We’re looking for people from all backgrounds, there’s no perfect profile. As long as you’re over 21, have lived in the UK for at least year and have a spare bedroom for a child, you’re eligible to adopt. If you’re unsure, please don’t rule yourself out. We’d love to hear from you and welcome any questions you may have. We’ll be supportive, professional and kind and provide all the information you need.
More here about the basic requirements for people who want to adopt
It is important you feel comfortable with your agency. Choosing a smaller agency made us feel more like part of a family and less like just another couple, which was important to us.
Read more about how Sam and Gary adopted their son through Adoption Focus
Once you’ve met us and decided we’re the right agency for you, you’ll submit your Register of Interest Form. You’ll provide us with details about you so we can begin the process together. This is the start of Stage One, which takes eight weeks to complete.
You will have your own social worker to take you through the adoption process. You’ll give consent for us to take up references, including checks with the Disclosure & Barring Service and Local Authority, plus personal, family, and employer references. You’ll arrange a medical with your GP and your social worker will visit you at home, supporting you through every step and check.
You’ll attend Preparation Training to learn about being an adoptive parent and meet other prospective adopters and parents of adopted children. The training includes information about Early Permanence and fostering for adoption so you can consider this alternative route. We ask you to attend two days training online, with a further day in-person, usually at our main office. You’ll get to know the team who will support you throughout the process.
Find out more about what to expect from our preparation training here
On successful completion of Stage One, you’ll have up to six months to decide to continue to Stage Two, which takes around four months. You’ll plan regular visits with your social worker. They’ll explore adoption and fostering for adoption with you and the types of children suited to you. They’ll speak to your personal referees and you’ll complete a Home Study Book. Together you’ll complete your Adopter Assessment Report.
We met our appointed social worker, Louise, at the preparation group session. Louise was very friendly and professional and we built up a fantastic relationship during the assessment.
Your social worker will support you throughout the assessment process to become confident and competent adoptive parents. You’ll also attend two more training days in-person led by our expert team. You’ll have access to other specific training modules, including adopting brothers and sisters, and fostering for adoption. There’s also Friends and Family workshops for your support network.
Early Permanence is a more child-focused approach to adoption. It aims to speed up a child’s journey through care and minimise disruption from repeated moves to different families. This means children can experience a loving and secure home where they feel safe and settled as quickly as possible.
At the end of your adoption assessment, you’ll be invited to attend Approval Panel with your social worker. This is an online meeting with a group of people with experience and expertise in adoption. Our Panel discuss your assessment report and recommend if you should be approved to adopt - or if you are seeking dual-approval – if you should be approved as a foster carer and adopter. Once approved, you can now become adoptive parents of children who need new families.
Our dedicated family finding staff work with social workers from local authorities across the country who are looking for new families for children. We’ll work with you to find the right child or children for you, planning the linking process with you, your social worker and the child’s social worker. We will give you all the support you need. You can also be linked with one of our buddies if you’d like guidance from someone who’s been through this process.
We’ll give you all the help and support you need as you adjust to your new life together. Your social worker will visit you to offer advice for as long as you need it. We provide regular training, workshops and social events so you can meet other adopters and their children. After a minimum of 10 weeks, you can apply to the court for your Adoption Order. Once granted, you become your child’s legal parent and there’s no longer any obligation to stay in contact with us. However, we'll always be here for you if needed.
Adoption Focus is committed to providing excellent post-adoption support to our families. We have a dedicated adoption support team available to respond to any queries or challenges and to offer advice, expertise, training and support.
Click here to find out about the comprehensive, lifelong support you can rely on from Adoption Focus
A collection of stories and blogs from people like you who have adopted children. You can learn about the whole adoption process, from choosing your adoption agency, preparation training, family finding, and life as a parent of adopted children from people who’ve been there.
