Adoption FAQ's
- What type of people are we looking for?
There is no such thing as a typical adopter. We welcome people from a variety of different backgrounds, experiences and circumstances. We need people who are able to offer a genuine commitment to children. - Do I need to have a particular type of accommodation?
No. You may own your home, rent from the council or rent privately. What is more important is that you can provide enough space to accommodate a child or children in your home.
The minimum age to adopt is 21 years. We are able to consider applications from people aged up to 55 years. Your age will be taken into account when considering the age of the child you could adopt.
To be considered for adoption you will need to have ended any infertility investigations or treatment at least 6 months ago.
No, we welcome applications from single people, female or male, married or unmarried couples and people who are divorced or widowed. From 30th December 2005 unmarried couples have been able to jointly adopt.
We will not approve people who smoke to care for children aged under two years or for children with respiratory problems.
Everyone in a household over 18 will have a "police check". Anyone with a conviction for violence or against children will not be considered as an adopter. Any other convictions or cautions within the last five years would need to be discussed.
At an early stage applicants have a medical check-up with their own doctor, which we pay for. Adoption can be stressful and people need to be physically able to do the job. However, if you are in remission after cancer or have had a heart attack in the past, you could still be considered as an adopter. It is unlikely that we would proceed with an applicant who is undergoing treatment for a serious mental health problem which is of recent origin (in the last year). As all circumstances and conditions differ please discuss this with us to see if you can proceed with your application.
