Adoption

From the Family Tree Forum Reference Library

History of the act of formal adoption and the law

Before 1976

Adoption was put on a formal footing in 1926, following the publication of the Adoption of Children Act.

Prior to this, adoptions were arranged by adoption societies and between private individuals. Some societies, one being the Church of England Children's Society, maintain records of adoptions that they arranged. Boards of Guardians also prepared reports but very few remain.

When the act was drafted it was assumed that the adopted person’s break with the birth family would be total and it was believed that the adopted person would never be able to trace their birth roots.

From 1927 adoptions had to be approved by magistrates meeting in a Petty Sessions Court and each court maintained a register. These registers are closed to public inspection for 75 years.


The registers contain:

  • The date, name of the child to be adopted, & the date of birth.
  • The name and address of the birth mother (and sometimes the father).
  • The name and address of the adoptive parents, and sometimes the name of the person acting as Guardian ad Litem, and the decision of the court.

The clerk to the Petty Sessions Court kept a file on each adoption and many have been destroyed. Some may be deposited at the NRO, but are not open to public inspection.


Later, local authorities were given authority to supervise adoptions and children's officers were appointed. These were sometimes attached to the Education Department (before the creation of Social Services departments in 1971), who again kept a register of all the cases with which they were involved. The registers are dated 1927-1945 and are a useful indication as to whether there are papers relating to the adoption in the Children's Officer's files. If the register indicates that the County Council acted as Guardian ad Litem, there should be relevant papers.

Children's Officer's files can be disappointing but should contain forms signed by the birth mother relinquishing her rights to the child. Sometimes there is correspondence from the local clergy as to the suitability of the prospective parents. Sometimes there will be a note about the birth mother and her circumstances and in some cases notes about the father too.

Registers of all adoptions are kept at the General Register Office and indexes to them can be accessed BUT only the adoptee is allowed access to the information that links the birth name with the adopted one.

Adoption Act 1976

The Adoption Act which came into being in 1976, changed things slightly. This made provision for people adopted after 11th November 1975 to have the right to access their birth records once they reached 18 years of age. It gave people adopted before that date the same right, but with the proviso that they must seek counselling first. The NRO will NOT release records to anyone without the appropriate official paperwork to say that this has been done.

Adoption and Children Act 2002

The Adoption and Children Act 2002, which came into force on 30 December 2005, brings the law on adoption up to date and puts the needs of the child above everything else. The changes in the law should improve the adoption service and help more people consider adoption.



What is adoption?

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for a child when living with their own family is not possible. It is the means of giving a child an opportunity to start again.

To be eligible for adoption the child must be under the age of 18 years and a child for whom returning home to their parents is not possible. Should the child be married or has been married they cannot be adopted.

An Adoption Order severs all legal ties with the birth family and confers parental rights and responsibilities on the new adoptive family. The birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child and they are not entitled to claim them back. The child becomes a full member of the family; they take the adoptive parents’ surname and assume the same rights and privileges as if they had been born to them, including the right of inheritance.

All adoption orders must be granted by the High Courts, County Courts or Juvenile Courts. They issue a directive to the Registrar General to make an entry in the adopted children’s register, according to the particulars of the adopted child and adoptive parents.



How do you know if you are adopted?

In recent times, given the changes in adoption law and current thinking, it is thought better that a child know they are adopted, than for them to 'find out' by some other means. Many, although not all, of today's adoptees maintain contact with their birth parents, although this is relatively new thinking.

Many people will no doubt go through life never even knowing they were adopted, No one has ever told them and they have never had a situation arise in which they have queried their parentage- it is a small minority though.

Most will know because their parents have told them, maybe just once and never spoke of it again, but nevertheless have told them.

Other parents will be open and honest and explain to the child what being adopted means, maybe starting at an early age, before the child even understands the complex meaning of what they are being told.

There is no rule. No-one has to tell their child they are adopted (although the child may not thank them should they ever discover!) and there is nothing to say that a child shouldn't be told, for whatever reason. A parent's ability to talk about their child's adoption in no way reflects on their love for the child - some can talk openly and honestly about adoption like many other things, others are just not as confident.

