Adopting a child

The life you change will be yours

There are many children who need adoptive parents, as it is not possible for their birth parents to raise them. In Waltham Forest we have children of different ages and sibling groups from many different backgrounds, culture and religions and we need families to reflect this.

Who can adopt?

All sorts of people can make a success of adoption.

You can be from any background, either single or a couple, married or unmarried, lesbian or gay. You have to be over 21. You may own or rent your home, be in or out of work and be from any cultural or religious background.

The child needs your love… and more

The important thing is that you are able to offer a child your love and support and that you can provide a stable and nurturing home while they grow up. You will need plenty of patience, humour and energy. Above all, you need to be determined to give a child the kind of love or support that will really make a difference to their lives.

You won’t be alone

We provide lots of help and support though the whole process from deciding to adopt to having a child come to live with you. We are here to support all members of the family at any time when help is needed, both now and in the future, and can assist in making links to other services.

What you will need

• Patience, humour and energy
• Support from your family and friends

What we offer

• Information, training and support
• Information and advice from Post Adoption Support Services – this is available to anyone affected by adoption

Statement of Purpose

Adopters Charter 

Adoption Assessment Team

Waltham Forest has a very well established and experienced Adoption Team.  The staff are involved in recruitment of Adopters as well as identifying families for the looked after children who need to be adopted.  We welcome all enquiries and we are looking for a broad range of families from backgrounds that reflect the population of the Local Authority.  For those who wish to proceed beyond an initial enquiry, we will offer a home visit so we can discuss your personal circumstances in more detail. 

We may not always be able to proceed with your enquiry, however we will provide you with information of other appropriate agencies who could assist you.

We are always interested in hearing from people who can consider older children, sibling groups and children from multiple cultural backgrounds for adoption. 

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Want to know more?

As a first step 'phone 020 8496 1588 and ask for our adoption information pack, alternatively please attend our next Adoption Open Evening: 

• Monday 22 July 2013
  6.30-8.30pm (presentation commences at 6.45pm)
  Waltham Forest Town Hall
  Forest Road, E17 4JF
  
  
• Thursday 19 September 2013
  6.30-8.30pm (presentation commences at 6.45pm)
  Waltham Forest Town Hall
  Forest Road, E17 4JF
  
  
• Wednesday 20 November 2013
  6.30-8.30pm (presentation commences at 6.45pm)
  Waltham Forest Town Hall
  Forest Road, E17 4JF

There will be a short presentation about the Adoption process and Adopter speaking about their experiences.  There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and to speak to our Adoption Staff with regards to your individual circumstances.

“I’m ecstatic, it has been a turbulent few months waiting for the final decision to be made. I am so glad I can give Erica a better life with our family”.
A Waltham Forest adopter

Post Adoption Support Services

Post Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Team Profile

Waltham Forest Post Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Services work with adopted adults who are over 18 years old, with adoptive parents and their children as well as with birth relatives. We also offer an access to records service to ex-care leavers who are over 25 years of age.

We are a designated team to provide a service for these client groups and work independently, but closely, with the adoption team.

We are a team, consisting of social workers and a team manager.  We have a duty service every weekday morning from 9am-1pm. Our telephone number is 020-8496 1594.

Anyone affected by Adoption and Special Guardianship can request an assessment and we will see how best we can help. We welcome enquiries from people who live in the borough.

Our service is aimed at supporting birth parents, birth relatives, adopted adults and ex care leavers at any stage of their experience as well as adoptive parents with their adopted children.

We offer regular support to Special Guardians in the form of a support group.  The group is facilitated by social workers and meets locally once a month during school-term times.

People can ask for help at any time during their lives, as there is no time limit attached to us providing the information you are looking for. Sometimes we sign post you to another agency who works in partnership with us.

We have teamed up with the Post-Adoption Centre (PAC) whose head office is in Kentish Town. PAC offers free, locally-based, counselling sessions to adopted adults, birth fathers, birth mothers and other birth family members, as well as to adoptive and permanent foster carers, prospective adopters and parents who have experienced placement breakdown. PAC has particular expertise in supporting black and minority ethnic children and their families and in transracial adoption.

The sessions take place in Walthamstow and are held during the daytime, usually on a Thursday. Six sessions are available in each financial year. If the counsellor advises more sessions, then this can be considered. If adoptive parents are in a partnership, both parents are requested to attend all sessions. Generally, the counsellors do not see the adopted children.

Appointments can be made by contacting PAC’s Advice Line on 020 7284 5879 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10am - 1pm, as well as on Wednesday and  Thursday evenings 5.30 - 7.30pm. This is the number to contact for telephone counselling or support, or for advice on any adoption related matter. You can visit their web site at www.postadoptioncentre.org.uk

For further information contact Arnoldus Coppens, Team Manager Post Adoption  and Special Guardianship Support Services on 020 8496 1591 or e-mail arnoldus.coppens@walthamforest.gov.uk

Information for children: the child's guide to adoption

You can download our Children's Guide to Adoption (PDF) to help children understand more about adoption and what it means for them.

We are also able to provide copies of the "Adoption: what it is and what it means" guide produced by BAAF www.baaf.org.uk for older children. Please email jane.anderson@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information.

Adoption UK - Adoptive parents needed

Waltham Forest has teamed up with Adoption UK, a national self-help charity providing information, support, and encouragement and training to prospective adopters, adoptive parents, long-term foster carers and all those who work with them.

Adoption UK is continuing to expand its network of local support groups and in partnership with The London Borough of Waltham Forest encourages and welcomes:

Adoptive parents

• To participate in bi-monthly group meetings
• To encourage and support each other
• To identify particular issues for workshops and training

A local group co-ordinator is needed:

• To set up and run local group meetings for prospective adopters and adoptive parents
• To encourage and support local members
• To liaise with local agencies

For group co-ordinators Adoption UK will provide full induction and on-going training, support, supervision and free membership of Adoption UK. You will be an adoptive parent, with the time, space, empathy and commitment to provide practical and emotional support to others; with a good understanding of adoption and adoptive parenting issues; and good listening skills.

For more information on volunteering contact
Sabera Dastyar
Regional Coordinator, London and South, Adoption UK

Email sabera@adoptionuk.org.uk

Adoption UK Helpline 0844 8487900

AAA-NORCAP

The main beneficiaries of AAA-NORCAP are adopted adults. Much of their work follows birth record counselling, access to adoption files and search and reunion services. There is a strong and thriving tradition of mutual support, listening ear provision and the sharing of experiences that encompasses all the complex responses that may arise in adults whose lives have been touched by adoption.

For further information call 01865 875 000 or visit www.norcap.org.uk.

Complaints

At times, you may disagree with our decisions or think that you should be provided with a particular service. If this happens, you have a right to discuss your views with a manager and to receive a written response.

We want to know what has gone wrong or what we could do better, because we care about the quality of service we provide or is provided on our behalf.

If you are a prospective adopter, a separate appeals procedure applies to some types of complaints, depending on whether the complaint is about services to you or the child you look after. You should contact the Complaints Team for more details.

Contacting the Complaints Team

Complaints Manager
Social Care Complaints Team
Residents First
Walthamstow Town Hall
Forest Road
E17 4JF

Tel 020 8496 3000 (ask for the Complaints Manager for Children’s Social Services)
Minicom 020 8496 3010 (for deaf and hard of hearing users only)
Email complaints@walthamforest.gov.uk

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