UK Adoption Process

Nugent Adoption welcomes enquiries from individuals and couples from all walks of life regardless of marital or employment status, religion or ethnic background, whether you have a disability, are a homeowner or living in rented accommodation, have no children or are proven parents. Most importantly you must be able to offer a secure, loving and nurturing home environment to a child or children who have had a difficult start in life. You will need to be in good health, have commitment, patience and lots of energy and you will definitely need a good sense of humour. Having a good support network of friends and family is also a huge bonus.

There is no upper age limit if you wish to adopt, but you must be over 21 years of age, a UK resident and hold no criminal convictions against children. We also ask that if you are a couple, you have been in a stable and committed relationship for a minimum of 2 years.

The Process

1. You contact us to discuss your enquiry. We will send you an information pack and enquiry paperwork.
2. You return the General Enquiry form.
3. We visit you at your home to discuss your plan to adopt. Following this visit a ‘Registration of Interest’ (ROI) form is given to you.
4. You then return the ROI form.

Stage 1

We aim to complete this part of the process within two months.

1. You are allocated a Social Worker who will come and meet you and gather basic information.
2. Necessary checks are completed, including criminal records checks, local authority, medicals, employment references and personal references.
3. Health and safety checks on your home, as well as any pet assessments, are completed.

• Once all checks are returned with no concerns you will progress to Stage 2.

Stage 2

We aim to complete this part of the process within four months.

1. Formal application and plan for assessment completed.
2. Between eight and ten assessment visits are completed by the Social Worker.
3. Personal referees are visited by your Social Worker.
4. The Prospective Adopter’s Report (PAR) is written and submitted to the panel.
5. Your application is heard before an approved panel. A recommendation is made by the panel as to whether you are suitable to adopt.

• This is then referred to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM).
• The ADM will either ratify the panel’s recommendation or could disagree with this decision. Once the ADM approves you as suitable to adopt, you become an approved adoptive family.
• The social work team begin the process of ‘family finding’. This means trying to find the right child/ren for you and supporting you through this process; from identifying the child/ren through to placement with you and eventually the legal adoption.