Maybe a good thing to note... When telling a child about their pre-adoption situation, many parents may not tell the whole truth. That is not to say they set out to lie or deceive, but simply that as parents, it is their job to protect and care for you and your feelings. No parent wants their child to be hurt, so maybe will not tell of things that they think will hurt or cause them distress. Don’t think any the less of them for this – it is because they love you.



Whose search is it?

It is the adoptee’s search, no one else’s and should be carried out at their pace.

Any adoptee that chooses to search needs to do so for themselves and with very good reason.

All sorts of things may be uncovered along the way that will raise emotional issues and thoughts. As each occurs they need to be thought through, and their implications on everyone, not just the adoptee, need close examination. What a well meaning friend thinks about something maybe completely different as to what you think. Gather opinion by all means, but ultimately regardless of what anyone else thinks, it is the adoptee’s feelings that matter most.


Two possible Scenarios (of hundreds!): You have your birth name, and your birth parents’ names on your original birth certificate and have started basic factual research. You find evidence to suggest that your birth mother went on and married.


  • Scenario One:

She married a man two years after you were born, and had children who consequently are your half siblings


  • Scenario Two:

She went on to marry your birth father two years after you were born and had children that are consequently your full siblings.


How does that make you feel? Scenario One evokes different feelings to Scenario Two. This needs to be thought through and will have implications on what you may or may not choose to do next, or even ever.



Where to start?

First Step

In order to start your search it is necessary to obtain a copy of your full original birth certificate.

  • If you know your birth name. Sending for an original birth cert is no more difficult than sending for any other certificate from the GRO. The cost is £7.00, and should be applied for using a GRO Reference Number. Should you be unable to look it up for yourself, be assured that there is nothing in the GRO index that indicates the person is adopted.


  • If you don’t know your birth name You will need to apply to the Registrar General for the information. If you were adopted before 12.11.1975 you are required to meet with an adoption counsellor prior to being given this information.


Counselling is arranged through the Office for National Statistics. You should write to that office and they will send you an application form and information leaflets which should be carefully read and followed.

Counselling will be arranged at a time convenient to you, and at a location of your choosing, and will not happen overnight. Adoption records take time to source and post-adoption counselling is only a small part of what today’s adoption teams do.

If you know your birth name, it is still highly beneficial to have a session or even two with a post adoption counsellor. They don’t bite and have a wealth of knowledge and experience and will not be shocked by anything they hear, nor judge how you feel. They are there to hold your hand, let them hold it.

Could a friend do the job as well as a counsellor?

You may think so, but no, a friend can listen, and up to a point understand, but what they cannot do is feel impartial. You can pretty much say anything to a counsellor and they will understand, and have probably heard it before anyway. That counsellor will always be there for you, and far better, if you get to the point of contacting a birth parent, that they make that approach, than a well meaning friend.

Second Step

Write down everything you have been told about your birth and circumstances surrounding it.

If you have accessed your file through a counselling session, then you will have information that you can note down. If you haven't, maybe it is time to get that counselling arranged. An adoption file can contain a wealth of information or very little but it is all facts with which you can work.

It must be noted that not all files contain the absolute truth. What is recorded is what the agency or social worker involved was told at the time by the parties involved.

In the case of privately arranged adoptions, information maybe hard to find, although the local authority that covers the area of the court that made the adoption order should have records, if only brief. At the very least they will have overseen your welfare supervision, and may still have the records.

Third Step

Actively register your interest in the places that birth families may have registered their desire to establish contact - if this is what you seek to achieve.

Whatever form of trying to trace your birth family you choose to use, it is a good idea to register your 'desire to know' in the appropriate place i.e. places where birth families might also look for you.

1. There are various places that can help you by registering your interest, the GRO Adoption Contact Register possibly being the best.

Before 1991, the Registrar General operated a non-statutory system of record tagging, a kind of unofficial swap system, so that counsellors could be advised of enquiries made by birth family members about an adopted person, which can then be passed on at a counselling session.

Created in 1991, the Adopted Children Register exists to put adopted people and their birth relatives in touch with each other if that is what they both wish and a relative may have registered.

