members who have
interest and knowledge about adoption. The Panel usually consists
of an independent Chair, an adoptive parent/birth parent or an
adopted person as well as two social workers from Cheshire East
Council and a councillor and a medical adviser. The members will
have read the Prospective Adopters’ Report and will make a
recommendation on your suitability to adopt. You are invited to
attend the Adoption Panel both to ask and answer any questions. The
Manager then makes a decision about approval, taking into account
the Adoption Panel’s recommendation.
We aim to complete the process from the receipt of your formal
application to the approval within 8 months.
What happens when we are approved - will a child be
placed with us straight away?
It is unlikely that a child will be placed with you immediately.
However, your Adoption Worker will keep in touch with you and let
you know about children who need families. The average length of
waiting time is 6 months between approval and being ‘matched’ to a
child. It is not a question of who is at the top of the list, but
which family best "fits" with the needs of each individual child or
sibling group. Once you have been provisionally linked with a child
or children, the Adoption Panel has to recommend whether you are
the right family for that particular child.
What support will I Receive?
Once you have become an approved adopter, your Adoption Worker will
keep in regular touch with you and your family. You'll be invited
to training sessions to keep up to date with various aspects of
adoption. When you are 'matched' with a child and they come to live
with you, you will receive ongoing support until the Adoption Order
is made and afterwards if it is needed. This may include some
financial support, depending on yours and the child's
circumstances. Your Adoption Worker can give you more details.
Bringing up an adopted child is not always easy and from time to
time you may need support or advice. Cheshire East Council
offers locally based support groups for adoptive parents
