Adoption - the assessment process
On this page you can find out more about the assessment process for people who would like to adopt a child.
Introduction
There's no denying that the whole application and assessment process looks complicated.
Fortunately, it is much more straightforward than it seems at first.
Here we will go through the various stages of the process, outlining exactly what is involved and how long it may take to be approved.
It's important for you to build a clear understanding of the purpose and importance of each of these stages.
Doing this will leave you better equipped to deal with each individual part of the application and assessment process.
It should also make you feel more confident about the process as a whole.
This section has one other important aim.
It explains what you can expect from Lambeth, including the standards we have set ourselves to make the process as efficient as possible.
Our standards are based on the National Standards, and elements of these are identified throughout this website.
Preliminary enquiry
When you contact us to enquire about an adoption home study, we will send you:
Once you have returned the completed initial enquiry form, we will consider within the social work team whether the information you have provided meets our eligibility criteria.
If you do meet the criteria, we will invite you to make an appointment for an initial interview.
If you don't meet the criteria, we will advise you in writing about other options open to you in pursuing adoption applications.
Initial interview
The initial interview is a key part of the process with a number of important purposes.
It enables us to:
- Explore why you want to adopt and how fully you understand the issues and challenges of adoption
- Discuss, and advise you on, any factors which might have an adverse effect on your application, and identify any tasks you may need to complete before proceeding to a formal application
- Answer any questions you may have, outline our practice for preparing and assessing prospective adopters, and confirm your views about working in this way
After the interview we will:
- Decide within the social work team whether we can proceed to a formal application
- Write to let you know our decision and, if it is to proceed, the likely timescale
Formal application
You will need to complete and return a detailed application form.
Then we will take up all the statutory, personal and medical references required both by our procedures and by the law relating to adoption agencies.
Preparation groups
We will invite you to a series of preparation groups. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we'll expect you to attend these (or to have previously attended them) before your assessment begins. You'll find these group sessions very valuable.
Not only do you learn more about adopting, you get to meet and talk with people in the same situation as you. There is an assessment element in the groups as well.
Social workers at the groups will pass information on to the assessing social worker. You can see a copy of this written feedback upon request.
We will ask you to complete and return a written evaluation of these groups after you've finished the series and you are ready to proceed to the assessment stage.
This helps us with your assessment and it also enables us to plan for future groups.
At the completion of the preparation groups, we will identify the assessing social worker from the adoption team who will be undertaking your assessment.
Home study and assessment report
The home study is the cornerstone of the assessment process. Your social worker will carry out an in-depth survey of you within your home.
This enables us to gauge your strengths and weaknesses effectively, and ultimately it helps us determine whether you can provide a loving family and secure home environment for a child.
During the study, your social worker will ask you to undertake a variety of activities and tasks designed to assist your assessment and continuing preparation. This will take the form of a series of interviews.
If applicable, your children and any other members of the household will be interviewed. Additionally, three personal referees and possibly other significant people in your extended family and wider network will be interviewed.
When the assessment is complete your social worker will collate their research in a final draft of your home study report.
The main part of this is the BAAF Form F, which is a detailed summary of the information you have shared with the social worker. We will send you a copy of the report and ask you to sign it.
You will be able to correct any factual errors and, if you wish, you can write observations about the report for our adoption and permanency panel.
Approval
Your social worker will present the home study report, along with any written observations submitted by you, to the Lambeth Adoption and Permanency Panel which you will be invited to attend.
The panel will discuss your application and recommend to the agency whether or not you should be approved to adopt.
Our Agency Decision-Maker will consider your report along with the panel's recommendation, and then come to a decision on whether to approve your application.
You will be informed of the panel's recommendation within 24 hours, and in writing within one week.
This will specify whether the approval is for a specific age range and number or gender of children.
If the Agency Decision-Maker proposes not to approve your application, the reasons for this will be explained to you in writing.
You will have the right, within 28 days, to appeal.
After approval
Once you've been approved, your social worker will visit you to offer lots more advice and assistance.
They will also arrange to see you when you receive information about a specific child and following the placement of a child with you.
Our support doesn't end there either. We will be available to you at any time in the future. In fact, we will gladly provide news or offer any help we can. And if you feel you don't need to maintain contact, that's fine with us too. As long as the child is within a loving, secure family, we're happy.
Contact details
To begin a discussion with us about adoption, please submit the register my interest form or phone our free phone number: 0800 952 2926.