Frequently asked questions

Is adoption very complicated?
Well, it's not a totally simple process, but that's what we're here for. We have skilled staff and will make things run as smoothly as we can – walking with you through the process, every step of the way.

I've heard and seen a lot about adoption in the news, can you help clear a few things up?
It seems that everyone has a different view on adoption. You may believe that you would be unable to adopt, but chances are you can.

If you have questions, they are worth asking and we could answer them for you.

Ealing needs adopters who can provide safe and loving homes for children and invites enquiries from people who can offer this.

Children needing adopting are of all ages, not just babies, and from every ethnic and cultural background. We need adopters who can meet their needs.

No matter what form your family takes if you have time and space to welcome a child into your family then you should give us a call. It's not what you are that matters it's what you have to offer a child.

If you have ever thought of adopting and have questions then we can help to answer them, give us a call on our dedicated freephone 0800 731 6550.

Would I be able to adopt?
Many people who would like to adopt are afraid that they wouldn't be considered suitable, but you don't need to live in a fairytale castle, you can be married, single or living with a partner. When it comes to adoption it's about who you are not what you are.

I want to adopt a child but will someone help?
Adoption offers the chance for you to start a new family or extend an existing one. You can welcome a child into your family and into your lives forever.

While adoption is a legal process we will help and guide you through all the stages, so you won't be alone.

Many people also find the concept of asking social services to assess their family daunting and embarrassing, but we're not there to make judgements we simply need to get to know you really well so that we can safely place children with you.

Why do you ask so many questions?
Imagine if one of your children or a child close to you couldn't live with their family anymore … how much would you want to know about the people who were going to care for them? You'd want to know everything.

That's why we ask so many questions. Children deserve security and we try to ensure that's what they get.

A home study, the assessment we make to approve you to adopt, is a very detailed look at you and your family. We want to paint a really clear picture of you.  The assessment is called a 'Form F'.

Aren't plenty of families already waiting?
No, while some families wait, particularly for very young children, we do need adopters because many children wait too long for families to adopt them.

If you would like to adopt a child over the age of four years old, brothers and sisters or a child with a disability or special need we would particularly like to hear from you.

Are there children for me to adopt?
There are also many children whose parents are from different backgrounds needing families to adopt them. We try to match children with families who will have some understanding of their background and feelings of identity.

We also seek adoptive families for children with disabilities or health problems. If you have the desire to offer a safe and loving home to these children we can provide any training and support you'll need.

In Ealing, we have a particular need for African and African Caribbean people to come forward to adopt. Nationally black and minority ethnic children wait on average six extra months to be claimed by adoptive families (The Children Act Report 2002). If African and African Caribbean families can come forward this will allow a child to understand their culture and have a positive sense of their own identity.

If you are from a white UK background you may have heard, in the news or from friends, that there aren't any children from your background waiting for families.

This isn't the case, while there may not be a great number of small babies awaiting adoption there are children aged four to ten years old, and brothers and sisters who need to live together.

We believe that every child deserves a chance and if you can help then you should get in touch with us on 0800 731 6550 (freephone), even if you would just like to ask a few questions.

What are the children like?
Just like you and I, the children do not conform to stereotypes, they are individuals who represent a range of backgrounds and abilities. What they have in common is they really need to be looked after. They are individuals who deserve a chance in life. 

Many of these children will, however, have had difficult life experiences and will need a lot of patience understanding and support.

We will tell you everything we know about a child's background, health and wellbeing. Because the future isn't always set in stone, the adoption service provides post-adoption support to help you deal with any problems or dilemmas.

Do I need to own my own home or have a lot of money in the bank?
You don't need to be rich to adopt, we're not looking for people who live in big mansions.

You can have a mortgage or rent your home. As long as you can offer stability and security to a child you can come forward to adopt.

In some cases an adoption allowance may be payable to help families provide children with the best opportunities possible.

Where do I need to live?
We need adopters from many different areas. If you live in Ealing you can contact us. If you live in a nearby borough, town or village within a one to two hour radius, or further if you are offering a home to an older child, a larger sibling group, or are from a black African or Caribbean background we would like to hear from you.