Recruitment and Assessment of Adopters - Enquiry to Registration of Interest

The purpose of the initial visit is to give those making an enquiry the information that they need to make a decision as to whether or not they wish to submit a Registration of Interest. The write up and submission to Team Manager should be completed within 5 working days of the initial visit being undertaken. Potential adopters should be notified of the decision regarding their suitability to progress within 5 working days of the visit.

All enquirers will have had access to information which is provided in the adoption information video or the in person information event, and on the website. It is useful for workers to be familiar with the contents of this information prior to the initial visit, so that they are able to clarify information if required. Workers should also see Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters Procedure and the You Can Adopt Website, First4Adoption Website and e-learning components.

It is important to be encouraging of applicants, but also to be honest and realistic about potential, and to highlight any concerns. It is unfair to raise applicant's expectations when progressing their application is inappropriate or unlikely. If you are not recommending they proceed you should explain this and your reasons clearly to them. If further discussion with a manager is required, this should also be explained, and applicants informed that the outcome will be confirmed to them in writing by the relevant manager. It will be appropriate on occasions, for workers to undertake a 2nd follow up visit.

Contact by telephone to discuss interest and arrange an appointment to visit should be made within 2 working days of receipt of the request (Statutory Guidance) and, where possible, within 24 hours. This telephone conversation will allow some initial discussion which may lead to a realisation that a visit is not appropriate. If the discussion is positive at this stage, then an initial home visit can be arranged (to be undertaken within 10 working days of receipt of the request) This and the requirement to make contact within 2 working days of receipt of the request (Statutory Guidance).

The phone call should be recorded within the Initial Home Visit embedded form on CHARMS, along with the date and time for the planned visit.

Applicants should be informed of the need to provide documentation evidencing identity at the initial hone visit for the purposes of progressing DBS checks should they proceed in the adoption process. The acknowledgement letter confirming the visit can be attached to an email but ought to be sent in letter format. This letter should then be uploaded within the Initial Visit Workflow on CHARMS.

All applicants will be asked to view the introduction video on the OASY website and formulate any questions to ask during the initial visit.

The following is a guide only. Not everything may be relevant, and judgement will need to be taken regarding the depth that is required. Much of this will already have been covered in the video and workers should check that people have seen the video and answer any questions arising. Further discussion should be based on responses. Visits should not take more than two hours. There is the option for 2nd visits where more time is required to explore something in greater detail.

Each visit should be led by the social worker and should begin by asking whether the enquirer(s) have any further questions following on from the information event.

The following areas should then be covered:

1. Accommodation:
   
   • Smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors are required and a home fire safety check should be undertaken by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service where there are attic bedrooms or the home has only one exit. Applicants can be directed to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to arrange a visit in these circumstances;
   • Or South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Safe and Well to do their own survey which can be printed / emailed to OASY;
   • Applicants need to be made aware that a Health and Safety Checklist will be completed;
   • Are there any pets? Advise that a Pet Questionnaire will be required in Stage Two. If the applicant(s) own a dog, they must make arrangements to have the dog assessed in Stage One. Adoption Advisors will oversee this. It may be undertaken by a dog trainer or a dog behaviourist and is required before moving into Stage Two. It is inadvisable for pets to sleep upstairs and if training is required for the pet, now would be a good time for such training to begin.
     
     
2. Family composition:
   
   • If in a relationship, how long together?
   • Ask about previous relationships and the fact that we are likely to make contact with ex partners where the relationship has been significant and involved co-habiting or co-parenting;
   • For single applicants also check relationship status and expectations - are they actively seeking a relationship?
   • Ask brief questions regarding upbringing; significant losses, adverse childhood experiences for example.
     
     
3. Support Networks (extended family / neighbours / friends):
   • The importance of this is shared;
   • Do they have any people who can provide practical and emotional support? Who will come in an emergency? Do they have people they can confide in?
     
     
4. Employment/experience:
   
   • What sort of hours do they work at the moment?
   • Will they be able to take sufficient time off work to meet the child's needs? We encourage adopters to take a year's adoption leave;
   • If they are thinking of sharing adoption leave this will depend on the needs of our children, as often children need a long time with one person to build attachment;
   • Are they financially stable and do they have any significant debts? (Specific income should not be asked);
   • Have they ever been bankrupt, and how has this been resolved?
5. Statutory checks and references:
   
   • Please ask applicants to tell us about any Police involvement, cautions or convictions, including those that they think are spent given that we do enhanced checks;
   • Prospective adopters should be specifically asked to identify anything that they know of that may preclude them from adopting;
   • Have they had help or support from other agencies e.g. Health or CAMHS?
   • Please ensure applicants are aware of our policy on contacting employers, head teachers, health visitors, ex partners, adult children; and of taking up references with family members etc;
   • Please make it clear to applicants that if their application progresses, and they have lived in another country in their adult life, then they will need to provide additional references to ascertain their conduct. If this is not possible, consideration will be given to overseas police checks.
6. Medicals and health:
   
