Who can adopt?
People who want to adopt need to meet the following initial screening criteria:
If you live beyond a 60-mile radius of Edinburgh, you must be willing to travel for all relevant meetings at your own expense. Because we have the facility of remote meetings, we will consider you if you live beyond the 60-mile radius on the proviso you must be able to travel to Edinburgh for meetings pre and post approval. For example, Oban, Deeside, Eyemouth, Dumfries.
You must be over 21 years old. We will not consider anyone who would be more than 45 years older than a child at the time of becoming an approved adopter, even if one partner is significantly younger. For example, if someone is 48 years of age at the time of applying to become an adopter, they will likely be nearer 50 by the time of becoming an approved adopter so would only be considered for a child over the age of 5 years old.
Not born in Scotland, as long as you have lived here for at least a year.
If you have experienced fertility difficulties, all investigations and treatments must have stopped at least six months ago. Our priority is to ensure people coming forward are fully committed to the child(ren) they will adopt.
Any couple applying to adopt must have lived together for at least 2 years.
Must be a non-smoker/vaper or an ex-smoker/vaper of more than six months.
We do not consider people who have had difficulties with alcohol or drug use within the past 3 years.
You must be in good physical and emotional health. If your BMI is over 35, we will discuss with you the impact this has on your health and capacity to respond to the physical demands of parenting.
Any Police and/or local authority involvement will be subject to consideration.
If you are considering only one child, they would need a bedroom of their own. If you are considering siblings, two could share a bedroom.
Members of your household over the age of 16 and any person you would use to babysit will be subject to statutory checks.
All pets will be subject to assessment.
You will need a support network of family and friends to offer emotional and practical support. Your practical support should live local.
You must be financially secure.
You need to be open to considering children up to 7 years old.
When your child comes to live with you there is an expectation that the child’s main carer is available to them full time for a minimum of 9 to 12 months. You should check with your employer about adoption leave entitlement. If your plan is to return to work, you need to be flexible to the possibility of that not being an option depending on the needs of your child.
We need you to be committed to the child you will adopt by agreeing not to add children or pets to your family leading up to you becoming an adopter and 2 years following the child moving to live with you. If you already have a child, they must be at least 2 years older than the child you adopt.
Children who need parents through adoption have experienced adversity. They all have experienced separation and loss and may have been exposed to neglect, abuse, domestic violence, parental drug/alcohol use. These children need parents who are patient and empathic who can provide reparative parenting.
You will need to be able to work as part of the team of professionals who support the child. This can include foster carer, social workers, educators, and health professional.
You need to be open to having some contact with the child’s family of origin and foster family.
You must bring up your child in the knowledge that they are adopted.
Adopting with Pets - All Pets are subject to Assessment
There are many physical, emotional, and educational benefits of having pets. These include the development of compassion and empathy within children.
However, the RSPCA raises that children and animals communicate differently. Both rely on adults to hold them in mind by interpreting their signals, communicating this on their behalf and responding to their needs.
During the home-study, your allocated social worker is likely to discuss adopting with pets with you and ask that you complete a pet assessment. Below are some areas to consider in preparation for this discussion:
- How have you previously introduced new adults and children to your pet?
- Has your pet had any contact with child/ren?
- The RSCPA advice that 'Animals may be wary of unpredictable children, and children coming from homes where there has been no pet may be scared of animals, especially dogs” how might you support your pet and child’s relationship thinking about ensuring safe spaces, appropriate interaction with one another (soft hands)
- Supervision within the home
- At times child/ren placed with adopters can later develop an allergy resulting in a situation where the child/ren are unable to live with animals.
- We know on occasion children and pets do not gel leading to unsafe environment for both.
- What are your pet’s routines and how will this fit with the adoption process and a child joining the family? (Do they sleep on your bed, how many walks per day and the timing of these)
- Support available (Has anyone other than yourself cared for your pet? Thinking about introductions with a child/ren where these mean you need to stay away from home or are away for majority of the day)
- How might you introduce your child/ren to your pet? (Environment, smells)
Resources
Below are links to useful resources on the topic of children and pets. The topics include communication,
Resources | Adoption UK Charity
Children & Dogs - How They Can Live Together | RSPCA