Information Pack

A guide for prospective adopters

Introduction

Our Adoption Team is dedicated to finding permanent and loving homes for children who

cannot live with their birth families, and for whom a plan for adoption has been agreed.

As a local authority, West Sussex County Council is a registered adoption agency, which

provides a range of adoption services through Children and Young People’s Services.

Our children range from babies to toddlers through to school age children. They include

sibling groups, children from different ethnicities and children with special needs.

We welcome enquiries from anyone who is interested in adoption. We will assess those

living within West Sussex and consider enquiries from other neighbouring local authorities.

Adoption is an important and life changing decision so we fully inform prospective adopters

about the realities of adoption. We are also committed to providing ongoing training and

support to adoptive families from a team of experienced adoption social workers and support

staff.

This booklet will help you decide if adoption is right for you. It will tell you about the children

who need loving homes. It will tell you about an adopter’s journey and their experiences. We

will also provide information about the adoption process and the type of support and advice

you can expect from us.

“Our social worker is brilliant, really supportive and always there when needed, and it’s now just like he’s part of our family.”

Jane and Richard, Chichester

Adopting a child

The county’s Adoption team works with other adoption agencies, the courts and children’s

guardians to manage the adoption process for:

Children placed for adoption and their birth families

People from West Sussex who want to adopt within the UK

Social workers work particularly closely with people who want to adopt, guiding them through

their decision-making process and the eligibility criteria, before carrying out their assessment

and preparing a report on their suitability. Once approved as adopters, the Adoption team

supports them through matching them with a child, introductions and placement.

What is adoption? Adoption provides a safe, secure and permanent environment for a child who can no longer

be brought up by their birth parents. Adoption may be the only means of giving some

children the opportunity to experience a happy, loving, family life.

When a court decides that a child should be placed for adoption, it is the duty of the local

authority to seek an appropriate adoptive home for the child. ‘Adoption’ is then the legal

process by which a court permanently transfers parental responsibility from a child’s birth

parents to adoptive parents, by means of an adoption order. The child normally takes the

adoptive parents’ surname and becomes, legally, a member of that family as if they were a

birth child. Once adopted, a child has the same legal rights as any birth child of the adoptive

parents, including inheritance rights and the order cannot be revoked.

Why are children placed for adoption?

Children are adopted for a number of reasons. Sometimes birth parents request that their

child be placed for adoption. Occasionally, children are abandoned, or their birth parents

suffer from an illness that prevents them from parenting. In the majority of cases however,

the courts judge that the birth parents do not have the capacity to care for their children,

often due to abuse and neglect or an inability to manage their own individual mental health

or learning needs alongside the parenting task.

In the past, babies were often placed for adoption shortly after birth. This happens

occasionally still under Foster to Adopt regulations, but most children placed for adoption are

older - ranging in age from one year to nine or ten years old. The county’s Adoption team

has to concentrate its efforts on applicants who are most likely to offer a home to children

already waiting for a placement.

Because of their backgrounds, some children placed for adoption have learning, emotional

or physical difficulties and they may exhibit disturbed or disruptive behaviour. With loving

and skilled care however, adopted children can achieve normal standards of health,

development and relationships.

“The first time he called me mummy my heart burst, it was the

greatest feeling in the world ever”

Davina, Single Adoptive Mother, Horsham

Contact with the past

Adopted children need to understand their past history. They need to be told from an early

age that they are adopted and they need to grow-up understanding how they came to be

part of their new family. However badly they may have been treated in the past, they often

need help in coming to terms with a sense of loss and hurt resulting from leaving their birth

family. Adopted children often express troubled feelings about distressing experiences from

their past through disturbing and disruptive behaviour within their adoptive family.

Continuing contact with the birth family after a child is adopted is arranged as part of the

adoption process, when it is judged to be in the best interests of the child.

Contact often takes the form of correspondence through the adoption support service’s ‘letterbox’ scheme and involves a periodic exchange of information with a birth relative.

Face to face or direct contact is arranged where important relationships need to be maintained, especially for siblings, who may live separately. It may also include birth parents, grandparents and other birth family members. Direct contact is usually supervised and monitored by social workers from the adoption support service. (See the Other Useful Contacts section for contact details.)

By law, at the age of 18 years, an adopted person has the right to obtain a copy of their

original birth certificate and may seek to trace their birth family if they have lost contact.

Could you adopt?

This is a question you are likely to have been considering long and hard before you read this

booklet. Here are some things to consider.

Why do you want to adopt?

Are you ready to completely change your life and prioritise a child’s needs?

Do you feel you are ready to become a parent? Maybe it is your first time or maybe you have parented before?

Do you not only have a place in your heart for a child, but also a place in your home?

Can you provide an emotionally and financially secure environment for a child?

It is never easy bringing up a child, so do you have friends and family you can go to for advice, help and support when needed?

Could you care for a child who has been traumatised, abused or experienced a poor start to life?

Anyone wanting to adopt a child needs to be clear about their reasons for doing so. They

also need to consider carefully the type of home and family life they can realistically offer,

taking into account the ages and needs of any other children in the household, and any

commitments to other family members. Adoptive parents are not expected to be

superhuman. However, they do need to be open and honest about their limitations as well as

their strengths - and they must be willing to learn.

Could you consider Fostering for Adoption?

A Fostering for Adoption placement will only be made where there is clear evidence to the

local authority that there is little likelihood that the birth parents can resolve their problems

or that other family members can care for the child.

Fostering for Adoption places a child with approved adopters who are also approved as

foster carers, known as dually approved carers. Another route adoption agencies can use

is to approve adopters as foster carers for a particular named child. During the fostering

stage of the placement the court will weigh up what is in the child’s best interests in the

longer term.