   • Check alcohol use (this is 14 units per person per week, and should be no more than 2-3 units in one sitting. There should be several alcohol free days a week), substance misuse, weight (but do not ask for specific BMI), ongoing health issues;
   • Check if they smoke or use e-cigarettes / vapes. If they hope to adopt a child under 5 years the expectation is that we would not be able to offer a ROI until they have been smoke free for at least 6 months to ensure that they are 12 months free of smoking at the potential expected time of their approval;
   • Please ask applicants specifically if they have ever suffered from anxiety or depression and record their responses clearly;
   • Complex issues will require medicals to be undertaken in the usual way and the advice of the agency the agency medical adviser before proceeding.
7. Interest / Motivation and Childcare Experience:
   
   • A period of time having passed since infertility treatment is recommended as this can take some time to come to terms with. For some people this can be a few months, for others it can be years. What we know is that if there remains a longing for a born to child, sadly that can impact on emotions and reactions when a child is placed that can be really difficult. Everyone is unique, so it helps to hear from potential adopters about their journey to parenthood and make a person to person assessment that recognises people's differences in exploring if now is really the right time;
   • Applicants need to be aware of the need to use contraception as required;
   • Any child placed for adoption ideally would be at least 2 years younger than the youngest child in the family;
   • We would be reluctant to accept an application to adopt an older child where there is a younger child in placement, due to the potential impact of the relationship between the children;
   • Experienced adopters will not be considered until the first child is at least 2 years of age. However, the team manager will apply discretion where a sibling is born to one or both original parents;
   • If childless, explore what experiences they have of being with children. They should be encouraged and advised to increase childcare experience. They may have friends and family with children and they should seek to build this to overnights. They can volunteer at schools, nurseries, sports clubs, the scout movement etc. If this is being advised it should be included in the Stage One Agreement, and we will assess progress at the end of Stage One before seeking a relevant reference in Stage Two.
8. Becoming Adopters / Positive Parenting / Lifelong Nature of Adoption:
   
   • Current demographic profile of children waiting for adoption in South Yorkshire;
   • Early Permanence Placements;
   • Talking about adoption? Consider identity long term and that this changes over time for an adopted person, right through adulthood too;
   • Contact in adoption and birth parent meetings;
   • Adoption support services. Explain that although our children, though will reach potential in a nurturing and secure family, they will have needs that will always be with them due to early life experiences? e.g. Domestic Abuse in-utero that means children are born with pre disposition to stress not dissimilar to PTSD (recent research), drugs, alcohol, learning needs, metal health; these areas can remain beyond the adoption order;
   • Talk about therapeutic methods of parenting; no hitting, ideally no shouting, no time out etc;
   • Explain Stage One including the option for peer mentoring;
   • Explain Stage Two i.e. the assessment process, including tools. Discuss the Attachment Style Interview as one tool in use;
   • Advise in brief of long terms support and training.
9. Training:
   
   • Applicants also need to be aware of the preparation/training requirement with compulsory attendance of all applicants. Dates should be given and availability to attend confirmed;
   • Experienced adopters - discretion should be applied regarding the most appropriate training dependent on timescales and changes since the first adoption. This could include the full preparation training, or experienced parent training;
   • Advise that we provide a resource list and that towards the end of stage one we will be asking what they have learned.

The two stage assessment process, and tight time framework requirements around this should be clearly explained. Also advise that this can be slowed down for reasons that may include more time being required for learning and readiness.

Please remember that this is guidance only, and that professional judgement needs to be exercised in each case based on the circumstances presented.

If the outcome of the visit is generally positive, please evidence the DBS forms.

Give prospective adopters CHARMS log in details to access Registration of Interest (ROI) form. Leave a hard copy if they have no access to Internet.

Enter the details on CHARMS. It is important that any reservations you have are shared openly with the applicant(s) and that they are clear about the recommendation you will be making.

Pass the initial visit report to the Adoption Team Manager via CHARMS. The Adoption Team Manager will consider the information gathered and make a decision whether the enquirers should proceed upon receipt of the ROI. A phone call is usually made by the Adoption Social Worker to the potential adopters informing of this. A letter will then be sent to the applicant(s) by the advisor confirming the home visit outcome and outlining the next stages of the process. This can be attached to an email.

The adoption social worker allocated the initial visit will continue to link with the prospective adopter throughout the Stage One process to guide and assist.

