Why are children adopted?
Some people find it difficult to be parents. It is important
that children are looked after properly. Social Workers try to help
peo
ple look
after children.
Children can’t stay where they are being hurt, not cared for
properly or where parents feel they cannot look after a child.
So Social Workers have to find them new parents who are able
to love and care for them and are likely to offer children what
they need.
How do Social Workers decide a child needs to be
adopted?
The Social Workers will then try to work out whether the child’s
family will be able to make changes to look after the child
properly. They will ask experts for their thoughts too. If it seems
that the family finds it too difficult to change then the Social
Worker writes a report.
The Social Worker gives this report to a group of people who
know lots of things about children. This group is called 'Panel',
which consists of people, some who have been adopted and have
adopted children as well as being experienced Social Workers.
They learn lots about the child and their family before deciding
very carefully whether a child should be adopted.
Who decides?
The person who decides is a Judge. A Judge is an
experienced and clever person who listens to what children, their
parents and Social Workers say before deciding which children
should be adopted. The Judge works in a place called court. The
Judge at the court has learnt lots about children, families and
adoption.
How do Social Workers find new parents?
Social Workers spend time with people who want to adopt
children. During this time Social Workers see if these people are
likely to be able to be parents to children needing new
families.
The Social Workers then choose a family who they think will be
right and ask the Panel at a special meeting whether they agree.
The Panel already know lots about the child and will read lots
about the people who want to adopt as well as often meeting them.
It is very important that things are done carefully and the things
that children and parents ask for are considered.
So what happens next?
Once the right family is found, they all meet and spend time
getting to know each other. Then the child moves to live with their
new family. Does
that mean a child is adopted?
No, not yet. Social Workers know that it takes practice to live
as a new family. They know that being a new family can be good and
fun, but also difficult as well.
Through listening and talking with each other they work out how
to live together and be happy.
After a child has lived with their new family for a while, they
and the Social Worker ask the Judge if the child can now be
adopted.
The Judge’s decision is called a Court Order. When you go to
Court to get adopted, the Order you get is called an Adoption
Order, which means that you have new parents and a new family that
are legally yours.
Do children who need to be adopted get to know about this?
Yes. Children in Peterborough are helped to learn about adoption
from many people. These may be their Social Workers, support
workers, foster carers and new parents. Children who are adopted in
Peterborough have a special letter kept for them by their adoptive
parents explaining why they were adopted.
What if I want to know more?
Adopted children often have lots of different questions about
their own adoption and the Peterborough Adoption Service wants to
offer children who are
adopted support with the following:
Understanding about their adoption – we encourage children’s
Social Workers to provide children when they are adopted, a life
story book or memory box. When children get older, they and their
adoptive parents can be supported by our service to learn more.
FAQ’s (a site where children and adults can
access more challenging information.)
What about brothers or sisters?
We will try our best to make sure brothers and sisters live
together and where they cannot, that the reasons for that decision
are recorded.
If it is decided that it would be good for a child to have
contact with members of their birth family, the Social Worker will
do their best to help. For some children this may mean help with
passing on letters and for some children, it may mean helping with
visits. For some brothers and sisters placed in different adoptive
homes, it may mean encouraging adoptive parents to organise contact
between each other.
How long do I have to wait for a family?
Although
finding a family can take a while, we will do our best to find the
right family for every child. Sometimes we cannot find the right
adoptive family and when this happens we work with a
child’s Social Worker to see how we can help them develop a
family life for a child.
Do adoptions go wrong?
Sometimes children and their adoptive parents can find things at
home difficult. We offer support to adopted children and their
families.
What if I am sad in my adopted home?
Your feelings, wishes and thoughts are important to us. We
believe that children should live without fear. If you are worried
about the treatment you receive in your adopted home, or about
anything else, please contact the Adoption
Team directly on 01733 317448, email adoptionenquiries@peterborough.gov.uk
or alternatively here are some useful links:
- Childline, Freepost 1111,
London N1 0BR - Telephone: Freephone 0800 11 11
- NSPCC Child Protection
Helpline, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 2NH -
Telephone Freephone 0800 800 500
- NYAS – Independent &
Confidential Freephone for Young People Needing Advice and
Representation 0800 616 101
- Local Government Ombudsman, 21 Queen
Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9BU - Telephone: 020 7915 3210
- Children’s Rights Director, OFSTED, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway,
London, WC2B 6SE. Telephone: 0800 528 0731 email: theteam.rights4me@ofsted.gov.uk
What about my birth family?
We also offer support and help to birth families.