We will give you details about the Inter-country Adoption Centre information day which you must attend.

Then if you decide you want to go ahead we will arrange to come and see you.

 

With your permission we need to carry out checks, including a Criminal Records Bureau check. We'll also carry out medical checks and talk to people who know you, including members of your family and your employer. If you've been married or had a long-term relationship before, we will also contact your previous partner.

 

We'll invite you to take part in a preparation course where you will learn skills to help you parent your adopted child. You'll meet other adopters also going through the process.

 

After you've completed the preparation course, you make a formal application to be assessed as prospective adopters. This will take several visits.

 

We write a report, called the prospective adopters report, which will outline your background history and relationships, your strengths and abilities as a prospective adopter and will include looking at how you will help your child to maintain links with their ethnicity and culture.

Next steps

 

Many adopters have sleepless nights before they go to Adoption Panel but afterwards wonder what they were so worried about. For years now, we've been inviting prospective adopters to be there when the panel discuss their application and now this is part of the adoption law. The meeting gives you a chance to tell the panel why you want to adopt and talk to them about anything that is puzzling or worrying you. You don't have to go, but most of our adopters do. Essex has three adoption panels, each with the same independent chairman.

 

The adoption panel advises the Agency Decision Maker whether or not to approve you as adopters. It's extremely rare for anyone to be turned down if they've got this far. If for some reason your application is not approved, the law now gives you a right to ask for a review by an independent panel.

 

Essex Adoption Agency will write to tell you we've approved your application. Hurrah!