The fostering for adoption carers need to be able to deal with the uncertainty of the period

before the court’s final decision. If the court agrees that the child should be adopted and

the adoption agency approves the ‘match’ between the carers and the child then the

placement becomes an adoption placement.

What are the advantages of Fostering for Adoption?

The child is placed with carers who may become their adopters at an early stage and avoids multiple placements for the child.

It will avoid the stressful upheaval for the child if he/she has to move from foster home to a new adoptive family once a court have reached a final decision.

The bonding period between the child and adoptive parents can begin sooner thus creating a secure and loving family life for the child.

Is Fostering for Adoption right for me?

There will be a number of things that you will need to think about as a Fostering for

Adoption carer.

It is highly likely that you would go on to adopt the child, but you would have to deal with the uncertainty before the court reaches a final decision.

During the fostering stage of the placement you may be asked to bring the child for contact with members of the birth family at a supervised contact centre.

You would need to think about the possibility of the court not agreeing with the local authority’s adoption plan and the child returning to their birth family. You would need to work together with the local authority to manage this in the most sensitive way for the child. It can be a very distressing time for the Fostering for Adoption carers, even though it is judged to be the right thing to do by the court.

These are all matters that you would need to discuss with your social worker so that you can be clear about the task that you are undertaking. It is highly likely that many Fostering for Adoption placements will be made with adopters who have already adopted a sibling of the child. But it may be that local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies will have identified the potential for such placements in other circumstances. Finding child centred solutions that prevent delay and multiple placements is encouraging local authorities to consider carefully the options of Early Permanence for Young Children.

Who can adopt?

The one thing that all approved adopters have in common is the desire to give a child a

secure, loving and permanent home that can meet the needs of that child. All adopters have

to be over the age of 21 but can come from any walk of life and background. It is important

that any prospective adopter is in good physical and mental health and will be able to nurture

a child through to adulthood.

Applications may be made by a couple or one person.

Adopters will need to have an appropriate and safe home which will meet the needs of a

child. They will need to be able to promote the child’s identity, including their cultural, racial

and religious identity and also be able to promote a child’s health and education and provide

opportunities for hobbies, interests and a social life.

All prospective adopters are treated fairly and with respect throughout their involvement with

us. Look at our Self-Assessment Tool at the end of this information pack to see if now is the

right time for you to adopt.

Who are the children?

There are all kinds of children who need adopting, but the one thing that they all have

in common is that they all need a secure and loving home.

The vast majority of children who have a plan for adoption have been removed from their

birth families due to some form of abuse or neglect. They would have been removed from

their birth families after a series of court proceedings, due to concerns about the level of care

they were or would have been receiving. They would all be in the care of foster carers. Only

very occasionally do birth parents request that a child is adopted, but this is not very

common.

Older children

Children from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds

Children with special learning, educational or mental health needs

Babies and toddlers – we welcome prospective adopters who wish to foster a child until a judge has made a decision that adoption is the right plan for a child, this is called Fostering to Adopt.

Sibling groups

Why adopt through West Sussex County Council?

If you are considering adopting you have two options. You could adopt through your local authority – West Sussex County Council Adoption Agency - or you could contact a voluntary agency. To find local voluntary agencies visit www.first4adoption.org.uk. However, the local authority agency will assess you as prospective adoptive parents and also find families for children who have a plan for adoption in the county.

Our Adoption team has a wealth of expertise and experience in the field of adoption and we

make efforts to be innovative and develop our service to support our adopters and children’s

needs continually. We aim to provide a professional and efficient service, with the provision

of information and a high quality assessment process, within legal timescales, which will

prepare adopters and provide the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful

adoptive parents.

You will attend an Adoption Preparation Course which provides you with opportunities to

meet other people wishing to adopt, professionals, birth parents, adopted adults and parents

who have successfully adopted. This course can provide you with a chance to hear real

stories and learn for yourself the realities of becoming an adoptive family.

“Theo came to live with us on 3rd December and we have been overwhelmed

with just how amazing he is!

We first met him on 21st November, at his foster carer's home and we had a 12

day introduction process. He took to us surprisingly quickly; he spent maybe 5

minutes staring at us with a very serious expression on his face and was then

happy, giggling and playing.

During the introductions we had a chance to get used to every bit of his routine,

in fact pretty much from day one we were the ones feeding, changing and

bathing him. He quickly realised that, and came to us for things rather than Jane

& Brian (his foster carers). We found the introductions a great way of getting to

know him, what he liked (and didn’t like) and to get used to the routine which we

have kept up since he’s been living with us.

Since Theo moved in, we have been having the best time, and other than the odd

tantrum (mostly over the fact he doesn’t like the word ‘no’!) he has been

delightful. He seems really happy, he’s eating and sleeping well and has been

very confident when we’ve taken him to meet new people. It has been a pretty

hard journey to get here, but now Theo is with us, it's made it all worthwhile!”

Mr and Mrs C, adoptive parents of Theo, 2.

Adoption – a real story

Our step-by-step guide to the adoption process

As of 1 July 2013, reforms were introduced by the government that meant that the adoption

process would become speedier and more adopter-led. The new process is split into an

information sharing stage, and then two formal assessment stages. Assessments are usually

completed within six months. Stage 2 ends with a decision by the Agency Decision Maker

regarding your suitability to adopt.

Information Stage

1. Initial Enquiry

Many people use our website to get information about adoption and find out how the

adoption process works. We have an experienced Adoption Worker available 9am – 1pm

Monday to Friday and we would invite you to call and ask any questions you might have

about Adoption. Some prospective adopters might like to speak with someone face to face -

you can contact us to arrange an appointment at one of our monthly adoption information

events held throughout West Sussex. You can call 0330 222 7777 to arrange to book on to

these events. For further information about the next available adoption information event,

visit our website. We also give enquirers the opportunity to speak directly to an experienced

adopter if they feel this would be helpful.