If not proceeding, the Adoption Team Manager will telephone the enquirer to inform them of this and then write confirming the decision not to proceed with reasons. A copy of this letter will be added to the CHARMS file. Advice will also be given of any steps to be taken in order to meet the criteria or of how they might pursue their interest elsewhere and details of the You Can Adopt website will be provided.

A prospective adopter's case record must be set up as soon as the registration of interest is accepted. It must contain:

• The Registration of Interest;
• The information and reports obtained by the agency;
• The prospective adopter assessment plan;
• The prospective adopter's report and the prospective adopter's observations on that report;
• The written record of the proceedings of the adoption panel, its recommendation, the reasons for the recommendation and any advice given by the panel to the agency;
• The record of the agency's decision;
• The recommendation of any independent review panel;
• Where applicable, the prospective adopter's review report and the prospective adopter's observations on that report;
• The prospective adopter matching plan when completed; and
• Any other documents or information obtained by the agency which it considers should be included in the case record.

Information which has been obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) should be retained on the Prospective Adopter's Case Record for a limited time only. This information should be destroyed when the decision has been made as to whether the prospective adopter is suitable to adopt a child. It should be noted on the Prospective Adopter's Case Record that the DBS information has been destroyed and that this information had led the agency to form a particular view, without citing the information itself.

Click here to view the ROI Flowchart.

Does it matter whether I own my own home or live in rented accommodation?

No, it does not matter. What matters is that whatever living situation you have that there is some evidence of security in terms of a reasonable tenancy on the property that you live in and that you have the means to access another property should the tenancy end. If you have a mortgage what is important is that you can afford the repayments.  
 
Can I adopt if I do not have a spare bedroom?

It will be up to you to think about what space you have available for a child to join your family. For some children they will need their own bedroom space but do discuss this with your local agency.    
 
Can I adopt if my extended family live with me?

There can be many advantages to living with extended family, but we will need to discuss adoption with all the members of your family and understand the advantages and challenges for a child of coming into a large extended family network.  
 
What if my UK residence status is uncertain? What if my UK residence status is uncertain?

We welcome enquiries from people who are UK residents, or who are domiciled in Britain. To adopt in England, you must be a legal resident in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, and have been so for at least 12 months. UK citizens living abroad cannot adopt a child from the UK. EU nationals can consider adopting a child in the UK so long you or your partner have a fixed and permanent home in the UK and that you (and your partner if you have one) have lived in the UK for at least 1 year. If you are unsure, then do ask your local agency for advice.  
 
Can I adopt if I have pets?

Yes, you can but we will need to discuss and identify any specific issues there are for your pets and any adjustment that you might need to make when a child has been identified for placement with you. 
 
Can I adopt if I have birth children or before considering having birth children? 

Yes, you can. The most important consideration is that you and your family have the physical and emotional space to settle an adopted child into your family and then adjust as your understanding of the child grows and their understanding of you grows. That can be enhanced by the presence of birth children or that be challenging.  
 
Does it matter what my marital status?

Prospective adopters are welcome whether they are single, married or in a long-term live-in relationship. We would expect that if you were in a live in relationship that you have lived together for at least 1 year at point of application and for there to be evidence that it was a stable and enduring relationship. Adopted children have often experienced considerable disruption in their lives and ensuring that your situation is stable is an important part of the assessment. A child moving in with their family can challenge any relationship so there would need to be evidence that you have managed a variety of situations together. We also welcome applications from single people who have support from family, friends, or communities. We understand that people have a variety of different types of relationships and if you are unsure what that means for you then do contact one of the Adoption Agencies and discuss your own particular situation.   

Do I need to be fluent in English?

We welcome people who speak more than one language at home and this can be very positive for children but it is advisable for adoptive parents to be reasonably fluent in English so that they can advocate for a child and so that the concepts of adopting a child can be fully understood. We would recommend that you attend one of the readily available English courses prior to enquiring about adoption if you think this may be an issue for you. If you are unsure then contact your adoption agency and ask for advice.  
 
Will my sexuality or gender affect my chances of adopting?

LGBTQ+ people are welcome to adopt.  In fact, about 1 in 5 adopters are LGBTQ+.  Many of the life experiences LGBTQ+ people have had has uniquely helped them to parent adopted children.

Trans and non-binary people can bring particular strengths to adoption so adoption agencies are keen to hear from adopters of all genders. 

For people in a relationship, who are applying to adopt together, adoption agencies will want to know the relationship is stable and enduring.  Being in a non-traditional relationship (such as a consensually non-monogamous relationship) isn’t a barrier to adoption.
 
Can I adopt if I have debts?

Adopters may have debts and as long as these are understood, and repayments can be managed alongside living expenses then this should not be a problem. We would also encourage adopters to have considered how they will manage financially whilst taking time off work.  
 
Is it possible to adopt and be in receipt of unemployment benefits or other benefits or have some other concerns about my finances?

