Who can adopt?

• A couple who are married, in a civil partnership or living together

• A single person

• People of any religious denomination or none

• People of any racial or cultural background

• Those who are wishing to become parents for the first time

• Those who already have birth or adopted children and want to parent again

Who are the children?

• Some are babies and very young children

• Some children are older and have started school

• Some have a brother or sister and need to live together

What is the process?

• Make an initial enquiry - by using the CONTACT button on our website or by calling 028 9069 1133 to talk to one of our professional and experienced Social Workers.

• An initial meeting at your home with one of our social workers. We will explore with you your potential to offer a safe, loving and committed family home through adoption.

• Make an application - You will be allocated a Social Worker to undertake your Assessment and support you through the process.

• Complete an assessment of your suitability to adopt.

• The first stage of the assessment process is completing some checks – medical report, criminal record check, contact with your referees and with Social Services.

• If the checks are satisfactory the second stage of the process begins. This involves your social worker meeting with you over a couple of months to explore your suitability to adopt a child - discussing your strengths, personal background, support network, parenting capacity and meeting the needs of children in adoption.

• Attend a preparation course - During your assessment, you will attend a Preparation to Adopt course to help you think about the real implications of adopting, meet other people on the adoption journey and hear from people who have already adopted in Northern Ireland.

• Attend Adoption Panel - Your Adoption Assessment will usually take 6-9 months, after which your Social Worker will complete a report for the Adoption Panel. An Adoption Panel is a group of people with experience in adoption. You will be invited to attend the Panel meeting. When the Panel approves you to be adoptive parents your names will be put on our waiting list of approved adopters.