The Contact Register cannot help an adopted person to learn of the whereabouts of a birth relative or to know their birth relative’s wishes unless the relative has also chosen to be entered on the Contact Register. From 30 December 2005 applicants can record a wish for specific or no contact with a named individual.

The Adoption Contact Register is in two parts and there is a one-off registration fee per entry of £15 for Part 1 and £30 for Part 2.

Part 1 of the Contact Register is for adopted adults to record their wishes for contact or no contact with birth relatives.

Part 2 of the Contact Register is for birth relatives to record their wishes for contact or no contact with the adopted person. To apply, birth relatives must satisfy the General Register Office of their relationship to the adopted person.


2. NORCAP: offers adults affected by adoption practical help and support to locate and make contact with relatives lost through adoption. Membership is available through their website.The first year’s subscription includes a registration fee of £50. NORCAP: Supporting Adults Affected by Adoption


And also:

3. The society that arranged your adoption.

4. The Local Authority Adoption Section that arranged your adoption



Sarah's Story

A fictionalised account of an adoptee's search for her birth family.

Sarah's Story



Coping with the hard facts

Once you start searching you must prepare yourself for finding things that you may find unpleasant and well as positive things. Do try and prepare yourself for the worst care scenarios, then it can only be better. Its is possible, despite what you have been led to believe, that you may have been born as a result of rape, incest or that you were in fact a foundling. Maybe you were conceived as result of an extra marital affair or your birth mother was nothing more than a child herself. All these scenarios cause different emotions which should be thought through before proceeding and again, consideration given as to the likely outcome of a reunion with a mother who gave her child for adoption in one of those 'worst case ' scenarios.

Put yourself in that birth mother’s shoes and consider again how she might have felt both then and will feel now if you re-enter her world. Maybe it will make your ability to approach her easier or harder, but either way, at least you'll know.

Coping with finding a death of a birth parent, if your aim was to meet them, can be desperately hard, and of course, can be discussed with your counsellor. After a long slog, the finding of a death can close a journey so abruptly, so again examine how you'll feel if you happen across this.



Although it's my search who else does it affect?

As has been said, it is the adoptee's search and no one else's, although other people are involved to various degrees. Their thoughts and feelings may play a part in this search; in the way you go about things and to whom you can feel comfortable talking to about it.


  • Yourself. Explore what you really feel before you embark upon the search. Are you ready? If not, don't start! Don’t ever feel pressured by anyone else that it is something you have to do, you don’t have to if you don’t want to!


  • Your Husband/wife/partner. It is a good idea to have a spouse/partner with you in spirit. Whilst undergoing your search there will be days, weeks even, when you feel elation or despair which will be hard to disguise or your feelings may manifest themselves as anger or jubilation, and it is far better to be in a position to share with those that love you, than to have to try to cover it up. A partner may not understand why you need to know, they don’t have to, and although it might make things more difficult emotionally, it is still considered better when they are aware that you are doing it.


  • Your children. Are your children of an age to understand the concept that you are exploring? Will it confuse them as to who you are, or indeed who they are? Will it confuse them as to their loyalties if and when your search comes to fruition, as to who is who, and where they stand with whom? If you have any doubts that they will not understand the concept, keep it until they do.


  • Your Adoptive parents. This is always a difficult one, and depends on how open you feel your parents were with you about your adoption. People that have had a chance to talk with their adoptive parents freely and openly over the years about the fact that they were adopted may find it easier than those for whom it was a closed subject, or indeed kept a complete secret and the adoptee has discovered rather than having been told.

If you feel you can tell your adoptive parents, it is probably better that they know. They love you and maybe able to fill in some more blanks that will help you on your way. They after all may know facts that they haven’t told you, quite simply because you haven't felt the need to ask up until now.

Adoptive parents are not a naive as we are given to believe. There are few that do not realise that this search is something their adopted child may one day want to embark upon. They may have reservations, or feel a little put out, and if so then the quieter and calmer you are about it, the better.


