Thinking about adoption

No, EP carers will be given some delegated authority to make some day to day decisions but they do not have the legal right and responsibility to make decisions for that child. People with parental responsibility will include the child’s birth parents, and potentially the child’s placing Local Authority if they have a court order.

When a child is placed, EP carers will be given delegated health authority to take a child to medical appointments and to administer prescribed and over the counter medications.

EP carers will be able to attend GP appointments and respond to emergency health situations, however, carers must inform the Local Authority as soon as possible about any accidents, injuries and illness.

Parents may express their wish to attend health or medical appointments and this will be considered on a case by case basis, however it may be appropriate for the EP carer to attend alongside the birth parents.

Any planned health interventions, for example a planned operation or course of treatment, must have the consent of the Local Authority and parents, who will be the final decision-makers in this regard.

The delegated authority enables EP carers to register the child with a GP. The child must be registered with their birth first names and surname. You will need to advise the GP Surgery that your contact details are confidential. It may necessary to have agreement that if you are attending an appointment your name is ‘called’ rather than the child’s.

Parents may be invited to planned medical appointments, if they plan to attend then appropriate arrangements will be made to enable this. A professional (a social worker or family time worker) will also be present.

As above, parents can attend planned medical appointments.

It is important that a child has easy access to a medical professional, should they become unwell. For this reason, a GP practice close to the child’s placement address is preferable. If you live in a different Local Authority to parents, then it may not be an option to register the child with their GP.

The child must be registered under their birth name- both first names and surname.

No. This is not possible in any circumstance.

Carers cannot make any changes to the child’s appearance, this includes haircuts, piercings etc, unless agreed under the delegated authority agreement which will be discussed at the Placement Planning meeting. If in doubt, this should be discussed with the Local Authority social worker.

During the fostering phase of a child’s placement (i.e. prior to a Placement Order being granted) carers should be referred to by their first names only, and the same goes for their wider family members. During this period of time, EP carers are acting as foster carers for the child and the child is likely to continue to have a relationship with their mum/dad and other family members.

Some agencies require police checks or DBS checks for back-up carers, but not all Local Authorities do. Carers would need to check this with their Social Worker and would be dependent on the requirements of the placing Local Authority. This should be discussed at the Placement Planning meeting.

If EP carers are planning to go away overnight with the child, they need to inform the Local Authority in advance and provide the address of where the child will be staying. It is important to remember that this should not disrupt the court directed Family Time.

In some circumstances, overnight stays may also need consent from the child parents and therefore it is advisable EP carers discuss any plans for overnight stays well in advance.

EP carers require parents’ consent and consent of the Local Authority to take a child abroad. As this would likely mean missing planned Family Time sessions, agreement may not be given.

Social Workers have a statutory responsibility to visit children and clear timescales in which they must do so; it is not advisable to rearrange Social Work visits, unless there is a good, child-led reason (i.e. attending a health appointment).

EP carers may be invited to attend meetings about the child, and this might include; Child in Care reviews and Care Team meetings. They are likely to be asked to update on how the child is doing but will not be asked for their personal views on the care plan.

EP carers have no role in the legal proceedings. The Local Authority will put forward their recommended care plan for the child in court and the child will also have a Court Guardian appointed who will represent the child. The Court Guardian is likely to visit carers to meet the child during court proceedings.

It is important to remember that the issue being addressed in Court is whether or not it is safe for the child to remain within their birth family. It is not a matter of “us [EP Carer] versus them [birth family]”.

Family Time frequency is decided by Court and carers need to ensure that the child is available for Family Time, except for in exceptional circumstances, i.e. if the child is unwell. The Local Authority will decide where family time will take place, and this is usually in their Family Time centres.

Wherever possible, EP carers should meet the child/children’s parents. If there are risks associated to the security of the placement, then alternative arrangements might be made, for example, a video meeting instead of in-person.

It is often helpful for parents to know who is caring for their child and this can provide reassurance. Should a child’s plan become one of adoption, EP carers benefit from having had the opportunity to know their child’s birth family during the course of proceedings and this gives more detailed knowledge of the family which can be shared with the child as they grow.

As above, if there are no risks to the security of a placement then the best people to transport a child to family time, are the EP carer/s.

It is better for the child that they have their own familiar things around them whenever possible. The Local Authority may have some equipment that can be used within Family Time, if necessary.

It can be beneficial for children to take familiar toys/comforters with them to help them feel more relaxed and comfortable. It can be good for children to have recognisable smells and sounds around them.

A child should not attend a place of religious worship without parental consent.

No, not without parents’ consent.

EP carers are required to follow NHS guidance on issues such as weaning. Early weaning would only be agreed if recommended by a health professional.

Where parents have a view, their choice of milk should be respected. Where there are disagreements over choice of milk, the child’s health visitor’s advice will be sought.

