FAQs about adoption
I want to adopt a child as young as possible. What are my
chances of being matched with a baby?
Most children adopted from public care have been through court
proceedings. To make sure that adoption is the right decision and
that parents have had a fair hearing can take several months. There
are very few children under one year old available for domestic
adoption. The average age of adopted children in England and Wales
in the year ending March 31, 2010 was three years, nine
months. Only two per cent (70) of the adopted children
were under one year old.
Can I adopt a child with a different ethnic background from my
own?
Recognising the increasing diversity of the UK population we try
to match children to be a good 'fit' with their adoptive family.
You don't have to share the same ethnic or cultural background;
however, adopted people need to balance two identities during their
life so adoptive families need to demonstrate their ability to
promote positively their child’s birth heritage, including any
religious background.
How long does it take to adopt?
We aim to present your application to the adoption panel for
approval within eight months of receiving your signed application
form. We often take less time than this. The assessment may take
longer for some applicants who have very complicated backgrounds or
if unforeseen events arise during the assessment. In these
instances we may ask you to take a break from the assessment to
help to resolve the issues.
Do I have to live in Kensington and Chelsea?
We generally accept applications from people who live
approximately an hour’s travelling away but we make exceptions for
people that can meet the needs of children who may wait longer for
an adoptive family; for example sibling groups from all
backgrounds, children with disabilities and children over four
years old.
Do adopted children have contact with their birth
relatives?
Yes. Children may keep in touch with their birth family through
a mediated letter box service – their adopters exchange letters and
card with the birth family, usually once or twice a year. Some
children also see their birth relatives. This is with their
adopters’ agreement and the Royal Borough is always there
always to support direct contact arrangements.