There are now fewer babies placed by their mothers for adoption but there are still some circumstances where the mother, for a variety of reasons, does not feel able to bring her baby up and believes that the best decision she can make for her child is for him or her to be placed for adoption.
Making the decision whether or not to keep a baby is a very big very difficult decision for any woman to make.
In these circumstances we offer counselling from a social worker which gives the mother opportunity to weigh up all the factors and how this might impact on her to consider not only immediately but throughout the years.
Part of this will be advising and talking around the legal position in respect of the father are other family members who may need to know. Each situation is different so it is important that this is discussed fully and advice given.
If the decision is to place the baby for adoption then arrangements will be made for them to go to foster carers , The mother can choose whether she wishes to see the baby whilst in foster care and sometimes it is during this period that she changes her mind.
Once an adoptive family has been identified the worker will talk to her about them, sometimes there will be a choice of more than one family, she will already have had discussions about the sort of family she would wish her child to be placed with, for example religion may be important and we always try to match the child to a family with similar background, ethnicity to the natural parents.
There is also the opportunity to meet the prospective adopters once the match of the child to the adopters has been agreed at the Adoption Panel.
For anyone who is is considering their baby being adopted they should contact the duty social worker at Children and Young People's Service Community Team, on 01924 483700 or 01484 222001 as it is these workers who provide the initial counselling for any mother in this position. They will then arrange to meet at an agreed location.
All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.
Alternatively please contact the Family Placement Team on 01924 483707 or fill in the Gateway to Care enquiry form.