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Adoption - A Lifelong Journey

In Cheshire we believe that all children and young people have the right: to be healthy, happy, and safe; to be loved, valued and respected; and to have high aspirations for their future.

Adoption can make this difference.

Find out more about how to become an adoptive parent

Services We Provide

Cheshire’s Adoption Service recognises the lifelong nature of adoption and provides the following services:

For Children

• Care planning for children where their parents have chosen to place them for adoption.
• Recruitment of sufficient adopters to enable a realistic choice of a family for Cheshire children.
• Family finding for children.
• Matching and linking of children to families.
• Supporting the introduction and placement of children with adopters.
• Assessing the support needs of those touched by adoption, specifically the adopted child, the adoptive parent and their family, birth parents, birth relatives and adopted adults.
• Providing information about the range of services available to those touched by adoption.
• Providing services to support those touched by adoption.

For Adopters

• Information, advice and counselling for parents who wish to choose adoption for their child.
• Preparation, training, assessment and approval of adoptive applicants.
• Inter-country adoption. Those wishing to apply to adopt a child from overseas may be referred to a Local Voluntary Adoption Agency who can provide information advice and counselling about this service.
• Assessing the support needs of those touched by adoption, specifically the adopted child, the adoptive parent and their family, birth parents, birth relatives and adopted adults.
• Advising, counselling and reporting to the Adoption Court where an application is made for Partner Adoption.

For Birth Relatives

• An Independent support service, whenever the local authority is planning to place a child for adoption
• Intermediary services for anyone seeking information about an adopted adult relative

For Adopted Adults

• Counselling service for adopted adults who wish to have access to information about their birth family, and their adoption records.
• Intermediary Service for adopted adults who wish to consider seeking contact with an adult birth family relative.

Information Requests

• Counselling service for adopted adults who wish to have access to information about their birth family, and their adoption records.
• Intermediary Service for birth relatives who wish to seek information about their adopted child or relative.

How Do I Obtain a Copy Adoption Certificate?

Information on how to obtain copy adoption certificates is available on our Life Events webpages.

Sources of Information and Help

Access to Birth Records for Adopted Adults
A Social Services leaflet answering questions about gaining access to birth records.

Adoption Matters
Offer an independent counselling and advice service to birth parents and relatives of Cheshire children who have a care plan of adoption.

Adoption Support in Cheshire
A Social Services leaflet detailing the range of services to support all those touched by adoption.

Adoption UK
A charity that supports prospective adopters and adoptive parents

Department for Children, Schools and Families
This site is intended for anyone involved or interested in adoption and relates to adoption in England. The laws governing adoption in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are very similar so this site will help you too if you are thinking of adopting in those countries.

Family Rights Group
The Print House, 18 Ashwin Street
London E8 3DL
Tel: 0207 9232628
Free advice line 0800 731 1696 (Monday - Friday 1:30pm - 3:30pm)

Fostering and Adoption in Cheshire
Cheshire County Council's specialist Fostering and Adoption Service website.

Grandparents Association
Moot House
The Stow. Harlow
Essex CM20 3AG Tel: 01279444964

National Organisation For Counselling of Adoptees And their Parents (NORCAP)
112 Church Road, Wheatley
Oxfordshire OX33 1LU
Tel: 01865 875000
Support people who have been adopted and for birth relatives. They have a Contact Register and will do intermediary work between the different parties in adoption.

Natural Parents Network
18 Bishops Way,
Stradbrokr Eye,
Suffolk IP21 5JR
Help line Number 0845 456 5031
Support for birth parents and run some local groups.

The Office of National Statistics (ONC)
Adoption Section
Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road
Southport, Merseyside PR8 2HH Tel: 0151 471 4479
The ONC can send you information about the Adoption Contact Register.