Frequently asked questions about adoption
Do I have to own my own home?
No, it doesn't matter whether you own or rent your home but you
will need to have a spare room for your adopted child/children.
Am I too old?
The minimum age to adopt is 21 years old. There is no upper age
limit. However, we try to place children with adoptive parents who
can see them well into adulthood. People of all ages can, and do
successfully adopt. Your age and health might have a bearing on the
age and needs of the children you may be able to adopt.
What if I smoke?
Recent clear guidance has been issued (British Association of
Adoption and Fostering 2007) that no child under 5 years of age,
nor a child with other conditions (e.g. chest problems, glue ear,
or with a disability) should be placed with adopters who smoke.
The guidance states clearly that if a prospective adopter(s) has
given up smoking, they should have done so for at least 12 months
before a child is placed with them.
What if I am overweight?
All prospective adopters have a medical as part of the adoption
process and we get advice and recommendations from our medical
advisor. This may be a factor if your weight affects your health
and ability to care for an active child.
Does it matter if I am on a low income?
No, however you must be able to demonstrate that you can manage
your income effectively and you will need to think about how having
a child will affect you family finances.
I am not married - could I still adopt?
Yes, unmarried couples, heterosexual, same sex or as a single
person can apply to adopt. Our main requirement is that you are
able to meet the needs of individual children. Some children will
benefit from being adopted by a couple with or without children of
their own. Others may gain more from their one to one attention of
a single person.
I have a criminal conviction - can I still adopt?
Adoption Services are exempt from the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act. You must declare any convictions/cautions regardless
of the nature of the offence and be prepared to discuss the
circumstances with the assessing social worker.
Will my religious beliefs affect me adopting?
No, whether or not you have any religious beliefs will be
discussed as part of the assessment.
Will having a birth child make a difference to my
application?
No. We will listen to your birth child's feelings about adoption
during the assessment for adoption but having a birth child will
not affect your application. Your youngest birth child must be at
least 2 years older than any adoptive child placed. The assessment
will incorporate your child's wishes.
Will an adoptive child have contact with their birth
family?
Any child placed for adoption comes with its own unique past,
heritage and birth family. All children will have some contact
arrangements, which will be individually identified, for the
child's best interests. This can range from an anonymised exchange
of information by letter, to face to face contact with significant
people in the child's life. It is important that this is
acknowledged by every child's adoptive family.
I am disabled - can I adopt?
You can apply to adopt if you have a disability. We will need to
know more about the nature of your disability and how this may
affect your capacity to care for a child into adulthood. We ask for
a medical report for all applicants, this will include a
recommendation from the medical advisor on your suitability to
adopt for all applicants.
What if I have pets?
All pets will be assessed, with particular reference to health
and safety.
Are there any charges for this adoption process?
No, unless you decide to pursue intercountry adoption.
What if I want to adopt a child from another country?
Intercountry adoption is subject to different regulation and
laws than 'domestic adoptions'. It is a complex area of law as each
country has i ts own rules and regulations regarding the adoption
of their children.
Rochdale Adoption Agency does not undertake assessment for
people wishing to adopt from another country. We have an agreement
with Adoption Matters North West who provide an information service
on our behalf. This is an agency that specialises in this area of
work.
If you are interested in intercountry adoption, you should ring
our duty officer (01706 710750) who will take your information and
this will then be passed on to Adoption Matters North West. They
will then contact you by post to provide you with some basic
information and to arrange an initial visit.
If after the initial visit, you decide you wish to proceed to be
assessed, Adoption Matters North West can undertake to assess you
as prospective adopters. They charge for this service. The details
will be included in the information pack you receive.