Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will I be able to adopt a baby?
As a voluntary agency, PACT is seeking adopters able to care for children aged over 2 and a half years, or sibling groups where one of the children might be under 2. If your ethnicity is dual heritage or non White-British you may be able to adopt a much younger child.
2. Do I have to be a British Citizen?
No, but you do need to have your permanent home in the UK and, if you are not a British national, you must have official permission to remain in the UK indefinitely.
3. Is adoption only for people without children?
No. Some families will have older children, at least 3 years older than the age of the child they wish to adopt. Others have no children.
4. Do I need experience of looking after children?
If you don’t have much experience with children outside your extended family, it will be important to gain some so that you can learn how to talk to children and feel relaxed and more knowledgeable about how to look after them. You may want to contact your local school and children’s group and ask to work as a volunteer.
5. Does my relationship status matter?
No. It doesn’t matter whether you are single, married or in a partnership. However we do ask that any couples have been together for at least three years and are able to prove that they have a stable and enduring relationship that is likely to last through a child’s upbringing and beyond.
6. Can I continue with any fertility treatments whilst I apply to adopt?
If you have been undergoing treatment to conceive, we will usually ask that at least 6 months have elapsed since the treatment has finished.This period allows for the grieving process to have begun to be addressed and adoption seen as a positive alternative to parenting. However, it is recognised that some families are ready to make the transition more speedily than others and the initial interview will consider this issue.
7. Can I adopt if I smoke?
No, PACT is aware of the medical evidence regarding the impact of passive smoking on children and is looking to place children in a smoke-free home. Given the highly addictive nature of smoking applicants would be expected to have given up at least a year before they apply to adopt. Individuals are seen as non-smokers once they have given up for 10 years.
8. Do I have to be medically fit to adopt a child?
Yes, you do need to be medically fit to care for a child throughout childhood and have a good chance of being there for them into their adulthood.
If you have a medical condition or disability that is not life threatening, is well controlled by medication, and does not affect normal daily life, we will consider you.
9. Do I need to stop working?
Yes, we will ask that the main carer take full adoption leave of one year off work once the child is placed (this may need to be longer depending on the needs of the child.)