After reading the information on the website or in this pack, if you want to know more or take

the next steps towards adopting with West Sussex you should make an online enquiry.

2. Initial Call

When your online application has been received, an adoption social worker will telephone

you and answer any immediate questions you have about adopting with us. We will also ask

you about your circumstances. If you like what you hear and we think that you meet our

basic criteria, we will send you further information for you to read. This will also have a

return slip inside requesting an Initial Visit. Once we have received this we will contact you to

arrange an initial home visit within approximately ten working days. If we cannot help you

directly, we will guide you to another adoption agency that may be better placed to help you

with your enquiry.

3. Initial Visit

At the initial visit we will run through in more detail what we are looking for in an adoptive parent

and what adoption involves. You will be able to ask more questions about adopting a child and the

assessment process. If this visit is satisfactory, the next step will be to formally register your

interest in adoption with our agency. Please note that prospective adopters can only formally

register with one agency.

3. Registration of interest

A Registration of Interest Form will be sent to you for you to complete and return to us. This

is a formal application, and signifies your readiness to progress with an adoption

assessment. This is a detailed form; it is important that you are aware that completing and

signing this form gives the agency permission to start all the necessary statutory adoption

checks, including checks with referees, employers, probation, local authority checks,

overseas checks, ex partners, adult children and schools and nurseries of other children

living in the household etc. If you have any questions about the form or adoption in general

before completing this form please ring 0330 222 7777 to talk to one of our experienced

adoption social workers.

Stage One

4. Exploring adopter’s initial interest in adoption, preparation training and checks

Stage one of the process begins when the agency have received and accepted your

registration of interest form. A letter confirming the receipt of your registration of interest and

outlining the next steps will be sent to you along with an Adoption Starter Pack.

During this stage, prospective adopters will be exploring the extent of their interest in and

capacity for adoption, they will be asked to attend a three day preparation training course

and undertake significant individual reading.

In West Sussex we provide regular, specially designed adoption preparation training

programmes and you will be expected to attend one of these programmes during this stage

of the process.

We will undertake a further home visit. This visit will be to complete further statutory checks

including Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks, checks with current and previous local

authorities where you have resided, adoption medicals and Health and Safety checks etc.

During this visit a ‘stage one agreement’ will be drawn up with you covering all of the areas

outlined above so that all parties are clear and comfortable with the agreed process.

An Adoption Workbook will be provided and will need to be completed by you. This includes

completing pet questionnaires, genogram (family tree), chronologies and detailed written

information on a range of topics including a pen picture of your family, family background,

educational experiences, health, employment, support networks, relationships, financial

questionnaire, and any formal child care experience you have. You will be supported in this

by the Adoption team.

You will be required to have a medical examination. This is carried out by your own general

medical practitioner, who will submit a report to the County Medical Adviser. The County

Medical Advisor will decide if there are any health issues that need to be addressed or taken

into consideration. You will be expected to meet the cost of the medical examination and to

agree to any further medical information required being provided to the County Medical

Adviser.

The preparation training groups take place over three days and it is essential that you attend

the full programme. These groups receive very positive feedback even by those adopters

who were anxious about attending. Adopters generally feel that the three day course gives

them a much deeper understanding of adoption issues and what adoption will mean for them

as a family. Adopters frequently tell us that the course is interesting, informative and

enjoyable. It is important to note that during stage one a number of the processes will be

undertaken in parallel to one another.

During the process all applicants will be expected to undertake additional childcare

experience with children who are not known or related to them, of the age they wish to be

considered for. It is expected that at least three sessions will be completed in Stage 1 and

we strongly recommend that this is continued throughout the process. This is a very

important aspect of the process as it gives applicants experience of developing and

maintaining relationships with children who are not known to them.

During or on completion of Stage 1, one or both parties may decide that now is not the right

time to progress your interest in adoption. If this is the case, the application will be halted.

5. Decision making

We aim to complete stage one within two months however, we are aware that there are a

number of factors that might not make this possible. We will however closely monitor the

length of time taken by this stage of the process and will re-negotiate the stage one

agreement with you as required. Stage one will reach a conclusion when a West Sussex

Adoption Practice Manager makes the decision whether the prospective adopters might be

suitable to adopt. In order to do this the Practice Manager will need to have access to all the

completed stage one checks and the write up of the Stage 1 review. The Manager will also

need to have received confirmation that the prospective adopters have attended adoption

preparation training.

Once the decision has been made the prospective adopters will receive confirmation of this

decision in writing. If successful, contained in this letter will be a notification slip for you to

complete and return to us signifying that you wish to progress to stage two of the process

and commence an assessment with us. At this point the name of your adoption assessment

social worker will be confirmed.

Stage Two

6. Assessment

Your first assessment visit will be arranged soon after we receive your notification of

acceptance. During this first visit your adoption worker will agree an assessment plan with

you where we will set dates for home visits in advance, working towards a panel date. This

is known as a ‘Stage Two Agreement’.

During the assessment process you will work in partnership with your social worker. They

will share information, theoretical knowledge and experience with you, and discuss adoption

and its life-long impact on everyone involved.

Part of our role is to give you full information about the sorts of children in your area who

need to be adopted. You have a crucial role to play at this time. These weeks are a chance

for you to take a very honest look at what you want out of adoption and what you can offer a

child. Many of these children may be quite demanding. You will have time to think about all

the important issues:

What are the needs of an adopted child?

What are likely to be your strengths and weaknesses as an adoptive parent?

