Stage two

Step 1

Your history and life experiences

Stage two will involve a social worker visiting you at home on a regular basis to discuss your strengths and skills, your experiences growing up and how you have dealt with any challenges or stressful events in your life.

If you have had a long-term relationship before, or cared for children in a previous relationship, your social worker will discuss this with you and may want to speak to your previous partner. This will only happen with your consent and will not take place if it is likely to cause you, your family, or your ex-partner any distress.

If you have children already, either living with you or living elsewhere, they will also need to be interviewed or, depending on their age, seen with you.

This may all seem quite daunting, but your social worker will ensure every task is undertaken with sensitivity.
The purpose at this stage is to consider your overall suitability, the types of children you are best suited to caring for, and to assess your personal support needs.

Step 2

Adoption Panel

Once the assessment is complete, your social worker will write a report to outline your strengths as an adopter and will present this to an independent Adoption Panel. The panel is made up of experienced adopters and people who have knowledge of relevant areas of adoption as well as a Medical Adviser.

They will consider all the information gathered during the assessment process and make a recommendation regarding your suitability to become an adoptive parent to the agency’s decision maker.

You will see the report, can comment on it, and attend the panel.