  • Your birth family. Of course your search may have implications for them. The circumstances surrounding your birth maybe be completely in the open and common knowledge amongst subsequent husbands, partners or siblings, but of course it may not. It cannot be stressed enough, that a birth mother’s 'here and now' must be given consideration irrespective of an adoptee's needs and wants however hard that is for the adoptee. The adoptee that tries to breezes back into a birth mother’s life is likely to get a less favourable reception than one who has tactfully and quietly made an advance and respected the birth mother’s feelings and has proved by their actions that they can be discreet and diplomatic.



Sources to aid in the search for a birth parent

  • The Register of Electors will soon become familiar to you, and will no doubt be searched on countless occasions. These are available only in the locality to which they are relevant. They can only be searched by address - the address at which a birth parent lived when you were born is a good start point.
  • Births, Deaths and Marriages indexes. Hours spent closely examining birth death and marriage registers will soon become a time consuming interest. Record your findings and note where and when you have looked. Make notes and record every possibility just in case.
  • Telephone directories/on line directories. Make a list of all the occurrences of the right name, and cross reference them with the electoral roll. Probably the last thing you would ever do is to actually telephone someone you thought to be a birth parent, but using a telephone directory to gather name occurrences is a good idea.
  • My Folks Website A site to search and place messages to find family and friends in the UK. They'll not only help and advise you in your search, they'll laugh and cry with you too. They do make a charge for their services (although not just for talking and advising), which can be quite costly - this can amount to around £200.



What are the costs involved in searching?

In working out what costs will be incurred, one needs to think further than simply financial costs. Other things to consider are time, energy and emotional cost as well as monetary.

Time will have to be put aside for counselling session(s) as well as for travel to register offices and maybe even to the GRO. Research can be very time consuming, and when a critical point it reached can be 'life encompassing' and needs to be strictly disciplined so that it does not become your whole life. Never forget that your family needs you now! Do you have that time without making too many sacrifices?

Searching through Birth, Death and Marriage records costs little, if anything. What needs to be thought out is how to pay for the inevitable certificates that will be required and expenses such as travel. A telephone is a useful asset, and a very draining resource - if every last penny you can muster goes into research, something or someone is bound to suffer. Set yourself a budget and try and stick to it.


Some Useful Addresses

Office of National Statistics (ONS)

Adopted Children Register (and/or) Adoption Contact Register
Smedley Hydro
Trafalgar Road
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2HH
Tel:01514 714 313





Adoption UK

46 The Green
South Bar Street
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 9AB
Tel: 01295 752240 (9am – 5pm)
Fax: 01295 752241
Helpline 0844 848 7900 (10am – 4pm)
Website: Adoption UK
Email: admin@adoptionuk.org.uk.


The General Register Office (Northern Ireland)

Oxford House
49-55 Chichester Street
Belfast
BY1 4HL


The General Register Office (Republic of Ireland)

8 - 11 Lombard Street
Dublin 2


The General Register Office (Scotland)

Adoption Unit
New Register House
Edinburgh
EH1 3YT


National Organisation for the Counselling of Adoptees and Parents (Norcap)

112 Church Road
Wheatley
Oxfordshire
OX33 1LU
Tel:01865 875 000


After Adoption

12-14 Chapel Street
Manchester
M3 7NN
Tel: 0161 839 4930
Website: After Adoption


Post Adoption Centre

8 Torriano Mews
Torriano Avenue
London
NW5 2RZ
Tel:020 7284 0555
Website: Post Adoption Centre


Public Search Rooms - Family Record Office

1 Myddleton Street
London
EC1 1UW
Tel:01704 569 824



A-Z of County/Local Council Contacts

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ


A


B

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

512a Heathway
Dagenham
Essex
RM10 7SL
Tel: 020 8227 5802 or 020 8227 5949 (outside office hours – answering machine)
Website: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council
e-mail: fostering@lbbd.gov.uk
Adoption Support Services Co-ordinator
E-mail:tom.parkes@lbbd.gov.uk


London Borough of Barnet

Adoption Team
Barnet House
1255 High Road
London
N20 0EJ
Tel: 020 8359 5701
Fax: 020 8359 5754
Website: Barnet Online - London Borough of Barnet website
e-mail: adoption@barnet.gov.uk


