Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
Adoption Team
Moor House
Widemarsh Common
Hereford
HR4 9NA
Office Tel No: 01432 383240
Adoption
What is adoption?
Adoption is a way of providing new families for children who are unable to live with their own parents or families. It is a legal process that joins a child permanently with a new family. All the rights and responsibilities of parents are transferred to the adoptive parents, making the child a full member of the new family.
Who are the children?
We are always seeking adoptive homes for children aged 3 years and above, groups of brothers and sisters and children with physical and learning difficulties.
Some younger children also need adoptive homes - their birth parents may have used alcohol and drugs during their pregnancy, or have mental health problems, which might affect the child as they grow up.
Some children will have very complicated histories and in most cases the court will have decided that they cannot remain in their birth families.
Why do children need adoption?
Children who need permanent families are usually already "in care" and placed with short term foster carers. They will be unable, for various reasons to return to their birth parents. Some children will have been neglected, had very unsettled lives, or have been subject to physical or sexual abuse. Emotional neglect can be as damaging as physical neglect and children have to learn to feel secure and to trust again.
What about the birth family?
It is natural and right for a child to want to know about his or her birth family and it is therefore important that adoptive parents are able to have an understanding and acceptance of the birth parents as part of the child's life.
Adopters are usually expected to provide some information about the children's progress to their birth family each year and we ask birth families to provide the same for the adoptive family. Some adoptive children may continue to meet with members of their birth families.
The law requires that all adopted children should grow up knowing about their adoption and allows them at 18 years to have access to their original birth records. There is a move towards greater openness in adoption and prospective adopters will need to consider what degree of openness they can accept.
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Charity site: supports, advises and campaigns for better outcomes for children in care
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Government site: Department for Education
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Government site: Directgov provides a single point of online access to government services and information - including employment, financial support, rights, education, independent living and much more.
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Charity site: Adoption UK is a national charity run by and for adopters, providing self-help information, advice, support and training on all aspects of adoption and adoptive parenting.
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Herefordshire Adoption Agency Statement of Purpose
Herefordshire Adoption Services Recruitment Strategy
Herefordshire Adoption Agency Statement of Purpose for Children over 5
Herefordshire Adoption Agency Statement of Purpose for Children under 5If you need help to understand a document, or would like it in another format or language, please call 01432 260500 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk
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