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Adoption Assessment.
After you have had an initial visit and your application has been given consideration by the team the assessment will usually start after you have attended one of our preparation groups. We can only begin an assessment when you have agreed that you will not accept any other offer of one from another adoption agency. Please note that it is not possible under UK law to be approved as an adopter by more than one agency.
The assessment mainly consists of a series of home visits by a Social Worker from the Adoption Team. This Social Worker who we refer to as your 'Link Worker' is responsible for compiling a report on your family circumstances. This report is commonly known as a Form F, and we will usually visit you and your family between 6 and 12 times. The Link Worker will want to see each member of the family individually, as well as meet you as a family group.
The prospect of starting an 'assessment' may seem forbidding at first. Obviously, part of the process is to ensure, from the point of view of the child's welfare, that every adopter who we recommend for approval is suitable. However, the assessment process also enables you and the Link Worker to build a partnership, and for you to start to think about and prepare yourself for the process of adopting a child. It is also important for us to get to know you well to help us find the most suitable family for every child.
As part of the assessment, your GP will also be asked to provide medical reports, and checks will be taken up with your Local authority (if you live outside Hackney), the Department of Health, the Police, and the Probation Service. We will also visit three personal referees, nominated by yourselves.
It is vital that adopters notify us as soon as possible beforehand of any issues (such as police Convictions) that may arise as a result of these checks. Contrary to recent publicity, we do not turn down applicants for minor or insignificant matters. On the other hand, if an adopter deliberately witholds significant information which later comes to light, question marks are then raised as to the applicant's honesty.