Can you make the sort of commitment that will really make a difference to a child’s life?

While helping you to learn about adoption we will begin to assess your suitability to adopt by

building up a thorough profile of you. We will ask you detailed questions about your family

background, your childhood and your present circumstances. If you are part of a couple,

your social worker will want to see you together and individually.

The assessment process will take approximately four months to complete. It is demanding

and can feel intrusive at times. But there are good reasons why everything is explored in

depth with you in this way. Adoption is for life, and we must be sure you are right for the

role. Just as importantly, you must be certain that adoption is right for you.

7. The Prospective Adopters Report

As the assessment reaches its final stages your adoption social worker will start to put

together your prospective adopters report. This is often called a PAR. This report details

your potential as an adoptive parent along with the results of your adoption medical, police

and authority checks and personal references. It is important that your report clearly details

the sort of children you feel you could adopt. We will ask you to check your report and you

will have the opportunity to make written comments on it. These comments will form part of

the completed document.

8. The adoption panel and decision making

The adoption panel is made up of social workers, other professionals and independent

people, including an adopter and possibly an adoptee. These panel members look at your

completed prospective adopters report and consider if you should be approved to adopt. You

will be invited to attend an adoption panel meeting where the panel will make their

recommendation in relation to your approval as adoptive parents. The full minutes from the

adoption panel meeting, your prospective adoption report and any associated paperwork will

be sent to a senior manager in the County Council’s Children’s Services team. They will act

as the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) who will decide whether to approve you for adoption.

“Our Adoption Service is here to work with you to become approved adoptive parents to vulnerable children who have had a

difficult start in life and cannot be brought up within their birth families. They need supportive, nurturing adopters to help them make positive attachments that will give them stable foundations

to enjoy their childhoods and have every opportunity for a successful adult life.”

Wendy Wood, Group Manager

Adoption and Permanent Placement Support

Approved Adopters

9. Matching you with children

Once you have been approved to adopt, your Adoption Social Worker will visit you to draw

up a matching agreement,. This agreement will outline how we will go about finding the right

match for you and your family. We will begin to consider whether there are children waiting

for adoption locally who might be a suitable match for you. We’ll begin the matching process

by looking at the profile of children you have been approved to adopt by the adoption panel.

If no local children are identified as possible matches our social workers will look for children

across a wider area (with your consent) through the National Adoption Register and

Adoption Link.

When they have identified a possible match, the social workers will share a detailed report

regarding the child (or children) with you. If you agree that it could be a match you will be

introduced to the child’s social worker, foster carers, nursery or school staff, and health

professionals who will all share detailed information with you about the child or children.

After this, if you and the social workers are sure it is a good match, a report will be written

and the match will be presented to the adoption panel. The panel will make a

recommendation and then the Agency Decision Maker will make the final decision as to

whether the match can go ahead.

10. Introductions and Placement

Next, we will arrange an adoption planning meeting where you, your social worker, the

child’s social worker, your child’s foster carers and their social worker will get together. You

will discuss and pull together all the planning required to make sure you have everything you

need and the child is as prepared as possible for the move to your care. At this meeting a

very detailed introduction plan will be agreed to set out how best to introduce the child to you

and vice versa. Introductions last anything from one to six weeks depending on the age and

needs of the children. To begin with, these introductions will take place in the child’s current

foster home. Then the introduction meetings will gradually move to your home, and finally

the child or children will move in to live with you.

11. Supporting adopters and children

The early days and weeks of placement are life-changing and can be very exciting. However

they can also be exhausting and anxiety-provoking. Here in West Sussex we are very

committed to providing adopters with high-quality support and we will make sure that you

and the child or children you plan to adopt receive regular social work visits. We will hold

Children Looked After review meetings with you at regular intervals to talk through how

everything is going and make sure that you are receiving good support. We have a specialist

team of adoption social workers who offer help and support for you and your children.

12. Adoption Order

Following a period of post-placement support, when everyone is happy that your child or

children have settled successfully in your family, a discussion will be held at a

Children Looked After review meeting about when you will apply for an adoption order. To do

this you will need to complete an adoption application form and send it to the court, and the

social workers will complete a court report, called an ANNEX A. Once the adoption order is

made, all rights and responsibilities originally held by the birth parents will transfer to you –

you will officially be the child or children’s adoptive parent.

Some frequently asked questions

Will the child have contact with his or her birth family? All children who are adopted have some form of contact with their birth family. This may be face-to-face contact as some children need and wish to continue to see their birth family this is usually once or twice a year. These arrangements are initially discussed and agreed between yourselves, your social worker and the child’s social worker and birth family. The meeting may be at a family centre or can take the form of an outing together. All adopters take part in indirect or ‘letterbox’ contact, which is an exchange of news between the adopters and the birth family. West Sussex has an Adoption Letterbox Co-ordinator who acts as an intermediary for all letterbox correspondence. The Adoption Letterbox Co-ordinator is always available to offer advice and support with contact. Contact is linked to the importance of openness in adoption and will help you in talking about adoption to your child. All contact arrangements are reviewed annually. Who are the children? The majority of children waiting for adoption are aged 0-7, some of who are brothers and sisters who need to be placed together. All children may have physical, emotional or developmental disabilities and need a safe and secure permanent family who will give them love and understanding for the rest of their lives. They may have identified health needs or disabilities and all will have issues in forming attachments. In meeting the needs of children in West Sussex, we give priority to people who can be flexible and can consider adopting the children who are waiting to be adopted i.e. children aged over the age of 3 and brothers and sisters together. Many of the sibling groups who need adoption have wide age ranges, for instance it is unusual for there to be sibling groups where both or all the children are under 5, waiting to be adopted. We will discuss this with you in more detail at our information sessions. Will the child's parents agree to their child being adopted? Children can occasionally be placed for adoption with the consent of their parents. Their consent must be witnessed by an officer from the Children & Family Court Advisory & Support Service (CAFCASS) to ensure it is properly given and that parents fully understand its implications. When a formal witnessed consent has been given, the adoption agency (West Sussex County Council) is authorised to place the child for adoption. Parents may consent to the placement with specific adopters or any prospective adopters chosen by the agency. They may also consent to the making of a future Adoption Order. Where adoption is the care plan for a child being looked after in foster care by the local authority and consent is not forthcoming from each parent or guardian of the child, the local authority must apply to the court for a Care Order and Placement Order. The Placement Order gives the Adoption Agency (West Sussex County Council) the authority to place the child for adoption. In both instances the wishes and feelings of the birth parents must be sought about the kind of adoptive family they want their child to have, including how the child’s religious and cultural needs are to be met wherever possible.

