Find out about adoption

We are able to approve prospective adopters as adopters and foster carers, so that a child can be placed with them at an earlier stage.

Early permanence is chosen for children where adoption is the proposed but not certain outcome of their care.

We are also able to approve adopters as foster carers temporarily for specific children. This happens when it is felt that the child should move in with them at an early stage but a placement order has not yet been secured.

This may be in circumstances where the adopters are already caring for an older brother or sister.

The benefits of an early permanence placement include that:

• the child is able to make attachments to carers from a young age
• if the carers end up adopting the child, they are much less likely to experience difficulties with the child as a result of attachment issues

We recently interviewed Rob, a Buckinghamshire adopter, about how he and his wife came to adopt their daughter through early permanence.

Listen to Rob's interview.

Find out more about early permanence.

Intercountry adoption is when you adopt a child from overseas.

We do not carry out assessments for intercountry adoptions but we do have an agreement with Coram IAC to complete these for us. Coram IAC are a specialist agency for international adoption and will charge a fee for their services to the prospective adopter.

Find out more about intercountry adoption or contact Coram IAC on 0208 447 4753.

If you are considering non-agency adoption or early permanence, contact us to discuss your eligibility and whether this is the best option for you.

Alternatively, you can contact the adoption team on:

• 01494 586 349
• [email protected]

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