PACT Podcast: Talking Adoption

Grace and Rebecca (senior social worker) take you through stage one of the adoption process, from initial enquiry to completion.

Including:

• What are the stages of the adoption process?
• What is included in stage one?
• How long should I expect stage one to take?
• What paperwork do I need and how is this information gathered?
• Next steps

This episode explores references, the extra support offered by PACT, top tips for making stage one of the adoption as smooth as possible, and much more!

Grace speaks to Ana (adoption team manager) about stage two of the adoption process, from the end of stage one to adoption panel.
Including:

• What does stage two involve?
• What is the social worker looking for?
• What will I need to do?
• How long should I expect stage two to take?
• What support does PACT provide?

This episode explores helpful hints and tips, available support and resources, and much more!

Grace talks to adoptive parents, Dan and Sue, about their experiences of this stage of the adoption process.
Including:
• Why they chose to adopt through PACT
• How they found the process
• How long the process took
• The support available from PACT
This episode explores Dan and Sue’s feelings and experiences throughout the process, their tips for others going through the process, what their family life is like now, and more.

Grace talks to Kyle, a PACT parent, about his experience of the adoption panel.
Including:
• What is an adoption panel and how does it fit into the process?
• What questions might you be asked?
• How long does the panel take?
• What support does PACT provide?

Kyle shares his personal journey to adoption, his top tips for prospective adopters, how he now gives back as a panel member himself, and more!

Grace speaks to Ana (adoption team manager) about what happens after children are placed with adopters and the journey to securing an adoption order.

Including:
• Where placement fits within the adoption process
• What to expect
• What support PACT provides
• What changes once an adoption order is granted?

This episode explores the emotional and practical realities of placement, the importance of careful planning, the intensive support available from PACT, Ana’s advice for making this stage as smooth as possible, and more.

Grace talks to Ruth, a PACT adopter and families support worker, about her personal experience of adoption as a route to parenthood after fertility treatment.

Including:
• What led Ruth and her husband to consider adoption?
• Why did they choose to adopt through PACT?
• What was the assessment process like?
• What were the early days with their daughter like?
• What support does PACT provide?

Ruth shares her personal journey from IVF to adoption, to meeting her daughter for the first time, the importance of a strong support network, her top tips for anyone thinking about adoption, and more.

Grace and Sam (events and engagement manager) talk to Steven, a PACT adopter, about his experience of adopting siblings – twice!

Including:
• Why Steven and his husband decided to adopt siblings
• How they found the process
• What are the challenges and rewards of adopting siblings?
• How did their second adoption differ from their first?

Steven speaks openly about the realities of adopting siblings, from building relationships with foster carers to family dynamics. He shares the emotional highs and challenges, what life is like as a family of six, his advice for anyone considering adopting siblings, and more.

Grace speaks to Lesley, a PACT adopter and volunteer, about her experiences of contact with her children’s birth family.

Including:
• Why contact was important to her family
• How contact arrangements were agreed and managed
• The emotional challenges and support available from PACT
• Tips for other adopters

This episode explores Lesley’s journey adopting two siblings, her experience of the different forms of contact, how she talks to her children about their birth family, the benefits of maintaining connections, and more.

Grace (adopter diversity engagement officer) and Sam (events and engagement manager) talk to Wes about his experience as PACT’s Chair of Trustees.
Including:
• What attracted Wes to joining PACT?
• What does being a trustee involve?
• How has PACT evolved during his time on the board?
• What are the challenges and priorities for the future?

Wes shares why becoming a trustee has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He talks about his personal connection to the charity’s work, PACT’s achievements, the challenges of steering a charity through the Covid-19 pandemic and financial uncertainty, and why supporting PACT’s work is so vital.

Grace speaks to Earl about his experience of adopting through PACT – twice – and how to prepare for the adoption process.
Including:
• How can you start preparing for adoption?
• What practical steps should you take?
• How do you prepare emotionally and involve your support network?
• How does PACT support adopters?
In this episode, Earl shares wise and insightful advice from his own journey, including the importance of research, practical and emotional considerations, and more.

Grace talks to Earl about his experience of adopting his daughters through PACT.

Including:

• What the transition was like in the early days
• How adopting for the second time differed from the first
• What support helped along the way?
• What advice he would give to prospective adopters

Earl shares the emotional highs and challenges of becoming a parent through adoption, from the practical adjustments of family life to the feelings of love, excitement, and anxiety that come with such a life-changing transition. He reflects on preparing the girls for a new sibling, building routines, and finding support networks – plus his top tips for anyone considering adoption.