Due to a fire in Walworth Town Hall on Monday 25 March, the Walworth One Stop Shop, Cuming Museum and Newington Library are closed. Alternative locations are now available for many affected services.
Can I adopt?
Is adoption right for me?
All sorts of people can adopt - children need new families for a variety of 
reasons and no one child is the same, so we try and make a best fit match between the child and the adoptive parents. This can be:
- Childless couples
- Couples with children
- Single people with or without children
- People over 40
- People who are gay or lesbian
There are a few factors which would automatically rule you out, such as anyone who has committed offences against children.
At the moment we are looking for parents from all ethnicities and backgrounds to give homes to the children we have.
We can also advise you on all the options available if you're considering adopting a child.
Fill our online form to request further information about adoption.
UK residency
A single person (or one of a couple) must reside in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man or each applicant must have been habitually resident in any part of the British Islands for at least a year before an adoption order is made.
Fertility treatment
We need you to have concluded your fertility treatment before you start on the path to adoption. The adoption process is time consuming and intense. It is better to undertake one process at a time
Financial aspects
You do not need to earn loads of money or live in a big house. Financial help, including regular payments, may be available depending on the child's needs. A social worker will be able to discuss this with you.
Other things that we consider
If you are going to adopt, you need to ask yourself some heart-searching questions and be honest with yourself about the answers.
- Do you have the time to incorporate a child into your life?
- How many changes are you willing to make to your lifestyle in order to accommodate a new member of your family?
- Can you cope with feeling rejected by a child?
- Will you be able to cope with seeing progress in small steps?
- How would you feel when your child is a teenager and in the heat of a row they say 'you're not my real mum' or 'you're not my real dad'?
All these are realistic questions that you need to ask yourself when considering if adoption is right for you.
