Are there any restrictions about my health? Expand Health problems and disabilities are not barriers to adoption provided you can care for the children you adopt. Anyone who wishes to adopt must have a full medical carried out by their GP and advice will be sought from our medical advisor on any issues raised.
Can I adopt if I live in rented accommodation? Expand Yes you can. A loving home is essential to adopted children, but it doesn’t have to be big and grand. The only possible concern would be where potential adopters rent because of moving around a lot. An adopted child needs stability and routine. If you are constantly moving, it is a lot harder to offer this to a child.
Can I adopt if I smoke? Expand If you smoke we would expect you to take active steps to stop smoking. The majority of Local Authorities will not place children under the age of 5 years in a household where anyone smokes, even if you use e-cigarettes, and often require adopters to have ceased smoking for a year before being matched with a child.
How long does the UK adoption process take? Expand It should take no longer than six months for you to become approved as an adoptive parent. However, it is impossible to predict how long it will take to have a child placed with you because it is important to identify the right match for your family.
I already have kids, can I still adopt? Expand Yes. Part of the assessment will include looking at the effects a placement will have on your current children. Some adopted children would thrive by having a sibling.
I am having fertility treatment, can I adopt? Expand You would need to have completed your fertility treatment before you begin the adoption process, but we would discuss your individual circumstances with you.
I am single, can I adopt? Expand Yes of course, ARC Adoption welcome all types of adopters, including single adopters, many of which have successfully adopted.
I have pets – can I adopt? Expand Provided your pet does not pose a threat to a child’s health or safety then it will not prevent you from adopting. A pet questionnaire will be completed as part of the assessment process.
Is being overweight a barrier to my being accepted as an adopter? Expand Adopters come in all shapes and sizes. Weight, alongside other lifestyle choices, is discussed during the process with the most important factor being your ability to provide a loving home for a child.
Is there an age limit? Expand You must be at least 21 years old. There is no upper age limit to adopting although you need to have the potential to care for the child through to adulthood.
We are a gay couple, can we adopt? Expand Yes of course, we are interested to hear from same sex couples who are in a stable and loving relationship.
We both work, can we still adopt? Expand Yes, but you will need to take some time away from work to help the child settle into your home. What is important is that you remain flexible and fit your work commitments around the needs of the child and not the other way around.
What sort of children need to be adopted? Expand This is one of the most common questions, and probably the hardest to answer. The children are from very different backgrounds: Almost every child in care today will have been removed from their parents as opposed to being relinquished. Most children who are adopted are between aged one and four, BUT there are still many older children and brothers and sisters who need a good permanent home. Children in care are from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, as long as you are able to meet the child’s needs you can adopt children of any ethnicity. Adopted children may have a variety of behavioural & emotional issues due to their early experiences, which may include some degree of attachment difficulties.