Adoption References

Information should you be asked to provide a reference when someone applies to adopt a child.

Someone you know has applied to become an adoptive parent and has asked us to contact you to support their application. The information below explains what this will involve for you.

What is adoption?

Adoption involves a profound and permanent change in the legal status for adoptive parents and the child. Legally, the child becomes the child of the adopters. They alone have full parental responsibility. Except in rare circumstances, an adoption order cannot be revoked.

In order to get to this stage, they will have been through a process of education and preparation. They have attended group meetings and a series of interviews with their social worker. They have been thinking positively about what it will mean to become a family by adoption.

What is involved?

If you agree to act as a referee, you will be asked to provide a written reference, for which we will provide guidelines. A social worker will arrange to visit you at home to discuss your reference. The visit usually takes about one hour.

Why do we need a reference?

The social worker needs to assess if they are suitable to become adoptive parents, and write a report to guide the Adoption Agency's decision. The social worker will have formed a view of the applicant(s), but it will be a view based on limited contact, and very much focusing on adoption. In order to present a rounded picture, it is helpful to have the view of people who know the applicant(s) in a different context. By agreeing to act as a referee, you will be sharing an important responsibility.

Your reference will be given in confidence to the social worker who visits you. It is important for you to put aside your feelings for the applicant(s) and think about your responsibility to the child who may be placed with them.

We prefer referees to have known the applicant(s) for at least three years. You do not need to be professional people. It is important you have frequent social contact with the applicant(s), and have visited them at home.

Three references will have been requested - two of which cannot be related to the applicant(s) and one reference from a family member.

Who may see your reference?

• Members of the Adoption Panel.
• Our Social workers.
• Social workers for other Adoption Agencies who may be considering the potential adopters for a child in their area.
• Magistrates or a Judge at the time of the application to Court for an Adoption Order.

Your reference is given to us in confidence, and is not shared with the applicant(s).

What will we want to know about?

• How long you have known the applicant(s)?
• What is your relationship with them like?
• What is your opinion of their individual personalities?
• What is your opinion of the stability of their relationships?
• What is your opinion of their abilities with children?
• What is your opinion of the strengths of their support networks, e.g.: family, friends?
• Have you discussed adoption with them, and do they appear to understand the implications?
• Do you have any special knowledge or experience which may add weight to your opinion?

If you have any concerns about the ability of the applicant(s) to give a child a permanent and secure family experience, it is important you share these.

Your reference will not be the sole decider of the application. It will be read along with the views of everyone involved in the assessment.

Finally...

Thank you for helping us to find families for children. The children we place are vulnerable and have often had painful experiences in their lives.

It is very important you are open and honest with us and give us an accurate picture of the applicant(s). Your reference is an important part of the adoption process.

If you have any queries, please discuss them with the applicant(s) and/or contact:

Senior Practitioner (Adoption) Education and Children's Services Adoption and Placements Team Jubilee House 655 Auckland Drive Smith's Wood Solihull B36 0SN

Contact Details

Adoption Team
Education and Children's Services
Jubilee House
655 Auckland Drive
Smith's Wood
Solihull
B36 0SN

Telephone: 0121 749 8100

Email: ssplace@solihull.gov.uk

For general information on Children and Family Services, please email childrensservices@solihull.gov.uk