Adoption support services

Social workers in the Adoption Support Service are available to talk over difficulties and issues with you.

They can visit you at home if you would like, they may see your children (with your permission), and they may offer information and advice over the phone.

If necessary they will carry out an assessment of your support needs in order to decide on whether other services may be appropriate for you.

When deciding whether we are able to offer a service, or which service to provide, we will:

• listen to the adopters and the child’s wishes and feelings

• consider the welfare and safety of all concerned.

The type of support that can be provided is as follows:

• support groups for children, adopted adults, adopters and birth parents

• support with contact arrangements

• therapeutic support

• financial support

• training

• support for adult adoptees tracing members of their birth family.

Where we are not able to provide the support ourselves we will signpost you to another service who may be able to offer the assistance needed.