Adoption

Contents

• What is Adoption?
• What kinds of children are available for adoption?
• Are there many babies available for adoption?
• What is the law around adoption?
• Do I have to live in Derby to adopt?
• Can I adopt if?
• Are there children from ethnic minority groups needing adoptive parents?
• How long does it take to become approved as an adoptive parent?
• Do you offer Post-Adoption Support?
• Children needing Adoptive Parents

Adoption Information Meetings

Are you thinking about adoption and want to get more information from our Adoption Team? Please come along to our Adoption Information meetings. They are all held at the Fostering and Adoption Centre, Perth Street, Derby DE21 6XX. All meetings start at 6.30pm and finish at around 9pm. Just turn up, there is no need to book.

• Tuesday 4 June
• Tuesday 9 July
• Tuesday 6 August
• Tuesday 3 September
• Tuesday 1 October
• Tuesday 5 November
• Tuesday 3 December

What is Adoption?

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for children who can't live with their own family. For many children, adoption may be their only chance of experiencing family life. Children must be under the age of 18 and unable to return to their birth parents.

An adoption order cuts all legal ties with the birth family and transfers all parental responsibilities to the new adoptive family. The birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child and they are not entitled to claim their child back. If you adopt a child, they become a full member of your family. They take your last name and take the same rights and privileges as if he or she had been born to you, including the right to inherit.

You can read our Derby City Council Adoption Statement of Purpose which sets out the services we provide to parents who are thinking about adopting a child/children.

What is the effect of an Adoption Order?

The effect of an adoption order is that it removes the parental rights and responsibilities of the birth parents and transfers them to the adoptive parents. Only a court can make the adoption order but it is our responsibility or an approved voluntary adoption agency to assess and approve people who want to become adoptive parents.

What kinds of children are available for adoption?

Children come from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, ages and abilities. Many of the children have had some difficult experiences and need a lot of help to come to terms with what has happened to them. Some children need to be adopted with their brothers and sisters. What they all have in common is that they need a new family.

Interest is particularly welcomed from people who can offer a home to:

• single children 4 years of age and older
• brothers and sisters from all age groups
• children with uncertain developmental futures
• children from ethnic minority and dual heritage backgrounds.

Anyone contacting us will be able to talk to a social worker experienced in adoption practice. An information pack is available and will be sent to anyone who wants to know more about adoption.

Are there many babies available for adoption?

There are some, but not many. Most children are aged over 2 years of age. They will sometimes be part of a group of brothers and sisters. Some children will also have learning or physical disabilities.

What is the law around adoption?

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 states that a couple or a single person may apply to adopt. Potential adopters have to:

• be at least 21 years old
• have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least 12 months.

If you are not a British citizen, you have to have 'indefinite leave' to remain in Britain from the Home Office.

Do I have to live in Derby to adopt?

Our aim is to find adoptive parents for children away from their birth parents' area to help them make a fresh start. We need people interested in adopting children within 50 miles of Derby. This covers areas such as the East Midlands, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire. We also welcome people applying from Derby and Derbyshire.

We are also interested in hearing from people who have adopted children through another council or adoption agency.

We aim to prioritise adoptive parents who best match the specific needs of children we are trying to place. We do not assess applications from potential adopters on a 'first-come, first-served basis.'

Can I adopt if?

• I am married? Yes, both you and your husband or wife must adopt jointly.
• I am living with a partner? Yes, unmarried couples can adopt together, but we'll need proof that you are living as partners in a stable relationship.
• I am single? Yes
• I am gay? Yes. Your sexuality will not stop us from considering whether or not you can become an adoptive parent.
• I have a police record? It depends on what you were convicted of. The law does not allow anyone to adopt a child if they, or a member of their household, have been convicted or cautioned for offences against children. Any offence involving violence or a continuing pattern of offending will stop you from being able to adopt.
• I am over 40 years of age? The law states that you have to be aged 21 or over, but there's no upper age limit to people applying to become adoptive parents. Age is one consideration among many that we take into account when we assess the suitability of potential adopters.
• I am having fertility treatment?

