FAQs
Is there an age limit? Whilst there is no upper age limit to adopt in law, you must be at least 21 years old. You will need to be realistic about your age in relation to the age of the child and how this might affect your ability to raise a child to adulthood. We would want you to be reasonably fit and healthy and able to take an active role in the child’s physical and emotional well being. If you would like to talk to someone about your personal situation, please let us know.
Can single people adopt? Yes, we have many single people, both men and women who have successfully adopted through TACT. We are interested in your experience and skills and would want you to think about the support you’ll need to help you become a successful parent.
Can I work and adopt? Yes, but you will need to take time away from work to help the child settle into your home. For younger children we think that it is important for you to be at home for as long as possible. Even when they are at school it may take longer for them to settle into a school routine and you may need to be available when they need you. What’s important is that you remain flexible and fit your work commitments around the needs of the child and not the other way round.
I’m unemployed. Can I adopt? Yes, we’re interested in the experience and skills you can offer to a child in need of a loving and permanent home. We will talk to you about finances to help you plan realistically for the child. Some agencies that we work with may offer financial assistance if a child has special needs. I don’t own my own home.
I don’t own my own home. Can I still adopt? You need to be in settled, secure accommodation and have the space for a child. Often this means a separate bedroom or the means to provide one in the future. I am in a same sex relationship.
I am in a same sex relationship. Can I adopt? Yes, we are interested in the skills and experience you bring and what you can offer a child. Recent changes in the law mean that couples who are not married can now adopt.
I live outside of London. Can I adopt through TACT? We usually consider applications from people living in London and within the M25 radius.
Are there any restrictions about health? Anyone who applies to adopt must have a full medical by their GP. We want you to be reasonably fit and healthy so chronic health problems or life threatening illnesses that might restrict your ability to care for a child in the long term will be of concern to us. We will take advice from our medical advisor in these circumstances. If you smoke or your weight affects your mobility or blood pressure, we would expect you to take active steps to lead a healthier lifestyle.
I’m having fertility treatment. Can I adopt? No. We would generally only take up your application one year after your last treatment. Often this is an emotional time and it’s important to make use of the time between your last treatment and adoption. Some people do this by talking to family and friends, others find counselling helpful. Assessment for adoption has to be a thorough process, so it can at times seem intense, time consuming and intrusive. For this reason we would encourage you to take things one step at a time. Once the assessment has started, we will ask you to avoid the possibility of conceiving.
I have a criminal record. Will this prevent me from adopting? Having a criminal record does not automatically prevent you from becoming an adoptive parent. Our decision to proceed or not will depend on the nature of the offence, the length of time since conviction and your current lifestyle. You cannot adopt if you have a criminal record for offences against children. We will talk to you about other offences including those committed when you were a juvenile. We will undertake enhanced police checks through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).
What kind of help can I expect from you? TACT will support you throughout the adoption process. Our adoption team has social workers who are experienced in the recruitment, assessment and preparation of adopters. We will continue to support you and your family after a child is placed and beyond. You will have access to ongoing training in areas that will help you increase your parenting skills. We are working towards offering support groups for adopters at various stages of the process. We produce an adoption newsletter that features information about our services, real life accounts from adopters and information about our training programme. Our support doesn’t just stop when the adoption order is granted; you can approach us at any time in the future. We understand that adoption is for life and we will try to offer you a service that meets your needs or we’ll help you find support through other sources.
What help can I expect after I adopt? TACT has a Post Adoption Support Service that offers support to families and individuals after the adoption order has been granted. Please ask your social worker for the Adoption support for adoptive families guide which gives more information about our services.
