Adoption

Interested in caring for a child permanently? Use these pages to find out more about adopting a child in Hammersmith & Fulham. 

If you would like to talk to someone about adoption in Hammersmith & Fulham, call us on freephone 0800 169 3497 during office hours with any questions you have.  We are particularly looking for people who live outside the borough, black families or anyone who is interested in adopting a child or children under eight years old.  

What is adoption?

Adoption is the legal process of parenting a child for life.

Why do children need to be adopted?

Adoption offers a safe, loving and stable family environment for children who cannot live with their birth parents. Children may need to be adopted because:

• birth parents and social workers agree that the child would receive better care in an adoptive family
• social workers have reason to believe that the child is being abused 
• a parent has died 
• a child is abandoned or has come in to the country as an unaccompanied asylum seeker 
• a birth parent requests it                     

Children come from all backgrounds and may:

• be an only child or have brothers and sisters 
• have a range of needs, including ill health, developmental uncertainty or disability 
• be from any ethnic background or religion 
• have any language as their first language                     

Who can adopt a child?

All sorts of people make good adopters. 

The children we support come from many different backgrounds and we need people to reflect the diverse needs of these children. 

We encourage applications from people: 

• over 21 years old 
• who have any language as their first language 
• from all cultural, religious and social backgrounds 
• with a disability                     

Children are usually placed with adopters who are considered best able to met their needs. For example children tend to be placed with adopters with similar ethnic backgrounds. The adoption department is currently looking for adopters with an Irish heritage, from an African Caribbean or African origin and people who are dual heritage or in a mixed relationship. We are also looking for white British couples who can take family groups or older children.

Do I need to have children of my own?

No. You do not need to have your own children, but we will assess your parenting skills as part of the application process. We expect you to have some experience of caring for children and a good understanding of the energy and commitment you need to look after a child or young person. 

We recognise that many people choose to adopt because they are not able to have children of their own. We need to be sure that adoption is a positive choice for you and will not consider your application unless you have finished all infertility treatments.

Do I have to be married?
No. We welcome applications from single people and from straight, gay or lesbian couples, whether married or not. If you are applying as a couple we will ask you about your relationship to try to make sure we place children in a stable environment.

Do I have to live in Hammersmith & Fulham?
We usually look for families from outside the borough – although this may depend on the reasons for the adoption.

If you live in Hammersmith & Fulham we may need to put you in touch with an adoption team in another borough. Please contact us on freephone 0800 169 3497 in the first instance and we will refer you on if necessary.

Do I have to be employed?
It does not matter to us whether you are in full or part time work, or are unemployed. We do need to be sure though that you have the time to give a child. If you work full time you will need to take substantial adoption leave from work and make satisfactory childcare arrangements.

You will need to give time and energy to your adopted child or children. You will also be required to attend meetings and training. You may wish to speak to your employer about flexible working.

Do I have to have training before I can look after a child?

Yes. You will have to attend training and evaluation sessions before you can be approved to adopt a child. If you are making a joint application with a partner both of you have to attend these sessions.

I am interested in adoption, how do I find out more?

Call us on freephone 0800 169 3497. 

We will take brief details from you and then arrange for a social worker to visit you at home. This is the first stage of the assessment process and gives you the opportunity to talk to us about what is involved. It also gives us a chance to find out more about what you can offer a child or young person.