Deciding to welcome a baby or young child into your life is a massive step to take. It will not only affect your life and that of the young person, but the wider network of friends and family who could be called upon to offer guidance and support. The UK adoption process can seem overwhelming at first. However, there is a lot of information and resources out there to answer questions about how to adopt in the UK. Here are some questions, answers and pointers to get the process started and clarify some important matters.
Who can adopt in the UK?
There are a number of legal requirements for UK adoption eligibility. You must be over 21 years of age, although there is no upper age limit. You can be single, married or in a civil partnership or unmarried – single-sex and opposite sex couples can both apply. It is also applicable for the partner of the child’s biological parent to adopt.
Different rules apply for adopting children privately and for cases involving looked-after young people. You do not have to be a British citizen to follow the UK adoption process but at least one person in the couple must have a fixed and permanent home in the UK and have lived in the country for at least one year before starting the process.
What could prevent you from being allowed to adopt?
While there are a large number of young people waiting for their forever home with a loving adopted parent or parents, it is vital that their interests are protected and so not everyone who would like to adopt will be allowed to. You will not be eligible to adopt if you or another adult in your family holds a criminal record for a serious crime, particularly anything against a child.
You will need to undergo a police check to ascertain this before the adoption process can begin. There will also be a requirement for a medical examination – certain health conditions or medical issues will also preclude an individual from being considered for adoption. Finally, you will need to prove your commitment to adopting a young person and ability to support them financially, mentally and emotionally over the long term.
How to adopt in the UK: first steps
Once you have established UK adoption eligibility and decided to take the plunge, you can start the adoption process in the UK in a number of ways. One common way is to go to an adoption agency. They will send you information to help you and invite you to meet them to discuss what you would like to do. There is usually also a preparation course or series of workshops that you are required to attend. These will give you more detailed information about adopting a baby or child and introduce you to fellow couples and individuals who are also keen to adopt.
You will also be put in contact with a social worker who will carry out a professional assessment about your suitability to welcome a young person into your home and
your life. This assessment will be put to an independent panel of experienced professionals who will discuss your case and make the final decision. You are allowed to attend this meeting to put your case forward and answer any additional questions. There are mechanisms in place to legally challenge any decision that does not fall in your favour, however, there is no guarantee that such decisions will be overturned.
Moving on with the adoption process UK
After this introduction, if you and the agency are happy to proceed, you will need to complete a comprehensive application form. This will ask for details about your own background, resources and finances, support networks, health, personal beliefs and values and reasons why you want to adopt. You will be asked to provide references to back up the information you provide about your work, support networks and personal character and attributes.
Once you pass this stage, the agency will start to look for potential matches and arrange initial contact and visits to start getting to know each other. The full approval process takes around six months, as stringent checks and safeguards must be carried out to protect the interests of the child.