How to adopt a child - the adoption process
At Barnardo’s we have a skilled and experienced team of professionals to guide you through the adoption process and provide information on how to adopt.
Alternatively, use our information request form to request an adoption information pack from your local service.
How we support you through the adoption process
We offer thorough assessment and preparation, and seek to provide a high level of emotional, practical and legal support to children and families for as long as may be necessary.
Barnardo's supervises and supports placements before an Adoption Order and offers an adoption support service after placement and after the Adoption Order is made. We have over 60 years experience of placing children for adoption.
We are constantly developing our service and welcome feedback on how we are performing and on any improvements we can make. Please contact us.
The adoption process
This process should be seen as a general guide to how to adopt. There may be some variations to meet local need or to fit with your circumstances.
More detail is included in the information pack which may be obtained via our information request form.
- Initial contact made with telephone discussion
- Information pack sent out
- Information meeting
- 'Expression of interest' form completed
- Initial/counselling visit
- Application form completed
- Checks and reference process start
- Assessment and preparation groups
- Social worker allocated to complete prospective adopter’s report
- Assessment plan agreed
- Prospective adopter’s report completed
- Adoption panel
- Recommendation and decision
- Once approved as suitable to adopt the process of identifying a match commences.