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Services Department
Wellington House
36 Wellington Street
Barnsley
Yorkshire , S70 1WA
Tel: 01226 775476
Fax: 01226 773099
Website: Barnsley MBC
e-mail: townhall@barnsley.gov.uk


Bedfordshire County Council

Social Services Department
Houghton Close
Ampthill
MK45 2TG
Tel: 01525 631043/631084
Fax: 01525 840551
Website: Bedfordshire County Council
e-mail: care@bedscc.gov.uk


Bexley Council

Children's Placement Service
Howbury Centre
Slade Green Road
Erith
Kent DA8 2HX
Tel: 020 8303 7777 ext. 3827/3830
Website: Child Placements Service
e-mail: adoption&fostering@bexley.gov.uk


Birmingham City Council

Adoption Recruitment
203 Corporation Street
Birmingham
B4 6SE
Tel: 0121 303 7575
Website: Adoption and Fostering - We Need You!
Email: A&FRecruit@birmingham.gov.uk


Blackburn with Darwen Council

Social Services Department
Jubilee House
Jubilee Street
Blackburn , BB1 1ET
Tel: 0800 328 6919
Fax: 01254 587318
Website: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
e-mail: familyplacement@blackburn.gov.uk


Blackpool Borough Council

Housing & Social Services Department
Progress House
Clifton Road
Blackpool FY4 4US
Tel: 01253 477477
Website: Blackpool Council - Home
e-mail: Fosteringandadoption@blackpool.gov.uk


Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Services Department
Woodlands
Manchester Road
Bolton , BL3 2PQ
Tel: 01204 337840
Fax: 01204 337489
Website: Children's Services
e-mail: bolton@bolton.gov.uk


Bournemouth Borough Council

The Family Placement Team
Maxwell Road Depot
Maxwell Road
Winton
Bournemouth BH9 1DL
Tel: 01202 456743
Fax: 01202 451000
Website: Welcome to Bournemouth Borough Council Online
e-mail: adoption@bournemouth.gov.uk


Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Bracknell Family Placement Team
Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell , Berkshire , RG12 1JD
Tel: 01344 351 582
Fax: 01344 351 521
Minicom: 01344 352 045 (text phone via the general switchboard)
Website: Bracknell Forest Borough Council
e-mail: family.placement@bracknell-forest.gov.uk


Bradford City Council

Social Services Department Adoption Team
Aire Building
35 Saltaire Road
Shipley
West Yorkshire
BD18 3HH
Service Advice line : 01274 437343
Recruitment Hotline : 01274 434331
Fax: 01274 740456
Website: Bradford Council


London Borough of Brent

Chesterfield House
9 Park Lane
Wembley
Middlesex , HA9 7RW
Tel: 020 8937 4522/4525
Fax: 020 8937 4520
Website: Welcome to Brent Council
e-mail: customerservices@brent.gov.uk


Brighton and Hove Council

Fostering and Adoption Team
253 Preston Road
Brighton , BN1 6SE
Tel: 01273 295444
Fax: 01273 295445
King's House
Grand Avenue
Hove , BN3 2LS
Tel: 01273 295031
Website: Fostering & Adoption
e-mail: fostering@brighton-hove.gov.uk


Bristol City Council

Social Services Department
Family Placement Team (Recruitment)
Social Services and Health
Avonvale Road
Redfield
Bristol BS5 9RJ
Tel: 0117 954 8545
Fax: 0117 941 2103
Minicom: 0117 954 8548
Website: Bristol City Council


London Borough of Bromley

Bromley Social Services & Housing
Joseph Lancaster Hall
Civic Centre
Bromley
Kent BR1 3UH
Tel: 020 8313 4193
Fax: 020 8313 4086
Website: Bromley Council
e-mail: fostering&adoption@bromley.gov.uk


Buckinghamshire County Council

Adoption & Permanence Team
Social Services Department
Council Offices
King George V Road
Amersham
Bucks, HP6 5BN
Tel: 01494 732134
Fax: 01494 732749


Post Adoption Team
Social Services Department
County Hall
Aylesbury
Bucks, HP20 1YU
Tel: 01296 387935
Fax: 01296 383182
Website: Fostering
e-mail: enquiries@buckscc.gov.uk


Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

Personal and Community Services
Social Services Department
Accommodation Services
18/20 St Mary's Place
Bury, BL9 0DZ
Tel: 0161 253 5457
Fax: 0161 253 5466
Website: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
e-mail: FosteringandAdoption@bury.gov.uk


C


Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale

Adoption & Permanence Team
Calderdale Social Services
Ovenden Hall
Ovenden Road
Halifax HX3 5QG
Tel:01422 353279
Fax: 01422 323287
Website: www.calderdale.gov.uk
e-mail: enquiries.socserv@calderdale.gov.uk


Cambridgeshire County Council

Fostering & Adoption Services ( Cambridge , South & East Cambs )
18 - 20 Signet Court
Swann's Road
Cambridge CB5 8LA
Freephone number:0800 052 0078
Duty:01223 718388
Fax: 01223 718656


Fostering & Adoption Services (Huntingdon & Fenland)

Buttsgrove Centre
38 Buttsgrove Way
Huntingdon
Cambs PE29 1LY
Freephone number:0800 052 0078
Tel:01480 376404
Fax: 01480 376409


Intercountry Adoption:

18 - 20 Signet Court
Swann's Road
Cambridge CB5 8LA
Telephone:01223 718417
Website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
e-mail: Stephanie.Bishop@socserv.camcnty.gov.uk or :Sue.Gunns@socserv.camcnty.gov.uk


London Borough of Camden

Adoption Team
115 Wellesley Road
London , NW5 4PA
Tel:020 7974 6165 ( 9.00 am to 5.00pm weekdays)
Fax: 020 7974 6799
Website: www.camden.gov.uk
e-mail: info@camden.gov.uk


Cheshire County Council

Family Placement Service
FREEPOST NATE1105
Chester CH1 1ZZ
Adoption Hotline:01244 602222
Website: www.adoptionincheshire.co.uk
e-mail: adoption@cheshire.gov.uk

Corporation of London

Community Services Department
PO Box 270
Guildhall
London
EC2P 2EJ
Tel:020 7332 1224
Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Cornwall County Council

Adoption and Family Finding Unit
13 Treyew Road
Truro , TR1 2BY
Tel:01872 270251
Fax:01872 260557 or 01872 270340
Website: www.cornwall.gov.uk
e-mail: SSD.adoption@cornwall.gov.uk


Coventry City Council

Family Placement Service
Stoke House
Lloyd Crescent
Wyken
Coventry CV2 5NY
Tel:024 7665 9504
Fax: 024 7665 9004
Website: www.coventry.gov.uk
e -mail: familyplacementservice@coventry.gov.uk


London Borough of Croydon

Adoption Team
Social Services Department
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon, CR9 2BA
Tel:0800 389 0129
Fax: 020 8760 5665
Website: www.croydon.gov.uk
e-mail: child.care@croydon.gov.uk


Cumbria County Council

3 Victoria Place
Carlisle , CA1 1EH
Tel:01228 606060
Fax: 01228 606327
Website: www.cumbria.gov.uk
e-mail: information@cumbriacc.gov.uk




D

Darlington Borough Council

Adoption Team
Central House
Gladstone Street
Social Services Department
Town Hall
Darlington
Co Durham , DL31 6JX5QT
Tel:01325 346227 0191 386 3719
Fax: 01325 346474
Website: www.darlington.gov.uk
e-mail: DFWadoption@aol.com


Derby City Council

Adoption Team,
Social Services,
Perth Street Office,
Derby DE21 6XX
Tel: 01332 718000
Fax: 01332 256154
Website: www.derby.gov.uk


Derbyshire County Council

Social Services Department
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire , DE4 3AG
Tel: 01629 772205 (9.00am–12.30pm weekdays)
Fax: 01629 585995
Website: www.derbyshire.gov.uk
e-mail: call.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk


Devon County Council

South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon districts
Adoption Unit,
Foxhole
Dartington
Totnes
Devon TQ9 6EB
Tel:01803 869038
Fax:01392 386609


Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon districts

Adoption Unit
Ivybank
45 St David's Hill
Exeter , EX4 4DN
Tel: 01392 384968
Fax: 01392 384984


