Adoption Process

When you express an interest in adoption either by phone or email you will be sent an initial information sheet and a copy of the adoption information pack, which contains information about the assessment and application process. Once you have received and read through the pack, you should return the initial information sheet to us.  On receipt and within one week a member of the team will contact you to discuss your circumstances and provide any further information you require. They will also arrange to visit you at home to further explore your enquiry and your suitability to adopt.

If we all agree to proceed you will be invited to attend mandatory preparation groups before progressing to a full adoption assessment which takes a minimum of 6 months to complete.

At the end of your assessment, the social worker will present a report to the South Ayrshire Council's Permanence Panel who will consider your application and make a recommendation of your suitability to adopt to the Agency Decision Maker. It is the role of the Agency Decision Maker to consider your adoption application and make a decision on your application. You will be notified in writing of the decision.

Once you are approved, the process of matching you with a child or children can begin. There is no set-timescales for this, and your assessing social worker will be able to discuss this with you in more detail.