The birth parents are offered independent counselling and support from the Post Adoption Centre (PAC). Information for the child to have in the future is gathered at an early stage and is given to adopters when the child is placed with you. Will I meet the child's parents? The possibility of meeting the adoptive parents is likely to be offered to birth parents more often than not and experience has shown that it is a positive step for yourselves, your child and their birth parents as it will enable you to share information about your child’s early history. It will also help you to share information with your child about their birth parents. What rights do birth parents have after the adoption? Once an Adoption Order has been made, the birth parents have no legal rights over the child and cannot claim him or her back. An adoption order cannot be revoked. Will I be told about the child's background? It is very important that you know as much as possible about the child's past. The law says the adoption agency must give you information about the child, which includes details about his or her background, time in care, school history and any medical needs. This information will help you decide if you could realistically parent and adopt a particular child/ren. It will also help you understand the child when they come to live with you, help the child to understand the circumstances of their adoption and help you to find the best way of supporting them in the future. Before a child comes to live with you, you will meet with West Sussex’s medical advisor who will give you all the information held about the child’s health. I’m 45 years old, am I too old to adopt? All prospective adopters must be over 21 years old and need to be able to demonstrate that they can manage the needs of adopted children. Your life experience is valuable and evidence of a good overall healthy lifestyle will be required.

What if I am overweight? This may not be a problem, unless the applicant's weight could reduce life expectancy or prevent them leading an active and healthy lifestyle. If this was thought to be the case, we would seek medical advice at an early stage. As a general guide we would expect your BMI to be 35 or below. This would be considered as part of the medical examination.

Can I adopt if I smoke? You cannot adopt a child under 5 years old if you smoke. You will need to have given up smoking for at least 12 months before we accept your application. We would advise you seek assistance from your GP to help you stop. This advice also relates to e-cigarettes. Does an adopted child need his or her own bedroom? We will consider the size, location and layout of your home and we believe that the adopted child should have his or her own bedroom. I have lived abroad. Can I adopt a child in the UK? In order to adopt, applicants need to have been resident in the UK for at least a year, ending with the date of application.

If you have lived abroad for 12 months or more, you will also need to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct (or equivalent) for each country you have lived in. This is evidence that you have not committed any offences whilst living abroad, whether you have travelled around or stayed in the same place. You will be responsible for obtaining this and there is usually a charge for each certificate. You can do this by contacting the Embassy of the country you have lived in. What if I am single? We have many single adopters in West Sussex. You can apply to adopt whether you are single or part of a married or an unmarried couple (either same sex or heterosexual). It is a requirement of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 that where the suitability of a couple is being considered, an assessment is made of the stability and permanence of their relationship. In West Sussex we believe that couples should have been in a stable relationship at least two years before considering adoption. Can I adopt if I have a criminal record? The safety and welfare of the child are paramount and the background of all adopters and members of your household over 16 is checked once an application to adopt is accepted. The Adoption Agency Regulations (23.2) stipulates that a person cannot be considered suitable to adopt if they have been:

Convicted of a specified offence at the age of 18 or over

Has been cautioned by a constable in respect of a specified offence which at the time of caution was admitted.

A specified offence means:

An offence against a child

An offence specified in the Adoption Agency Regulations Part 1, Schedule 3 (concerning rape and other matters relating to sexual activity)

An offence contrary to Section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (concerning pornography)

If you have any other offences you must declare them all at the very outset and they will be considered as part of the assessment process. Where checks result in relevant previous convictions or cautions coming to light, it may not be possible to proceed with your application. We are only permitted to disclose the specific reasons to the person who has the conviction or caution.

The Disclosure & Barring Service: This agency provides an information service about people’s criminal records and uses the Police National Computer and checks for convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. You will be sent a copy of the certificate when the check has been completed, and this will need to be seen by the adoption social worker once received. Disclosure & Barring checks are required on all household members aged 18 years and over, as well as regular household visitors if they are to have regular care of the child.

Can I adopt if I work? Everyone must consider their work commitments and the possibility that adopted children may need a parent to be available/at home. We expect all applicants to take their full entitlement to adoption leave to enable the child to settle in and also to be flexible about possibly delaying a return to work if your child needs this time with you. As a guide we would expect prospective adopters to take one year’s adoption leave to ensure a child is given the greatest opportunity to settle and form positive attachments with you. Can I adopt if I am undergoing fertility treatment? Some prospective adopters have not been able to have their own children and may enquire about adoption whilst still trying to conceive a child through assisted conception. We ask you to let us know if this is the case. Experience shows that you will need time to come to terms with your childlessness before you are ready for adoption, understanding that adoption will be different. Pursuing adoption whilst still trying to conceive a child of your own is not in the interests of children who need adoption, as a child could be born to you just before or after another child is placed for adoption. We therefore will not be able to accept your formal application if you are still undergoing treatment. We advise you to wait until your treatment is complete and have taken enough time (at least six months) to adjust to this so that you are ready to consider adoption.

