Agency adoptions involve the placement of children who are in the care of a Local Authority. These children have usually had a difficult early start in life. Most will be at least two years of age. Some may have a brother(s) and/or sister(s) with whom they need to be placed. Some may have specific health or medical problems and many have delayed development.

All Local Authority Children’s Services Departments are responsible for:

• The placement of children for Adoption who are in the care of the Local Authority and the support of their adoptive placements.
• The provision of counselling and support services to the parents of children who are to be or who have been placed for adoption and to other close birth family relatives.
• The preparation and approval of prospective adopters.
• The provision of support services to adopted children, and members of their adoptive families where placements are in difficulty.
• The provision of support services to adopted adults who are living in or originate from the Local Authority area and who are seeking access to their previous In Care and/or Adoption records and/or are seeking to re-establish contact (indirect or direct) with members of their birth families.

More information is in our adoption agency policy and statement of purpose.