Support for adoptive families

If you live in Southwark and have adopted a child or young person under 18 years old, there are many types of support offered.  

Advice

• Phone or email advice
• Twice yearly newsletter
• Referral to and information about a large number of agencies and organisations

Contact between adoptive families and birth relatives

• Confidential letterbox system of indirect contact between adopted children and birth relatives
• Support to birth relatives and adopters involved in the letterbox system 
• Assisting with direct contact with family members

Support groups

• Information about workshops
• Support groups for parents and for children aged 11 and over
• Annual adoption party

Financial

• Advice on welfare and benefits
• One off or regular support payments for those identified as having specific needs
• We do not make retrospective payments for expenses already incurred by adopters

Who is eligible for support?

Adoptive parents living in Southwark and their children can apply for an adoption support needs assessment.

You can apply for a needs assessment if:

• Your child was placed by Southwark Council and you live in Southwark
• Your child was placed by Southwark Council, you do not live in Southwark but the adoption order was made less less than three years ago
• Your child was placed by an adoption agency or another local authority more than three years ago (if it was less than three years ago, you should approach that local authority for adoption support)
• You live in Southwark and you are a birth relative of an adopted child or adult, you can apply in relation to contact issues
• You live in Southwark and you adopted your child through inter country adoption

Needs assessment

Any assessment of need follows the same standards and framework for all other 'children in need'.

This is defined by central government, but is adapted to take into account the special circumstances of adopted children. Many requests for advice and support will not need a full assessment and can usually be dealt with quickly.

More complex needs may take longer to assess.

We will fully involve and inform you throughout the process.