Can I adopt if I have birth children? If you have a child or children already, either as a single parent or as a couple from a previous relationship, whether or not they live with you, you will need to consider the impact of adoption on them. Ideally there should be a minimum three year age gap between your own child and the adopted child. The adopted child will always be the youngest when placed with you as this keeps your child’s place and relationships in the family the same. Adopting a child when you have a birth child or children will mean parenting in a different way and we offer specialist training to parents of birth and adopted children to support and advise you on how to manage the differing needs of the children. Do I need experience of looking after children? Adopted children can present challenging behaviour because of their past experiences and you will need to be confident in managing this. Therefore you will need to gain some additional experience of looking after other people’s children during the process. This could involve volunteering in nurseries, pre-schools, primary schools or playgroups, and overnight stays with children known to you are also helpful. The Adoption Team can give you advice on how to do this. Will I get any financial help? As the child’s parents you will meet the costs of bringing up an adopted child. There are adoption allowances for some children but these are to meet additional needs that the child may have. The allowance is paid to those people on lower incomes, reviewed each year and Increases in line with inflation.

Can I adopt a child from a different ethnic background? Ideally, children need to be placed in a family from the same religious, ethnic, linguistic and cultural background, so adopters are needed from as many different backgrounds as possible. However, we work hard to avoid delay in placing children with adoptive parents. If this was likely to cause a delay, the child will be placed with adopters who were sensitive to the child's needs. The adopters would have to show an ability to help a child develop a positive identity and to challenge racism and discrimination.

Are there any e-learning resources we can access? We would strongly advise that you undertake reading and research throughout the adoption process. E-Learning modules can be access through www.first4adoption.org.uk/resources. There will be an expectation that you complete these modules by the end of Stage 1.

West Sussex Adoption Support Passport

West Sussex Adoption and Permanent Placement Support Team offers a wide range of services to adoptive families affected by adoption. Children adopted from care can have ongoing needs and you and your child may benefit from post-adoption support. Our adoption passport guides you through the services available to you.

Local authorities provide a range of support services for adopters and their children.

Every adopter is entitled to advice about these services, and you are entitled to an assessment of your needs at any time. We recognise that children with traumatic and often difficult starts will continue to require support at some level following an adoption order being made. We can continue to offer support in several ways to you as a family. Here are just some of the services we provide:

An experienced team of adoption social workers and support staff on the end of a phone.

An experienced Contact Co-ordinator to manage and review your child’s contact plan with their birth family.

Support groups for approved adopters throughout the county. Summer Picnics and New Year Parties for adoptive families, in a secure

location, for children to meet other adopted children with lots of fun things to do.

Regular Newsletters giving up to date news about adoption and regular information about current research

AdOpt - is an informal (and fun!) 16-week group based programme designed to address topics specifically relevant for adoptive families with children aged 3-8 years.

Consultations with clinical psychologists.

If you have adopted a child in England you may also be entitled to the following with the support of an adoption passport:

Free early education for your child from the age of two (from September 2014)

Choose which school best meets your child’s needs

Discretionary Housing payments while waiting for your child to be placed with you

adoption leave and pay when your child is placed with you

All adopters are also entitled to:

A summary of your child’s health from your Local Authority’s medical adviser

A ‘life-story’ book to help your child understand their early life

To request an assessment of your child’s special educational needs.

Consider whether now is the right time for you to apply by using our

ADOPTION SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

This checklist will help you determine whether you may be a suitable adopter.

You need to answer YES to all these questions:

Do you live within West Sussex or surrounding area?

If you have undergone IVF or other infertility treatment, was your last course at

least six months ago?

Are you a permanent resident of the United Kingdom and habitually resident for

the last 12 months?

If you have suffered from a significant loss or bereavement recently, have you

allowed yourself a period of between 6-12 months to grieve?

If you are in a relationship, have you been living with your current partner for

more than two years?

Do you have a spare bedroom suitable for a child? And is the physical

environment of your home suitable for a child?

If you work full time, are you prepared to take a period of extended

leave/adoption leave for up to one year, to allow you to settle the child into their

new home?

Is your alcohol consumption below the recommended levels set by the UK

government guidelines? (The guidelines are up to 14 units a week for a woman

and up to 21 units a week for a man).

Do you refrain from “binge drinking”? (For men, binge drinking is drinking more

than eight units of alcohol – or about three pints of strong beer – in one session.

For women, it’s drinking more than six units of alcohol, equivalent to two large

glasses of wine).

All children placed for adoption have complex emotional needs. Are you willing

to care for a child that has inevitably had at least two carers and difficult

experiences in their short life?

Are you willing to work openly with West Sussex County Council to complete the

required adoption preparation training and to work with a dedicated social worker

to complete an assessment of your suitability, usually meeting in your home?

Are you willing to discuss details about your personal life and where appropriate

be prepared for us to interview your ex-partners?

Do you have a responsible attitude to financial management and can you

provide evidence to support this so that you can support a child in the future?

If you wish to adopt a child under the age of five years old, are you a non-

smoker? (If you are a smoker and wish to adopt a child under the age of five

years old, you will need to have given up smoking for at least 12 months prior to

our service accepting your application).

Are you prepared to undertake a Medical Assessment? Anyone who applies to

adopt will need to have a medical assessment. Any medical issues that arise

will be taken into consideration and West Sussex Medical Adviser will make

recommendations on your suitability. Weight issues, which may affect your

ability to care for a child or pose a risk to your long term health and wellbeing,

will be assessed.

Is your BMI under 35? If not, consider seeking support from your GP to help you

lose weight.

