What is the child adoption process?

Assessing you to become an adoptive parent

Before Plymouth City Council adoption team can approve you to adopt a child, we will need to take up a number of references such as police and health checks. You will then need to undergo a thorough assessment process. Since you already know that you can provide a good home for a child, you may find this lengthy and sometimes intrusive. However, adoption is a lifelong commitment and vulnerable young children will be joining your family, so the assessment is in everyone's best interests. Each step is carefully designed to provide support and help prepare you as much as possible. As well as helping us ensure that the child is given a loving and stable home, the assessment benefits you in several ways:

• It is an opportunity for you to find out about adoption and explore all the issues it will raise for you and your family.
• It will thoroughly prepare you for welcoming a child into your family and ensure that you have all the support you need every step of the way.
• It enables us to get to know you really well, so we understand the unique qualities your family can offer a child and match you to the right children.

Please remember that the assessment is not something that you are subjected to - it is a two-way procedure that you and your Social Worker work through together.

"The home study was intense but informative and made us focus on what we wanted, and what we could offer a child."

The whole service is free of charge!

Plymouth Adoption Team do not charge anything to approve you as an adopter or match you with a UK child. Once the adoption is official you will take over the financial responsibility of bringing up the child, although there are certain ways in which we can ease the financial burden.

The adoption process step by step

This 'step-by-step' guide outlines the basic procedure for adopting for Plymouth. To learn about a step in more detail, please click on the links below. If you have any further questions please contact us and we will be happy to help.

The first step

1. You contact Plymouth City Council's Adoption Team.
2. We send you an information pack.
3. You tell us you want to proceed.
4. An experienced adoption social worker visits you at home to discuss adoption in more detail.
5. You, the social worker and their team manager make a mutual decision to proceed.

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Assessment process

1. Your social worker gets to know you during 10 to 12 further visits.
2. You complete an application form and personal, police and medical references are taken up.
3. You attend a Preparation Group to learn more about adoption and build your skills.
4. You and your social worker complete a detailed Home Study report.
5. Plymouth's Adoption and Permanence Panel discusses your application and makes a recommendation.
6. Plymouth's decision-maker approves you as an adoptive parent.

Matching you with a child

1. We help to identify a suitable child for you.
2. We give you detailed information about the child.
3. You decide whether the child might be right for you.
4. The match is presented to Plymouth's Adoption Panel, which makes a recommendation.
5. Plymouth's decision-maker approves the match.
6. You are gradually introduced to the child.
7. The child moves in with you.
8. You apply for an Adoption Order to make the adoption official.
9. The child is now a permanent and full member of your family!

How long does the child adoption process take?

We will send you an information pack within five working days (usually the same or next day) of your request. Information evenings take place every two months and if you ask for a social worker to visit you at home then this will take place within the next month.

If you then decide to proceed with your application, you will need to complete a formal application form. From this point, it should take no more than eight months to complete the checks, references and assessment process before you are approved as an adopter.

What support will you give me?

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