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Criteria For Adopting Children Over the Age of 2 and for Sibling Groups

 Age

  • All applicants must be over 21 years old

  • Applicants should be able to parent a child until they reach the age of independence

Status

Applications will be accepted from

 

  • Single applicants

  • Married couples

  • Non married couples (including same sex couples).  However, legally only one partner can adopt.  Legislation regarding this will alter within the next two years.  Please discuss with your social worker.

Fertility

  • Applications will be accepted from enquirers both with or without children

  • Applications will not be accepted from enquirers currently undergoing any form of infertility treatment or who are on a waiting list  for treatment

 

Residence

  • Enquiries will be considered from residents within West Dunbartonshire and surrounding areas, providing that applicants are willing to travel to West Dumbarton for preparation groups and other meetings.

Brothers

Preparatory Groups

  • Enquirers must attend preparatory groups prior to making a formal application.  Information will be provided at that stage about the current legal framework with respect to adoption.

Resource

  • Applications will only be accepted from enquirers who are willing to consider children from a range of backgrounds.  The majority of children placed for adoption have suffered emotional damage through neglect or abuse.

Ethnic Origin, Cultural Background, Language and Religion

  • Applications are welcome from all sections of the community.

Birth Family Contact

  • Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to sharing appropriate information about the child’s birth family and the circumstances of the adoption with the child throughout his/her childhood and thereafter.

  • Applicants must be prepared to meet with birth family members if requested to do so.

Local Authority, Health and Employment and Police Checks

  • All applicants and other members of their household over the age of 18 will be subject to local authority, health and Disclosure Scotland checks.

  • All applicants will require to give their written permission to the Agency Medical Adviser seeking information and reports from any health professional who has had contact with the applicants.

  • All applicants will require to be medically examined by their GP and a confidential report will be submitted to the Medical Advisor to the Adoption Panel.

References

  • Applicants will require to provide names and addresses of three referees who are known to the applicants.  These should be people who have known both applicants and who can testify to their relationship, character and behaviour one should be a family member.  Referees will be interviewed as part of the assessment process.

Changes in Circumstances

  • If an applicant’s circumstances change significantly during the course of the assessment process, advice may be sought at an early stage from the Adoption Panel.

  •  If the applicant has been accepted but has given false information or knowingly withheld information then this will also be presented to the Adoption Panel.

The Adoption Panel

  • It will be the aim to complete the assessment process 6 months after signing the application form.

  • Applicants will be invited to the adoption panel which considers their assessment or approval.

  • Applicants may be accompanied by a family member or friend.

  • If an application is refused the applicants have a right to request a review of the decision.

  • Applicants will be advised of the Adoption Panel’s recommendation within one working day.

  • In the event of the decision maker not approving an application, applicants will be informed of the reasons in writing within two weeks of the decision being made.

  • Applicants will have the opportunity to have the decision reviewed by a different Adoption Panel and decision maker whose decision will be final.