First steps to adoption

This is when a specially trained social worker finds out all they can about the prospective adopters: their marriage, their relationships with friends and family, personal history, childhood and upbringing. There’s also a medical examination.

Stephen found the prospect of home assessment and the invasion of privacy difficult but, as Julia says, ‘They don’t know who you are from Adam, and they have to put you through hoops to find out if you’re right for adoption.’

Adopters get to see the report that’s drawn up and they can add to it or correct comments they feel to be unrepresentative.

Then the case is referred to the relevant Adoption Panel

You might enter the adoption process having chosen a child advertised through, for instance, BAAF’s ‘Be My Parent’ publication. Or you might go through the whole process and be approved for adoption before you’re matched with a specific child. As Caroline Hesslegrave of Childlink Adoption Society says, ‘We don’t encourage people to consider a particular child too early in the process as it can distract their attention from considering themselves as potential adopters.’

There can be no legal match with any child until after you’ve been approved as an adopter by the panel.

‘People are sensible and, once armed with the facts, they select themselves,’ says Jeanne. ‘It‘s a long, expensive process, and it’s extremely unusual for us to turn anyone down; 94% are approved and go on to the Adoption Panel.’

Adoption panels are made up of ten members

These include social workers and independent members, who can be adoptive parents or adopted people. A mother who relinquished her baby many years ago is a valuable panel member at Coram. A medical adviser and an educational psychologist make up the team. They read the reports and make recommendations, but legally they are not allowed to reach the final decision. At Coram, that is left to Gillian Pugh, the chief executive, although it is almost unknown for her to reject the panel’s decision.