The emphasis would be on financial stability and in some circumstances financial support may be available from the adoption agency. There would need to be evidence of a stable lifestyle and the ability to manage on the income coming into the household. Openness and honesty about financial pressures is encouraged right from the outset of your application. 
 
How long will I need to be off work after adopting a child?

We recommend that at least one adopter has time off work following a child moving in with their family. A child will need time to build a relationship with their new family and it will take time for them to feel safe and secure. It is difficult to say how long this will take but 12 months is not unusual. If an older child is moving in with their family and attends school, then after a period of settling in it may be possible to work and still be there for the child at either end of the school day. 
 
On occasions a child may need a parent to be off work longer and financial support may be available from the adoption agency in such circumstances. For people who are self-employed and not entitled to adoption leave allowances then we would need to discuss how to balance the need for work and offering a child the stability that they need early on. 
 
Can I adopt if I have health problems?

Many people who adopt have medical conditions. Medical advice will be sought in relation to all medical conditions and the focus of discussion will relate to how well you are able to care for a child throughout childhood, the sort of support you have from a partner or other close family members or friends if you are unwell and consideration about the long term prognosis of your condition. The focus will be on considering how you can consistently meet the needs of a child throughout their childhood.  
 
Can I adopt if I have a disability?

Many disabled people adopt a child successfully. The early part of the process of becoming an adopter will involve all adopters having a medical and the adoption agency would rely on that medical advice alongside consideration of your personal circumstances in determining your ability to consistently and safely parent an adopted child throughout their childhood.  
 
Can I adopt if I am overweight?

There are no hard and fast rules about this The core issue for adoption agency is the stability of the adoption placement for the child over time and the capacity of the adopter to be sufficiently healthy to ensure this.  A medical is sought on all prospective adopters and this will include a prediction about future health and wellbeing.  
 
Am I too old to adopt?

The only restriction on age is a lower age limit in that you must be at least 21 to adopt. Other than that, the consideration will be your ability to parent a child into adulthood based on your health and the health of a partner if you have one. 
 
Can I adopt if I have a mental health condition?

Many people have short periods of stress, depression, or anxiety in their lives and whilst there would need to be discussion about how this has been managed this is unlikely to prevent you adopting a child. Some people have longer term mental health conditions which are well controlled with medication. There would need to be discussion about this and a medical would provide the agency with medical advice in relation to your ability to adopt a child. The main considerations will relate to the frequency with which you are unwell, how that manifests itself and who is there to offer support at such times. The focus for the adoption agency will always be to assess your ability to meet a child’s needs in a consistent way and to consider how the stress of adopting a child will affect your mental health. There may be times when the agency feels that some one’s mental health is not stable enough to parent an adopted child but that would be considered early on in the process with the input of medical professionals and the people who know you well. 
 
Do I need to have finished infertility treatment to start my adoption journey?  

People adopt for many different reasons, and it is not essential to have explored having a birth child prior to adopting however for those who have embarked on fertility treatment first then the following advice is given. It is important that if you have had fertility treatment that it has come to an end before starting your adoption journey. Adopting a child needs to be your priority and that will require you to have finally accepted that having a birth child is no longer an option. Many people who come to adoption due to infertility have accessed counselling following fertility treatments and this is viewed positively. Once treatment has ended, we recommend that you take some time to come to terms with the fact that it has not resulted in a birth child. Some people can be ready to adopt within a few months and for others it will take longer. We would encourage you to discuss this with your adoption agency who will advise you on this depending on your personal circumstances. 
 
Can I adopt if I have a faith or religion?  

Yes, you can. Adopters can be of all faiths and none. Research has shown that faith and its inherent altruism and care for the vulnerable, can be a great motivator for people to adopt. Children who need to be placed for adoption come from many different cultures, backgrounds and religions and it is good if the family they are placed with reflects that. That means that adopters are welcomed if they have a faith or are from a variety of cultural and / or religious backgrounds. Children needing families from certain cultural backgrounds wait longer than others for adoptive families and we would encourage adopters to consider adopting a child from an ethnicity, culture, or religion other than their own. 

Do Adopters/We need to stay in touch with the child’s birth family?

The vast majority of children will remain in touch with their birth families. This could be sending and receiving letters on a regular basis once or twice a year, engaging in a virtual way on a virtual communication platform or for some children it will be “in person” arrangements. Research has shown that adopted children need to stay in touch to have a healthy sense of their identity and that it does in fact strengthen the relationship with the adopters. All adopters need to be open to some type of arrangements for staying in touch with people from the child’s past. That could be birth parents, siblings living elsewhere or other relatives. These arrangements will change over time as the child grows and you will be supported in these arrangements by the adoption agency. More direct forms of staying in touch will only be recommended it is deemed safe for the child.