North Devon and Torridge district

Adoption Unit
20 St Georges Road
Barnstaple EX32 7AU
Tel:01271 388069
Fax:01271 388079
Website: www.devon.gov.uk
e-mail: adoption@devon.gov.uk


Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Services Department
PO Box 251
The Council House
College Road
Doncaster
South Yorkshire , DN1 3DA
Tel: 01302 737968 or 01302 737059

Fax: 01302 736673

Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk
e-mail: adoption@doncaster.gov.uk


Dorset County Council

East Dorset Area Adoption and Fostering address:
Pippins
Hanham Road
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 1AS
Tel: 01202 889969


West Dorset Area Adoption and Fostering address:

Acland Road
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1SH
Tel: 01305 251414
Policy queries
Social Services Directorate Dorset
County Hall
Colliton Park
Dorchester DT1 1XJ
Tel: 01305 224389
Website: www.dorsetforyou.com
e-mail: socialcare@dorsetcc.gov.uk


Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Services Department
Ednam House
1 St James Road
Dudley
West Midlands DY1 3JJ
Tel:01384 815891
Website: www.dudley.gov.uk


Durham County Council

Social Care and Health
Fostering and Adoption
Durham Resource Centre
Littleburn Business Centre
Mill Road
Langley Centre
County Durham DH7 8ET
Tel: 0191 370 6100
Fax: 0191 383 4500
Website: www.durham.gov.uk

E

East Sussex County Council

Adoption Services
Social Services Department
St Mary's House
52 St Leonard 's Road
Eastbourne
East Sussex BN21 3UU
Tel:01323 747154
Fax:01323 747426
Website: www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk
e-mail: information.line@eastsussexcc.gov.uk


London Borough of Enfield

Social Services Office
Southgate Town Hall
Green Lanes
Palmers Green
London N13 4XD
Tel:020 8379 8490
Fax:020 8379 2699
Website: www.enfield.gov.uk/adoption/index.html
e-mail: Ingrid.perkins@enfield.gov.uk


Essex County Council

The Central Adoption Team
Eckard House
Easton Road
Witham
Essex CM8 2DW
Telephone:01376 516767
Fax:01376 515891
Website: www.essexcc.gov.uk
e-mail: myrna.fahie@essexcc.gov.uk
If you live in Chelmsford, Basildon, Rochford, or Castle Point
Families for Children (South Team)
Essex Adoption Service
Ely House
Ely Way
Basildon
Essex SS14 2BQ
Tel:01268 643282
Fax:01268 643202
If you live in Colchester, Tendring, Maldon or Braintree
Families for Children (East Team)
Rose House
St Albrights
1 London Road
Stanway
Colchester
Essex CO3 5NS
Tel:01206 714650
Fax:01206 369113
If you live in Harlow, Epping, Uttlesford or Brentwood
Families for Children (West Team)
No 5 Astra Centre
Edinburgh Way
Harlow
Essex CM20 2BE
Tel:01279 437994
Fax:01279 432477

F


G

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

The Adoption Team
Learning and Children
Gateshead Council
Council Offices
Prince Consort Road
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear NE8 4HJ
Tel:0191 433 8333
Website:www.gateshead.gov.uk/socserv/fostering.htm
e-mail:adoptionandfostering@gateshead.gov.uk


Gloucestershire County Council

The Adoption Team
Sandford Park House
39-41 London Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Tel:01242 532 597
Website:www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/adoption
e-mail:adoption@gloucestershire.gov.uk


London Borough of Greenwich

Adoption Team
147 Powis Street
Woolwich
London , SE18 6JL
Tel:020 8921 2752
Fax:020 8921 2790
Website: www.greenwichkids.org.uk
e-mail:adoption@greenwich.gov.uk

H

London Borough of Hackney

Adoption and Fostering
205 Morning Lane
London E9 6JX
Tel:0800 0730 418
Fax:020 8356 4072
Website:www.hackney.gov.uk/socialservices/soc-cfs.htm
e-mail:info@hackney.gov.uk