Are you prepared to undertake a Disclosure and Barring (formerly CRB) check?

People with minor convictions can adopt a child or children, but much depends

on the seriousness of the offence, how long ago the crime was committed and

how you have lived your life since. People with convictions for violent or sexual

offences against children will not be considered as adopters.

Are you willing to develop your childcare skills through voluntary work with

children who are not related to you?

For more information about adoption, please contact the West Sussex Adoption Team using the details at the foot of this page.

Phone: 0330 2227777

Fax: 01403 756195

Email: adoption.team@westsussex.gov.uk

What to do next

To proceed with your enquiry, please complete the Online Adoption Enquiry Form, or if you have done so, please complete the Initial Visit return slip. On receipt of these, an adoption social worker will contact you.

“Looking at our kids asleep every night makes our hearts soar, we look at each other, smile and still can't quite believe how lucky

we are to have two such gorgeous children”

Andy and Paula, Crawley

Further resources

Adopting a step-child

Children and Young People’s Services provides advice on legal alternatives to step-child adoption, and, where appropriate, an assessment service to comply with legal requirements for adopting a step-child - Please contact WSCC Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub MASH on 01403 229900 .

Inter-country Adoption

Inter-country adoption is regulated in the UK by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). In West Sussex, Children and Young People’s Services has an agreement with IAC - the Centre for Adoption who, on the department’s behalf, deals with all enquiries, and undertakes assessments of those who wish to adopt a child from overseas. IAC ensures assessments comply with DfES guidelines and takes them through to placement (see the Other Useful Contacts section for contact details).

Children & Young People’s Services is also a member of the Adoption Agencies’ Consultants’ Group on Inter-country Adoption, and a subscriber to the Overseas Adoption Helpline (see the Other Useful Contacts section for contact details).

Useful contacts for inter-country adoption

IAC - The Centre for Adoption: Advice Line 0208 447 4753

Association for Families who have Adopted from Abroad (AFAA): 01707 878793

Overseas Adoption Support and Information Services (OASIS): 0870 241 7069

Overseas Adoption Helpline: Tel: 0870 516 8742

Adoption Support

Children and Young People’s Services runs an advice and support service for adoptive parents, adopted people of any age, birth family members of adopted children, or other members of adoptive families. The adoption support service also organises and monitors arrangements for contact with the birth family made at the time of adoption. (See the Other Useful Contacts section for contact details.)

Additional support services are available through the county council’s service contract with the Post-Adoption Centre. (See the Other Useful Contacts section for contact details.)

Adoption UK: 0870 7700 450

British Association for Adoption and Fostering (CoramBAAF): 020 7593 2000

First 4 Adoption: 0300 222 0022

West Sussex Adoption Agency also maintains a service contract with the Post-Adoption Centre for additional adoption related services to be provided within the county: 0870 777 2197

Comments and complaints

If at any time you have a comment or concern about your experience of being assessed to become a prospective adopter please discuss with your Adoption Social Worker, or with their Team Manager. They will listen to your comments or concerns and try to resolve any issues that you have with the service or process. If we cannot resolve your concerns we will refer you to the next appropriate person.

We take complaints very seriously. If you are unhappy with our service, or the way you have been treated, please let us know.

You can make a complaint by phone, by post, in person or by email using the contact details at the foot of this page.

Thank you for your adoption enquiry.

Books to get you started

The following booklist is not intended to be a definitive list of publications relating to adoption, but may act as a good starting point.

If you have difficulty in finding the books to purchase locally, or hire from your library please consider

looking at the British Adoption and Fostering website (www.baaf.co.uk) - most can be purchased on Amazon.

*Highly recommended by the Adoption Team

Name and Author Summary

Adopting a Child, by Jennifer Lord

BAAF (2011) RRP £8.95

Basic guide to adoption. List of adoption agencies and organisations.

An Adoption Diary, by Maria Jones

BAAF (2006) RRP £7.95

The real life story of a couple’s journey from infertility to parenthood.

No Matter What: An Adoptive Family's

Story of Hope, Love and Healing by

Sally Donovan

Amazon (2013) RRP £9.99

The uplifting true story of a couple who build an extraordinary family - describing Sally

and Rob Donovan's journey from a diagnosis of infertility to their decision to adopt two

children who suffered abuse in their early life.

Flying Solo, by Julia Wise

BAAF (2007) RRP £7.95

The real life story of a single parent’s journey to adopting a son.

In Black and White, by Nathalie

Seymour

BAAF (2007) RRP £7.95

The real life story of an open transracial adoption.

The Family Business, by Robert

Marsden

BAAF (2008) RRP £7.95

The real life story of a family’s adoption of a boy with cerebral palsy.

Becoming Dads, by Pablo Fernandez

BAAF (2011) RRP £8.85

The real life story of a gay couple and their journey to adoption.

The Pink Guide to Adoption for

Lesbian and Gay Men, by Nicola Hill

BAAF (2009) RRP £12.95

A step by step guide of adoption for lesbian and gay men who are considering adoption.

Related by Adoption, by Hedi Argent

BAAF (2011) RRP £7.50

A handbook for grandparents and other relatives.

A Child’s Journey Through Placement,

by Vera Fahlberg

BAAF (1994) RRP £23.50

Separation, loss, grief and change are experiences common to children needing adoptive

placements. Theoretical book on how to manage a child’s experiences.

The Simple Guide to Child Trauma, by

Betsy de Thierry

Amazon (2016) RRP £8.40

What is trauma? How does it affect children? How can adults help?

*What Every Parent Needs to Know,

by Margot Sunderland

Dorling Kindersley (2007) RRP £14.99

Practical parenting guide for any parent. A blend of developmental science and

therapeutic ideas for strengthening children’s resources and also parent-child

relationships.

