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Adoption Procedures
Adoption Service, Family Placement Unit - October 2007
family.placement@kirklees.gov.uk
| Contact us |
| By email to: |
lynrose.kirby@kirklees.gov.uk |
| By phone: |
01924 483706 |
| In writing to: |
Family Placement Unit
Westfields
Westfields Road
Mirfield
WF14 9PW |
What is the procedure to adopt a child?
The adoption process is two-fold; there is an adoption process for
adopters and a process for the child who will be adopted.
For people wishing to adopt a child the process involves:
- Initial enquiry with the family placement unit Initial Contact Form
- An information pack being sent out
- Completing and returning Registration of Interest form
- An initial meeting with a Social Worker
- Preparation groups
- Form F - Assessment
- Presentation to adoption panel - Approval
- Search to identify a suitable child
For the child - the process involves:
- A Child accommodated by Local Authority for a number of different reasons
- Care proceedings - commence
- Presentation to Adoption Panel
- Care proceedings completed
- Adopters identified
The match:
- Information provided to adopters
- Match to Adoption Panel
- Planning Meeting
- Visits to the child for 1 to 4 weeks
- Child is placed for adoption
- Support Visits by child's social worker and adopters social worker
- Periodic Reviews
- Application to Court
- Report to Court by social workers
- Adoption Hearing
- Adoption Order made
Adoption
Adoption is a legal process by which new parents or parent take on all the rights and responsibilities of natural parents.
The adopted child usually takes the surname of the family and becomes a permanent part of their family in the same way as if the child had been born to them.
Adoption Leave
If you are adopting as a single applicant we will expect you to take at least 6 months adoption leave if you work. If you are adopting as part of a couple one partner will be expected to take at least 6 months adoption leave if you both work.
Is there an age limit for adopters?
No, but applicants will be considered in relation to the age and needs
of the child. It would be unusual for it to be in a child's best interests
to be placed with adopters where there was much more than a 40 year
age gap between the age of the child and that of the adopters.
Do people have to live in Kirklees in order to adopt via Kirklees social services?
We accept applications from Kirklees residents and residents of the
local authorities which share a boundary with Kirklees for example
Bradford, Leeds, Barnsley, Calderdale etc.
Do I have to be married to adopt?
Single people can adopt. Couples inc same sex couples can adopt whether they are married or not, provided they have been in a current relationship for at least 2 years.
I am seeing my doctor for infertility treatment; can I apply to adopt in case it doesn't work out?
It must be at least 6 months since you had any infertility investigations
or treatment before we will accept an application from you.
Why do children need to be adopted?
Most children will have been abused, neglected or have come from a
family where they are at risk of this.
Can I adopt a baby?
At this time we are accepting applications for adopters for children aged 0-3 from people who live in Huddersfield. We will accept applications from those people who live in North Kirklees or one of our neighbouring authorities, and who wish to adopt a baby or child in the 0 to 3 age range. This list will be continually reviewed and we will close again if necessary.
Are Asian or Caribbean people needed as adopters?
Yes, definitely! We need adopters for children of Asian, African, African Caribbean and especially mixed parentage aged upto 10 years old.
I am of White British origins. Can I adopt a black or mixed parentage child?
We do our best to match children with parents of the same background as this best meets the children's needs.
I am interested in adopting a child from abroad. How do I go about this?
Kirklees Council has arranged for an inter-country adoption service to be provided by a voluntary adoption agency, called Adoption Matters Northwest. Adoption Matters Northwest is based at 14 Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1AE. The telephone number is 01244 390938.
If you wish to continue with an inter-country adoption please contact Adoption Matters Northwest who will arrange to send you information about procedures relevant to the country you wish to adopt from. They will also discuss their procedures with you in relation to proceeding and making a formal application.
You will not be charged for the initial visit by the social worker from Adoption Matters Northwest but you will need to pay for a full assessment if you wish this to take place.
If you adopt from a country where the adoption order is either not made before the child is brought back to England or where the adoption order is made abroad but not recognised in Britain, then you will need to inform us when you bring the child back into the country as we will be required to visit the child until such time as an adoption order is made in an English Court.
There are a lot of children in this country in need of adoption. The process is shorter to adopt a child from this country and you will not be charged for the assessment, so please think carefully before considering inter-country adoption.
Is there any other adoption agencies that will assess me other than Kirklees?
Please contact British
Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) on 0870
241 0663 who will be able to give you a list of Adoption Agencies
in the area.
How long does the adoption process take in general?
Once you have completed preparation groups and submitted an application form we
will aim to get your application to our adoption panel within 6 months. The length
of time it takes to identify the right child for your family varies between a
few months and over a year.
How do I find out more?
Please contact a member of the Adoption Team on 01924
483706 during office hours or out of office hours you can leave
a message on our answer phone on 0800 389
0086. Alternatively you can write to:
The Adoption Team Manager
Family Placement Unit
Westfields
Westfields Road
Mirfield
WF14 9PW.
It is useful for us to discuss your application with you at an early
stage so please leave a number on which you can be contacted and details
of when we can call you back.
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