Adoption

There are many children, locally and nationally, who are currently in care, and who are waiting to find new permanent families with adoptive parents.

Who Needs Adopting?

There are now fewer babies who need adoption. Currently the local and national need is for adopters to take children of pre-school age and above, sibling groups of 2, 3 or more, children with special needs and those from ethnic minority groups. Adopters who can offer homes to these children will have priority.

Who Can Adopt?

Currently the criteria we use as a guideline for people seeking to adopt include:

• You must be over 21
• You can be married, in a partnership, or single
• If you are married or living together you will be expected to demonstrate a stable relationship
• You can have children of your own
• You will need to be in good enough health to reasonably expect to be able to care for a child for the rest of his or her childhood and beyond
• If you are a smoker, this will limit the age and type of child who we can place with you.

We operate an equal opportunities policy and all enquiries, regardless of marital status, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion, will be carefully considered.

Find out how to become an adopter.

Adoption Support

The value of adoption support has been recognised in recent years as being crucial to the success of adoptive placements. We will support all adoptive placements through our own services and those of the Berkshire Adoption Advisory Service.

The local authority also has a responsibility to the birth family of a child placed for adoption - support and counselling is offerred to them by the Local Authority and the Berkshire Adoption Advisory Service.

Adopted Adults

Adults who were adopted can contact us for help in tracing records and counselling.

For further information on all aspects of adoption visit the British Association for Adoption and Fostering Website

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If you would like to know more about adoption, please click the following link and complete the Adoption Enquiries Contact Us/Self Referral Online Form or;

• To contact the team by phone ring 01628-683201
• Send your enquiry by email to adoption-fostering@rbwm.gov.uk.
• The address to write to is: Fostering, Adoption & Respite Service, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1RF
  

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