Reparenting the Child who Hurts, by

Caroline Archer and Christine Gordon

Jessica Kingsley Publishing (2013)

RRP £15.99

A guide to Healing Developmental Trauma and Attachments

*First Steps in Parenting the Child

Who Hurts – Tiddlers and Toddlers,

by Caroline Archer

Jessica Kingsley Publishing (1999)

RRP £14.99

Guidance on loss, understanding trauma separation in young children.

How to Talk so Kids Listen and Listen

so Kids Talk, by Adele Faber and

Elaine Mazlish

Piccadilly Press (2001) RRP £12.99

Practical information with chapter headings such as ‘engaging co-operation’,

‘acknowledging feelings’ and ‘alternatives to punishment’. Aimed for older children.

Old Families, New Scripts, by Caroline

Archer

Jessica Kingsley Publishing (2006)

RRP £18.00

A guide to the language of trauma and attachment in adoptive parenting.

Creating Loving Attachments

Kim S Golding & Daniel A Hughes

(2012) RRP £16.99

A guide to parenting with PACE to Nurture Confidence and Security in the Troubled Child

Top Ten Tips on Managing Contact,

by Henrietta Bond

BAAF (2007) RRP £7.95

Positive tips to make contact between adopted children and their birth relatives a

beneficial experience.

Facing up to Facebook, by Eileen

Fursland

BAAF (2010) RRP £14.95

Explores the questions, pressures and concerns adoptive families are facing in terms of

contact, searching and social networking.

Approaching Fatherhood, by Paul May

BAAF (2005) RRP £9.95

Adoptive fathers experiences of the adoption process and parenting.

Parenting a Child affected by Parental

Substance Misuse, by Donald

This book explores issues around substance misuse and children entering care as well

as the impact on children of exposure to substances during pregnancy, including both

specific effects (eg Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) and wider issues

Forrester

BAAF (2012) RRP £7.95

(eg genetic susceptibilities).

Parenting a Child with attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder, by Brian

Jacobs and Lorna Miles

BAAF (2012) RRP £7.95

This book provides a short explanation of ADHD and related conditions in children and

young people, including symptoms, prognosis and treatment. Explores the different ways

in which ADHD can affect child development and behaviour; the issues it raises with

regard to educational provision for affected children; and where and how to get help.

Parenting a Child with Mental Health

Issues, by Catherine Jackson

BAAF (2012) RRP £7.95

This book explains mental disorders generally and how they may manifest in children.

Outlines the risk of mental disorder in a child from a family with a history of mental

disorder, and the factors (genetic and environmental) that can put these children at

greater risk. Explores what is known about the physiological processes that may explain

a child's behaviours and higher vulnerability to mental disorder.

Parenting a Child with Dyslexia, by

Chris Stanway and Lorna Miles

BAAF (2012) RRP £7.95

This book provides a short explanation of Dyslexia and related conditions (including

dyspraxia), and their symptoms, prognosis and treatment in children and young people.

Explores the different ways in which dyslexia can affect child development as well as the

issues it raises with regard to educational provision for affected children, and where and

how to get help.

No Matter What: An Adoptive Family's

Story of Hope, Love and Healing, by

Sally Donovan

Amazon (2013) RRP £9.99

This book follows Sally and her husband’s journey through fertility treatment and

subsequent adoption story.

Additional books recommended books for parents with birth children

Name and Author Summary

When Daisy met Tommy, by Jules

Belle

BAAF (2010) RRP £8.95

The story of a little girl and her adopted brother.

Adopting a Brother or Sister, by Hedi

Argent

BAAF (2010) RRP £3.95

A guide for other young children in your family. Aimed at 4-10 years olds.

Adoption Undone, by Karen Carr

BAAF (2007) RRP £7.95

A painful story of an adoption breakdown.

Where are my Brothers and Sisters,

by Hedi Argent

BAAF (2010) RRP £3.95

A booklet to help children understand their family situations, separation form siblings and

their feelings about this.

Siblings without Rivalry, by Adele

Faber

Piccadilly Press (1999) RRP £12.99

How to help your children to live together so you can live too

Books for adopted/birth children

Name and Author Summary

A Nifflenoo called Nevermind, by

Margot Sunderland

Speechmark Publishing Ltd (2001)

RRP £10.99

Themes of loss, talking about feelings, contact with birth family, and how to build self-

esteem.

Chester and Daisy Move On, by

Angela Lidster

BAAF (1995) RRP £8.95

A book about transitions, children moving on for adoption and preparing them for change.

Aimed at 4-10 year olds.

Dennis Duckling, by Paul Sambrooks

BAAF (2009) RRP £5.95

For children leaving birth family to enter foster care. Aimed at 2-5 year olds.

Oh Brother, by Claire Friday

Adoption UK (2005) RRP £5.95

Tom gets a new adopted brother. Aimed at 7-11 year olds.

Nutmeg Series (x5), by Judith Foxon

BAAF RRP £12 each

Follows an adopted squirrel through adoption, feelings, contact with birth family and

getting help.

I’ll Always Love You, by Paeony Lewis

Little Tiger Press (2006) RRP £4.99

Best for Pre-schoolers. A story of a bear. Themes of anxiety, guilt, saying sorry and

unconditional love.

Josh and Jaz have three mums, by

Hedi Argent

BAAF (2007) RRP £8.95

For young children to help explain diversity and difference in family groups. Encourages

understanding and appreciation of same sex parents.

Dad David, Baba Chris and Me, by Ed

Marchant

BAAF (2010) RRP £8.95

For children aged 5-10 years old tells the story of Ben’s life with his adoptive gay parents.