No. You will need to have finished your fertility treatment for at least six months before you can apply to adopt. This is because we feel that people need time to finish this and then be able to make the full commitment needed for adoption.

Are there children from ethnic minority groups needing adoptive parents?

Yes, there is a local and national shortage of adoptive parents for children from some ethnic minority and dual heritage backgrounds.

How long does it take to become approved as an adoptive parent?

It can take around 6-9 months from the time you first make your application to start the process of becoming an adoptive parent. You will have a social worker who will support you through the process and offer you all the advice and guidance that you need. You will also need to attend a number of training groups. There are no examinations or coursework to complete. We will need to get references and carry out a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Do you offer Post Adoption Support?

The value of Post adoption support has been recognised more in recent years as being crucial to the success of adoptive placements. A child's need for explanation and knowledge about his background may grow as he or she gets older. Their behaviour may increasingly reflect the impact of poor or abusive parenting in his early years.

We will support all adoptive parents through our own services or those of a family's adoption agency. We also have a responsibility to the birth parents of children placed for adoption and will provide support and counselling to them.

We operate a Post-Adoption Letter Box service to allow the exchange of photographs and letters between adopters and birth family members. We assist and support:

• Adopted children and their adoptive families
• Adopted adults
• Birth parents and grandparents
• Siblings of adopted children.

For more information, please email postadoption@derby.gov.uk or call 01332 643828.

Children needing Adoptive Parents

All photographs feature models. All profiles are fictional.

• Hannah is two years old and is from an African-Caribbean and White British background. She is a healthy child and eats and sleeps well. She needs a one- or two-parent adoptive family from a similar inter-racial or African-Caribbean ethnic background. Hannah’s father’s identity is unknown. Hannah needs a family that can offer her long-term security and happiness.
• Neelam is four years old and from a White British and Asian background. She is a polite and cheerful girl who likes going to school. Neelam has made a lot of progress in the last year since living with foster carers, but her future development is uncertain and she is always likely to need extra support with her schoolwork. Neelam needs a one- or two-parent adoptive family from an Asian or an Inter-racial background where she is the only or by far the youngest child in the household.
•  Jane, six, and Anne, five, are sisters who need an adoptive home. They are lively young girls who enjoy having fun. They experienced severe parental neglect in their childhood and found it difficult to control their behaviour. They have now made excellent progress since living with foster carers for the last year. They need a two-parent adoptive family that can give them firm boundaries and, in return, they will be rewarding children to look after.
• Adam is five years old and is a healthy, cheerful and happy young boy who has been living with his foster carer since the last two years. He is from a White British ethnic background. Adam is doing well at school and enjoys painting, watching television and riding his bike. His parents are unable to look after him and have agreed to his adoption plan. He now needs a one- or two-parent adoptive family who can offer him lots of love and attention. Adam has got two other brothers who were adopted three years ago. As he gets older, he will need to have occasional, direct contact with them.
• Kim is nine years old and is from a White British background. She has had a difficult childhood but has made a lot of progress at school and at home since living with foster carers for the last two years. She enjoys reading, listening to music and playing with her friends. Kim will be a very rewarding child to adopt but she will need ongoing support to help her come to terms with her past. Kim will need to be the only or the youngest child in the household.
• Chris is six months old and is a cheerful young boy from a White British background. He has moderate learning difficulties and is always likely to need additional support at school and at home. He is eating and sleeping well and has good vision and hearing. Chris will need adoptive parents who have some experience of looking after a child or an adult with a learning difficulty or a disability on a personal or professional level. He will need a patient and understanding family who are able to support him through to his adulthood.

There are many more children from all age groups and backgrounds needing adoptive parents. Please contact us for more information.

Useful forms

• Adoption Enquiry form