EP carers are entitled to adoption pay and leave from work from the point of a child being placed with them under Early Permanence (during the fostering phase).

EP carers are not entitled to claim Child Benefit during the fostering phase; however, they will be paid a weekly allowance for caring for the child by the placing Local Authority. This payment will cease either when a child is reunified to parents or connected carers, or when an adoptive match is ratified by the Agency Decision Maker (and therefore becomes an adoptive placement). Once an adoptive placement commences a Child Benefit claim may be made.

A child under 6 months of age must sleep in a bedroom with their care giver (as per the NHS safe sleeping guidelines).

Safe sleeping guidance states that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space such as a cot or Moses’ basket. EP carers should not co sleep with any child in their care.

EP carers who go though the process of reunifying a child who has been in their care will be supported to take some time to process this and care for themselves emotionally. If needed, Adopt North East can help them to seek counselling support. When they feel ready, their Social Worker will talk to them about next steps, including whether they feel able to consider adoption/Early Permanence again.

No, there is no set period of time that EP carers need to return to work before being entitled to further adoption leave, however this should be discussed on an individual basis with each employer. It is suggested that these conversations take place prior to taking an Early Permanence placement.

Single people can adopt; many children are successfully parented by a single parent. A significant proportion of adopters are, for a range of reasons, single. Adopt North East will work with applicants who are single to identify who is within their support network and the contribution that the network would be able to make to the care of a child.

Many people come to consider adoption following unsuccessful fertility treatment or the sad loss of a pregnancy. Some people can be ready to start their adoption journey within a few months and for others it will take longer. We can sensitively help you to work out the best approach and timing for you.

There is no legal upper age limit to becoming an adopter. More mature applicants often bring the strength of life experiences to adoption. Adopt North East will require that you to have the health and vitality required to meet the needs of a child in your care through to adulthood.

Legally, those under 21 years of age cannot adopt.

If you have or have had a serious illness you will not be automatically be ruled out as an adopter. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of the illness on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child and that adoption would not impact your own health.

Mental health issues in adults are more common than you may think. You will not be automatically be ruled out as an adopter because you have experience of or currently subject to mental health issues. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of your mental health on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child in your care and that adoption would not impact your own mental health.

Being unemployed or on a low income does not automatically rule you out of being an adopter. You can be an adoptive parent if you are on benefits. Adopt North East always considers the financial circumstances of an applicant adopter. An adopter will need to evidence that they can meet the costs of caring for a child. The Agency will support an applicant to explore what benefits or tax credits they may be entitled to. There are also some circumstances in which there may be additional financial support for a child where the child has assessed additional and complex needs.

Adopt North East requires that you have stability in your personal life so that you would be able to provide an adopted child with the stability and consistent care that they need. If you are unsure, then do ask Adopt North East for advice.

Being in full time work does not automatically rule you out of being an adopter. Adopt North East always considers the employment circumstances of an applicant adopter. An adopter will need to evidence that their employment gives them the availability and flexibility to care for a child, including the provision of Adoption Leave. The Agency will support an applicant to understand their rights as an employee.

Many people applying to adopt have children that they already care for. Adopters with previous or current experience of caring for children have many of the skills required. Where an applicant has care of a child or children, Adopt North East will assess not only the suitability of the adopter but also the potential impact of adoption on child/ren already in their care. Where Adopt North East approve adopters who have children in their care, Adopt North East will ensure that there are at least two calendar years between an adopted child and children already in the adopters care, unless the adopted child is a sibling of a child or children in their care. An adopted child would need to be younger than the pre-existing child.

Many applicant adopters have previously adopted. Adopt North East requires that there must be a minimum period of two years from the date of placement of the previous child/ren with the prospective adopters to the date of the approval decision as to their suitability following reassessment. This policy enables re-assessment by Adopt North East to fully consider the impact of the adopted child/ren on the adopters’ suitability to adopt a further child/ren and, critically, the impact of further adoption upon the child/ren already in their care.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters. You will not be automatically be ruled out as an adopter because you are overweight. Adopt North East seeks medical advice on all applicant adopters and this includes a prediction about future health and wellbeing. Adopt North East will therefore obtain an expert review of the impact of your weight upon your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child in your care.

There are a few very serious offences that if you have a criminal conviction or caution for, you are legally prevented from being able to adopt. However, most criminal offences do not automatically rule you out from being suitable to adopt. Adopt North East will check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any recorded offence or relevant police investigation will need to be discussed with you. You will be expected to be open and honest.

Adopt North East will not approve someone as suitable to adopt if they are not able to evidence that they have ceased smoking or vaping for six months prior to the date you register your interest. The only exception to this rule is where an applicant is seeking to adopt a child already in their care. Applicants using nicotine patches or other substance-based alternatives to smoking, including chewable tobacco, will be strongly advised by the Agency to end their use prior to applying to adopt – however, they will not be precluded from registering their interest with the Agency.

