Adoption Support Services Social Workers are available to talk through difficulties and issues, with you. They can visit at home and may see your children (with your permission). They may also offer information and advice over the phone.
If necessary they will carry out an assessment of your support needs in order to decide whether other services may be able to help. 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
If we are not able to provide help ourselves, we will tell you about other services who may be able to help.
Help for adoptive parents
Adoption can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. However, parenting an adopted child can present challenges which are above and beyond the usual day-to-day parenting role. We offer advice and support for the challenges adoptive parents face.
Some of these challenges are:
- adopted children often have additional needs
- you may be dealing with life story and identity issues, as some adopted children need help understanding their past as they grow up
- your adopted child’s early experiences may influence their behaviour at home or at school
- contact arrangements with birth relatives can change over time and affect the child
Occasionally adopters, children and birth parents may experience difficulties due to the use of social networking sites. Adoption Services can offer advice and assistance in preventing or dealing with any issues that may arise for all parties.
See also
Email: adoption.services@southampton.gov.uk
Telephone: 023 8083 3004
