Adoption frequently asked questions

Adoption is the opportunity to give a child, who can no longer be cared for by their birth family, a loving family to belong to for the rest of their lives, who will commit to them, nurture them and advocate for them, and give them a safe and settled home for good. When you adopt a child, you become their legal parents. Children of all ages and both genders are waiting to be adopted, but many of those waiting are over the age of three, or may have complex additional needs, or health issues. Children from Black or minority ethnic backgrounds often wait longer, as do children in sibling groups.

Many people are able to adopt. Single people and couples can apply to adopt, as can people of any sexuality or gender identity, people from all faiths and none, those who own their own home and those who rent. Home for Good is not an adoption agency so we do not assess prospective adopters, but we support and journey with anyone exploring adoption and going through the assessment process.

There are very few things that exclude you from applying to adopt, but you do need to be over 21 and have a permanent home in the UK and have lived in the UK for at least a year before you apply. There is no upper age limit, although your age will be considered as part of the assessment, as will any criminal records you may hold.

Yes, although social workers will need to ensure you can provide a stable environment for a child or children as they grow up. Being on a low income should not stop you from adopting if you can show you are able to meet a child’s needs both now and in the future.

This will be considered as part of your assessment but will not necessarily stop you from adopting. If you are adopting as a couple then you will be assessed together and your support network will also be considered. All potential adopters are required to have a full medical and explain how they manage any ongoing health issues, and if you have had a time of ill health then there may need to be period of recovery before your assessment.

Yes! Generally you will need to wait a minimum of two years after having birth children before applying to adopt, and it is usually advised that you adopt children that are younger than your birth children so as to maintain the birth order. Your birth children will be considered as part of the assessment, and where appropriate, social workers may talk about it with them. Your parenting experience will likely be a strong asset to your application.

People come to adoption in many different ways and for some it is because they have been unable to conceive birth children naturally or through fertility treatment. This will likely have been an emotional, invasive and difficult process for you and may have been ongoing for a long time, so it is advised that you wait at least a year after completing any fertility treatment before applying to adopt, to allow you time to process this and prepare yourself for the adoption assessment. Throughout all these experiences we hope you are able to share your feelings and struggles with close friends, family and your church community, so you are supported with love and prayer.

It’s so wonderful you’re considering adoption! There are no fixed rules about how long a couple has needed to live together before making an application to adopt, but some agencies and local authorities may advise that you need to have lived together for at least a year, and others may say two years. You can still register your interest and it is best to enquire and clarify this at the initial stage before you make an application.

As long as your pet(s) does not pose any threat to a child’s health or safety this should not be a barrier to your application, although it is something your social worker will assess. In many cases, pets are actually a positive aspect of your family as they can be very therapeutic for children.

Home for Good has met hundreds of Christian adopters from all over the UK and for many their faith was seen as an asset because of their compassionate nature and the strong support network of the church community. It’s certainly not automatic that all Christians will be suitable adopters and therefore be approved, but neither should this be an immediate reason for refusal. If you have not been successful in a previous application we would suggest you ask for detailed feedback on the reasons for this.

The children you adopt will be matched with you by social workers and they will take your faith into account during the matching process. You will need to support your children and consider how to engage them with faith and church in an age-appropriate way, and also keep in mind the child’s character and previous experiences – if they have never been to church you will need to introduce them carefully, especially if they are uncomfortable in large groups or with new people. As with any child it is important they are empowered to explore their own faith throughout their life and be able to make their own choices.

Christians have varying views on a range of sensitive issues such as sexuality, gendered roles, discipline and other religions. It is important for you to think carefully about these subjects as social workers will need to discuss them with you. This is not because they are trying to challenge you, but because they need to know how your opinions and beliefs might impact a child in your care, and to ensure you will treat a child with unconditional love and respect. If you want to adopt as a couple you should talk about these things prior to meeting your social worker.

It is important that you are entirely honest with your social worker and they will be very keen to understand why you want to adopt. Therefore, if faith is a motivating factor it is important you explain this clearly, and in a way that it is easy for someone who might not have any experience of the Christian faith to understand. Home for Good has worked with many social workers, and the majority recognise that faith is a motivating factor and see that as a positive attribute to a Christian’s application.