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What are adoption support services?
"The Adoption Support Social Worker really helped us to understand how the difficult
behaviour our daughter was showing at school was linked with her early life. She pointed us in the right direction
and we felt so supported by the team." Who can ask for adoption support and where can it be obtained?Adoptive families can ask the borough their child or children came from to assess their need for adoption support services for up to three years after the adoption order was made. They will then help you to contact the local authority where you live for any further help you may need. If your adoption was arranged through a voluntary adoption agency, it is likely they will advise you how best to access services, and from whom. If you are an adoptive family where the adoption order was made at least three years ago, the local authority where you live will assess your needs for adoption support services. Adopted children under the age of 18 can also ask for an assessment, for example if they want to talk to someone who is independent about contact arrangements or any other aspect of adoption. Birth children in adoptive families can also request an assessment for certain services, for example counselling, advice and information. If you adopted from overseas, there are also some services for which you are entitled to be assessed. People who adopt a child who is related to them are also entitled to assessment for counselling, advice and information. If you would like to find out more about adoption support services and are unsure how to start, please contact the Adoption or Adoption Support Team of the Local Authority in which you live and they will be pleased to advise you. Details of consortium contacts are given at the bottom of this page. Assessment and servicesTo assess the need for support services, an Adoption Support social worker will request details of your circumstances and your child's needs. For example if there are extra expenses because your adopted child has a disability, you may get help with these costs. Here are other examples of services that may be offered following an assessment Counselling, advice and informationAdoptive parents can be given counselling, advice and information by the adoption support services at any time. Adopted children are also entitled to therapeutic services to assist them with their understanding of adoption and becoming part of a new family. Contact arrangementsContact arrangements between a child and their birth family are usually agreed before an adoption order is granted, with the frequency and type of contact set out in a signed agreement. They can be reviewed in the light of a child's needs over time, in which case the original agreement would be updated. The different types of contact are:Letterbox contact: This is sometimes called 'indirect contact'. Adopted children and their birth families can maintain contact through the exchange of written information like birthday cards and newsletters, and sometimes photographs. This is a confidential service managed individually by each borough's adoption and permanence team within the consortium. Direct contact: This is face-to-face contact between the adoptive family and the child's birth family. NLAC social workers help in preparing everyone for contact, and assist with practical arrangements such as providing a suitable place to meet, supervision of contact (if required), and sometimes help with expenses. Adoption Support social workers can also offer a mediation service if there are disagreements about contact or if changes in contact need to be discussed. Support groupsEvents are held that provide an opportunity for you to meet other adoptive families and staff. We would also suggest that you meet others by joining the local group of Adoption UK who have a programme of events for adoptive families, and British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) have a support group for black adopters. "The annual picnic has become the most important event in our social calendar - Kyron loves being part
of a big group of adopted kids rather than the only one at school" Training and workshopsBoroughs in the North London Adoption Consortium are planning an annual programme of training based on topics adoptive families have requested, for example 'contact', exploring and explaining adoption and life story work. In addition adoption support social workers can advise on training provided by other agencies such as the Post Adoption Centre to which all boroughs in the consortium belong. Parents who have adopted through a borough in the consortium should receive mailings throughout the year to let them know about workshops, seminars, groups and other events that might be of interest to them. If you would like to receive this information, this can be arranged through your Adoption Support Team. Financial supportEntitlement to financial support to help with any extra costs of looking after the child, depend on the adoptive parents' financial resources. Payments may be in the form of a lump sum or ongoing regular payments, which are subject to annual review. Financial support is not an automatic entitlement. Social workers also help adoptive families to find out about payments they may be eligible to receive through the benefit system, such as Disabled Living Allowance and tax credits. Contact the adoption support service for more information. Information on adoption leave and Pay here. Additional informationFor further details of adoption support services for adoptive parents and adopted children, please contact any of the organisations listed on our links page. As a partnership The North London Adoption Consortium also holds support events - see our news and events page - to give you as many ways as possible to get support, should you need it. We recently held an open day for adoptive parents: "The support event was a great day and it was so reassuring to hear other people having the same sort of issues and to be able to have a laugh together. The children too seemed to really enjoy being with other children who were like themselves." The North/North-West London ADOPTION UKThe North/North-West London ADOPTION UK group is a lively and active group, with new members joining all the time. All meetings are open to prospective adopters, those being assessed or waiting for placement, and those who have already adopted. Please telephone us if you are not yet a member of our local group and are interested in coming along for a chat to one of our coffee mornings or evenings, which are held monthly. We also have a single adopters' group that meets every few months. We hold a key meeting every term with a specific theme and we issue three newsletters per year. Events for all the family are held every few months and prospective adopters are equally welcome at family get-togethers - it is a great opportunity to talk to other parents. We hold an annual picnic and regular events such as swimming, walks in the park or our ever-popular trip to the ice rink, when we have the rink all to ourselves for one and a half hours! Visit web site
North/North-West London Group Cathy 020 8449 1030 or Send an Email Adoption UK was established in 1971 and is the only national self-help group run by and for adoptive parents and foster carers, offering support before, during and after adoption. Their membership represents a diverse range of adoptive parents and families, including couples, single parents, ethnic minorities and multi-racial families, lesbian and gay adopters and families with disabilities. Whether you are considering adoption, in the process of assessment, awaiting a placement or established as an adoptive family, Adoption UK will support and encourage you. Adoption Support Contact Details:
London Borough of Barnet London Borough of Camden London Borough of Enfield London Borough of Haringey London Borough of Islington |
