How to Adopt

• Referral
• Criteria
• Children
• CRB Disclosure
• Reference Checks
• Preparation Groups

Preparation Groups

We feel it's important to explain why adopters are asked to come to preparation groups - and to let you know what to expect.

The preparation groups are based on the BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering) material, ‘Preparing to Adopt’, It is nationally recognised training, which meets an agreed standard.

 

 

Preparing you for Adoption

There is some general information about adoption that all adopters need to be aware of and the preparation groups are a good way of telling you about this. They also allow you to meet other people who want to adopt. You'll meet people who have already adopted and they'll be able to tell you what it's like.

The preparation groups don't teach you how to be a parent but they will help you to understand the extra things that adopters need to know.

All prospective adopters need to attend the adoption preparation groups before the Adoption Panel can consider their application for approval and make a recommendation.

We plan to run three sets of groups in a year, and you can let us know when in the year you would prefer to come.

A preparation group is run for five days, starting at 10am and finishing at 4pm with breaks for drinks and lunch. They will usually be held over two weeks, and you will be given enough notice of the dates to be able to plan your absence from work.

You will need to buy a training book to accompany the groups, which contains useful material and provides space to write about your thoughts, feelings, and learning as you go through the process. You are expected to read this, and to fill in the pages which ask for your thoughts and comments. We will make a charge of £25 for the book. This is slightly less than it costs us to buy them.

A social worker and experienced adoptive parent will lead the preparation groups.

 

The Five Days

The aim of the preparation groups is to prepare
you for the process and the reality of adoptive parenting.
There is a lot of information to consider.

You will learn about:

• the process of adoption
• the children, and the reasons why they need adoptive families - including the effects of abuse
• the impact of disadvantage and discrimination
• child development
• children's behaviour
• how children can be helped to understand their own family history.

You will also have the opportunity to think about the ways you can make a positive difference to the lives of the children you will become parents to - through adoption.

Being an adoptive parent is a life-long learning experience and the preparation groups are only the start.