Myths laid to rest in drive to boost adoption

North Lincolnshire Council has doubled its number of registered adopters since last year, but wants to recruit more with about 25 children a year in the borough being left in fostering homes without a placement.

The authority is hoping that changes to the law in July – creating a faster, two-step process – will encourage more to come forward, but believes some prospective adopters may be unnecessarily excluding themselves from applying.

These include single people, same-sex couples, those who think may be automatically ruled out having experienced difficulties in the past, and others put off by the length and complexity of the old process.

Adopters of North Lincolnshire children do not have to necessarily live in the borough either, the council said.

The authority is highlighting some of the people who have made a real difference to children’s lives through adoption.

Claire, who is single, had wanted to adopt for several years and decided to try after learning to walk again after suffering a serious spinal injury.

After succeeding and returning to work in childcare, she called the service and then attended an open evening and was invited to bring a relative along for support.

She was allocated an adoption social worker who began to visit her in her home.

“The first time they pulled up in my cul-de-sac they could probably smell the bleach,” she said.

“They ask all sorts of questions and you have to be open and honest. But it helps to build a profile of you so that they can share that information and try and find you the best match.”

Claire eventually adopted Jake, a two-year-old boy, three years ago after being shown his profile by a social worker from another local authority who considered her a good match.

Describing their first meeting at his foster home, she said: “He was sat on the floor with some profile pictures to help him recognise new faces. When I walked in he looked at me and looked at the picture and just smiled, and that was it.”

Talking about the future, she added: “I’m going to do the best that I can to let him grow into his own personality and give him opportunities that perhaps he wouldn’t have before.

“I hope my little boy can look back and think ‘do you know what, my mum did a good job, she made sure I was safe and happy and we helped each other’.”

The council has a target of recruiting at least 25 new households next year.

Tracy Eaden, principal social worker for regulatory services in North Lincolnshire, said: “Adoption can make a real difference to children who need a permanent family and North Lincolnshire are recruiting adopters who feel that they can make that difference.

“We’re really excited about our campaign around National Adoption Week (November 4) and hope we can dispel some of the myths; sometimes people think they wouldn’t be considered as suitable adopters, but often it’s worth just giving us a ring because the reasons you think you’re not suitable may not actually prevent you from adopting.”

Anyone wanting to find out more can attend an information event at the Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe, from 2pm to 7.30pm on Friday, November 8.