Halton Borough Council

Halton Adoption & Fostering Services
Halton Borough Council (covering Runcorn & Widnes in Cheshire)
Grosvenor House
Halton Lea
Runcorn WA7 2ED
Tel:01928 704 360
Fax:01928 704 378
Website: www.halton.gov.uk
e-mail: adoption&fostering@halton-borough.gov.uk


London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Adoption Team
2nd Floor
Barclay House
Effie Road
London SW6 1EN
Tel:0800 169 3497
Fax:020 8576 5078
Website: www.lbhf.gov.uk
e-mail: information@lbhf.gov.uk


Hampshire County Council

Non-relative adoptions & Intercountry Adoptions
County Adoption Team
Hamble Cottage
Glen Road
Swanwick
Southampton SO31 7HD
Tel:01489 587000
Fax:01489 587015
Post Adoption
County Adoption Services
Glen House
Glen Road
Swanwick
Southampton SO31 7HD
Tel:01489 587543 or 587548
Fax:01489 575594
Website: www.hants.gov.uk/hcc


Haringey Council

4th Floor
40 Cumberland Road
Wood Green
London N22 7SG
Tel:020 8489 3774
Fax:020 8489 3299
Website:www.haringey.gov.uk
e-mail: sandra.smith@haringey.gov.uk and sarah.peel@haringey.gov.uk


London Borough of Harrow

Family Placement Service
Harrow People First
429 – 433 Pinner Road
North Harrow HA1 4HN
Tel 020 8863 0166 or 020 8863 5544
Fax:020 8424 8045
Website: www.harrow.gov.uk
e-mail: adoption@harrow.gov.uk


Hartlepool Borough Council

Aneurin Bevan House
35 Avenue Road
Hartlepool
Cleveland , TS24 8HD
Tel:01429 523926
Fax:01429 523906
Website:www.hartlepool.gov.uk
e-mail:ray.morris@hartlepool.gov.uk


London Borough of Havering

Family Placement Service
Midland House
109-113 Victoria Road
Romford
Essex RM1 2LX
Tel:01708 434577
Website:www.havering.gov.uk
e-mail:info@havering.gov.uk


Herefordshire Council

Team Manager (Adoption)
The Children's Resource Team
Moor House
Widemarsh Common
Herefordshire HR4 9NA
Tel:01432 262835
Fax:01432 279096
Website:www.herefordshire.gov.uk
e-mail:ssh_adoption@herefordshire.gov.uk


Hertfordshire County Council

Social Services Department
County Hall
Hertford SG13 8DP
Area teams:
Adoption Team ( East Herts ):
16 Warren Park Road
Bengeo
Hertfordshire SG14 3JD
Tel:01992 509 437
Adoption Team ( West Herts ):
Old Parkway School
Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire AL8 6JD
Tel:01707 897 654
Website:www.hertsdirect.org
e-mail:hertsdirect@hertscc.gov.uk


London Borough of Hillingdon

Fostering and Adoption Team
Children's Resources
855 Uxbridge Road
Hayes
Middlesex, UB4 8HZ
Tel:01895 277850 ( 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday)
Fax:01895 277851
Website:www.hillingdon.gov.uk
e-mail:bvenn@hillingdon.gov.uk


London Borough of Hounslow

The Permanent Placement Team
The Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow TW3 4DN
Tel:020 8583 3437
Fax:020 8583 3444
Website:www.hounslow.gov.uk
e-mail:adoptioninfo.sshp@hounslow.gov.uk

I

Isle of Wight County Council

Jennie Dix -Team Manager
Adoption Services
Isle of Wight Council
St James's Centre
4&5 St James's Street
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 5HE
Tel:01983 814370/ 01983 821000
Fax:01983 612918
Website:www.southcoastadoption.co.uk
e-mail:jennie.dix@iow.gov.uk


London Borough of Islington

Islington Adoption Service
12 Highbury Crescent
London N5 1RN
Tel:020 7527 4400
Fax:020 7527 4401
Website:www.islington.gov.uk/adoption
e-mail:adoption@islington.gov.uk


J


K


L


M


N


O


P


Q


R


S


T


U


V


W


XYZ

Retrieved from "https://reference.familytreeforum.com/index.php?title=Adoption&oldid=5884"
GNU Free Documentation License 1.3
Powered by MediaWiki