If you’re thinking of adopting again, you’re probably wondering how the process differs from the first time around. In today’s blog, we’re outlining the difference between initial approval, and the process for approved adopters.
What Do We Mean by ‘Approved Adopters’?
In order to adopt a child in the UK, prospective adopters have to undergo a rigorous assessment process overseen by a local authority (LA) or an adoption agency.
At the end of this process, the potential adopters go before an independent panel, who then make a recommendation to the agency decision-maker about whether or not they should be approved to adopt.
Once an adopter is approved, they are then matched with a child or children, and after a process of planned introductions, the children will move in.
After the children have been living with their new family for at least ten weeks, the adopters can apply for an adoption court order to become their legal parents.
Adopting For a Second Time
Sometimes, first-time adopters will adopt more than one child at once, for example, if they adopt a group of siblings. Other times, an adopter might adopt a single child, but later down the line, they might decide that the time is right to grow their family by adopting again.
This means that some adopters find themselves adopting for a second (or even third or fourth!) time at a later date.
While these adopters still undergo a robust assessment to ensure they can meet the needs of the new child or children joining their family, the process is slightly different the second time around.
The Adoption Process For Approved Adopters
So how is the adoption process different when you’ve already been approved to adopt before?
Approved adopters typically start the assessment process further ahead than first-time adopters, essentially skipping stage one. This is because recent adopters will already have been through a thorough assessment process and have a great deal of knowledge and experience. This allows local authorities and adoption agencies to offer a ‘fast track’ assessment, which should take no longer than 4 months.
During this process, social workers will explore your reasons for wanting to adopt again, taking into account the views and needs of the child or children already living with you. They’ll want to be sure that you’ll be able to meet the needs of another child, and might ask about:
- Your plans for returning to work, if applicable
- Finances and how they might be impacted by adopting again
- The impact on your relationship, if you’re in one
- Your support network and their views on your desire to adopt again
- How much space you have in your home and whether or not you have a spare bedroom
Agencies generally also like to ensure that your adopted child is well settled into your family before you adopt again. How long you’ll be expected to wait can vary, but generally agencies prefer for adopters to allow at least 1-2 years from a child moving in, before adopting again, and most prefer children to have an age gap of at least two years from any adopted siblings so that both their needs can be met.
Agencies will decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not to repeat statutory checks, such as your DBS (criminal record check) or references. The LA or adoption agency may want an up-to-date picture of your current health and so may request for a repeat adoption medical report from a qualified medical advisor, particularly if there have been any changes to your health since you last adopted.
Fast-track assessments should be tailored, taking into account all the factors, such as the length of time since you were intiially approved, the needs of the existing adopted child and the needs of any potential future child and how you plan to meet these.
Orr Medical - Adoption Medical Reports For Approved Adopters
At Orr Medical we work with a number of local authorities and adoption agencies throughout the UK, providing quick, reliable adoption medical assessments and thorough health reports that enable agencies to make informed decisions about an applicant’s suitability to adopt.
Our commitment to quality and efficiency is the same regardless of whether an applicant is applying to adopt for the first time or hoping to adopt again.
To find out more about working with us, and the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or call us on 01772 915861. We look forward to hearing from you.