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Parents and Family Members Whose Children are Being Adopted - Information and Standards
We recognise that the adoption of your child is a life changing and often traumatic experience.
If a child cannot remain in the care of her/his birth family, the Family Placement Team works very hard to match them with a suitable adoptive family who is able to provide a safe and secure home where they will be well cared for and given good opportunities. The service is also committed to keeping siblings together when this is in their interest and practically possible.
Will I receive any support?
When adoption is planned for a child, we provide a range of information and support services for birth family members which can continue after the legal adoption has taken place. In most cases, birth family members will continue to receive some information on their child at regular intervals as the child is growing up.
You can expect that:
- You will be consulted on your wishes for your child’s future
- Written information about you and your family will be provided to the adopters for your child to have in later life. You will be consulted about the content of this
- All records relating to your child will be kept safely and securely, and will not be accessible to the child until they are 18 years old, and then only on request
- You will be consulted about the possibility of establishing a letter box arrangement to enable you and your child’s adopters to exchange information at intervals
- In most cases, birth parents and sometimes other relatives are offered the opportunity to meet with their child’s prospective adopters at the time their child is placed
- In most cases, the service will be informed if an adopted child develops hereditary health problems or dies during childhood. In these circumstances, every attempt will be made to trace and inform birth parents
