The application and assessment process is carefully designed to confirm your suitability for adoption and ensure that you are fully committed to it. We will need to learn an incredible amount about you and your family, your past, your relationships and your attitudes. It’s likely that you will find elements of the assessment uncomfortable or unnecessary. Where the welfare of the children is concerned, however, we can take absolutely no chances. We have a moral, as well as legal obligation to be incredibly thorough.
What preparation, training and support will I receive?
Even if you are already a parent, there are lots of preparation to do before you can adopt. We need to know that you are ready not just to look after a child, but also to handle a wide range of issues, particularly dealing with children’s past experiences and the whole process of settling a child in.
Our training will build your confidence in these areas and teach you to apply your skills and qualities to lots of different circumstances and situations. You may even uncover some talents you never knew you had.
Hounslow’s support doesn’t end once you are approved as a carer. Your Assessing Social Worker will continue to support you until an Adoption Order is made. Our team also provides an adoption support service, which can offer a wide range of assistance, guidance and advice after the child has been placed with you.
What does the application and assessment process involve?
The Process at a glance:
1. Information gathering
Information pack
Information session
Initial home visit
2. Preparation for your application
Preparation groups
Formal application
Home study
Assessment report
3. Presenting your report to the panel
4. Matching
Child identifies
Visit form Social Worker
Matching report prepared and presenting to the panel
5. Placement of children
Transitions meeting
Planning meeting
Introcuction
Placement
6. Adoption
Adoption application lodged
Reports prepared
7. Court hearing
8. Adoption Order Granted
Timescales for applications
The Adoption and Permanence Team Manager will ensure that the following timescales are adhered to for the assessment and approval of domestic adopters:
Written information about the adoption process will be sent within five working days to the prospective adopter in response to their enquiry.
The prospective adopter will be invited to an adoption information meeting within 2 months of their enquiry.
The Adoption and Permanence Panel will receive all necessary information about the prospective adopter from the agency within 6 weeks of the completion of the prospective adopter’s report.
The Adoption and Permanence Panel’s recommendation about the suitability of the prospective adopter to adopt a child will be made within 8 months of the receipt of their formal application.
The agency decision on whether the prospective adopter should be approved as suitable to adopt will be taken within 7 working days of the Adoption and Permanence Panel recommendation.
The prospective adopter will be informed orally of the agency decision within 2 working days and written confirmation will be sent to them within 5 working days.