Our Journey

For those outside the world of adoption, here is some information about the process we have been through so far from online. We are currently checking the drafted form F with our social worker via e-mail!

Assessment Form
The Form F assessment process is a nationally recognised format for the assessment of potential adopters and has been designed by the British Agency for Adoption & Fostering. The home study is demanding and can feel intrusive, but there are good reasons why everything is explored in depth. Adoption is for life and the agency must be sure that the candidates are right for the role. Just as importantly, they must be certain the new parents can make a success of it. Adopters have a crucial role to play at this time, the assessment is a collaborative one with applicants providing evidence of their skills, experience and knowledge to show their competence and understanding confirmed by the social worker's views.

The assessment explores:

Your experience (if any) of caring for children
Providing a safe and caring environment
Working as part of a team
Your understanding of adoption as a lifelong process
Your own childhood and family background and what that has contributed to who you are today
Any previous serious relationships
Any children already in the family
Your understanding of circumstances that lead to children not being able to live with their birth families, and how you think that may affect them
The kind of child you want, and that would fit in with your lifestyle / interests / and personalities.
How you think you might respond to the challenges of parenting.

This is what comes next!!

Adoption Panel

The Adoption Panel consists of up to 10 members from among the following:

An independent chairperson
A locally elected Councillor
2 social workers with at least 3 years experience.
3 independent members drawn from adults who have experience of adoption (ie adopted, been adopted themselves), or who have knowledge of the care system, or professional work with children (ie teachers)
A legal advisor
A medical advisor
An agency adoption advisor
Additionally there is a Panel administrator, who takes the minutes.

Sound fun! From what we hear the 10 people are kind and not at all scary. Lets hope we remember that on June 17th!! Hope this makes the process a little clearer.