Adoption help Post Reply

[morasmum]

We are looking into adoption but I am confused about all the different private agencies and borough teams with their different rules.

any recommendation on how to understand the system better, choose agencies (does it really matter which one? ) or just share your experience would be really appreciate it.

I live in clapham north and belong to Lambeth borough. I have read that it is recommended to look outside your own borough, do you agree?

We've been in the BAAF site, and we have a list of agencies, we are schedule to go to an information evening, but would love to hear any advice you can give.

Thank you

[Jen66]

Hi Morasmum

We wanted to adopt and did our home study through Lambeth - it was about six years ago now and I'm afraid it wasn't a very positive experience.

In the 14 months we were in the system we had four social workers three of whom I wouldn't have trusted to look after the interests of a guinea pig let alone a child. Typically you are assigned a social worker, they go off long-term sick, you get another social worker and so it continues.

Surprisingly the Lambeth adoption unit (at the time) was considered superior to Wandsworth so god knows how bad they must have been.

I am afraid I have no experience of private adoption agencies.

I would recommend that you sign up to receive 'be my parent' as it gives a good idea of the sort of children that need homes, their background and the type of adoptions.

Hopefully things have improved since our time.

Also, I don't know if you've had fertility treatment at all but just be warned that some agencies/authorities will not let you start the ball rolling on adoption until one year after your last treatment.

[Jen66]

Morasmum - I've just looked at your posts and see you have a toddler.

Be aware that the rule used to be that any adoptive child must be the youngest in the house by two years. I don't know if that still stands.