Adopt North East requires that a couple relationship be a minimum of 12 months duration and the couple must have had their primary living arrangement together for the past 12 months duration at the point of application. This enables the applicants to evidence that their relationship is enduring and provide a reasonable expectation that the relationship would provide an adopted child with stability and consistent care.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters. You can adopt if you are from a faith community. Children who need to be placed for adoption come from many different cultures, backgrounds and religions.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters, irrespective of your sexuality or gender identity. For applicants who have transitioned or are transitioning, Adopt North East requires that applicants have an established gender identity so that a child would have the stability and consistency necessary to form attachments. We would be happy to discuss in confidence with you any issues of identity that may be relevant to adoption. For LGBTQ+ couple relationships, applicants must have been in a relationship for a minimum of 12 months duration and the couple must have had their primary living arrangement together for the past 12 months duration at the point of application.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters. Being disabled does not automatically exclude you from becoming an adopter. Many adopters have a disability. Adopt North East will ask you to consent to the disclosure of your medical records so that it can obtain an expert review of the impact of your disability on your suitability to become an adopter. This is to ensure that you can meet the needs of an adopted child in your care but and that adoption would not impact your own health or disability. Even if you believe that you might need some additional assistance to adopt, it may be that this support can be made available.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters. You do not need to be a British national to adopt. You can adopt if you can evidence that you have been legally resident in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 12 months. Except in exceptional circumstances, Adopt North East will also require that you can evidence that you intend to remain in the UK for at least two years following the placement of a child in your care.

To adopt in England, you must be legally resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, and have been so for at least 12 months. If you are unsure, then do ask Adopt North East for advice.

UK citizens living abroad cannot adopt from the UK.

Adopt North East partners with the Inter-Country Adoption Centre (IAC) and have experience and expertise to help and support this specialist adoption journey. There are a range of fees associated with this route to adoption.

Yes, you can. The most important consideration is that you and your family give the emotional space and time needed to settle an adopted child into your family before you try for a birth child. The Agency would advise that you allow at least 2 years before trying for a birth child.

Adopt North East is committed to the equal treatment of all potential adopters. Many children needing adoption are not White British. Adopt North East requires more adopters from minority ethnic communities. It is likely that there is a child with your ethnic background, cultural heritage requiring adoption. Minority ethnic adopters can also be matched with a child who does not share their ethnicity and cultural heritage.

Adopt North East will support applicants who require help to understand some of the technical language involved in the adoption process with translation and interpretation. However, you will need some English language skills to be able to access services and advocate for an adopted child in your care. We would therefore strongly advise that you seek support to become reasonably fluent in English before applying to adopt.

Adopt North East will check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) any member of your household over the age of 18 years old, including your adult children. If an adult within your home has a conviction or a caution for a few serious offences, you may be legally prevented from being an adopter. However, most criminal offences committed by a member of your household will not automatically rule you out from being suitable to adopt.

You can adopt if you have debt – however, you will need to evidence that you will be able to manage servicing any debts, alongside the living costs associated with a child. Adopt North East always considers the financial circumstances of an applicant adopter. The Agency will support an applicant to explore what benefits or tax credits they may be entitled to.

Adopt North East requires that an applicant has enough space to comfortably accommodate an adopted child. This requirement is to ensure that an adopted child can, age appropriately, have their own space in order for them to feel settled and secure. This is usually the provision of their own bedroom. Where an adoption involves sibling children, the Agency may agree to the children sharing a room, dependent on age and stage of development. The Agency will look at the specific circumstances around the physical size of your home.

As long as your home is big enough to enable an adopted child to have their own space you do not need to own the property. You will need to be able to evidence that your landlord will allow you to care for a child/ren in your home and that, so far as is possible, your tenancy is secure to enable to offer a stable home environment to an adopted child.

Pet owners can adopt. Adopt North East will however need to be sure that any pet that you own does not pose a threat to a child’s health or safety. A report from a vet may be requested.

You might also need to be willing to make changes to the routines and care that you have established with your pet/s to meet the needs of a child.

Yes. You do not need to be able to drive in order to adopt. It may be that you have someone in your support network that could provide you with transport when needed. Adopt North East will assess your individual circumstances. However, you will be expected to be able to meet the travel needs of any child in your care.

Yes. You do not need any formal qualifications to become an adopter. Many successful adopters have no formal qualifications. Adopt North East are looking for people with skills and knowledge based on lived experiences rather than particular qualifications. Nevertheless, as part of the assessment process, your educational and vocational journey will be explored to understand how you will promote learning and engagement with the educational opportunities available to a child in your care.