Why so long?

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Rant alert!

We noted interest in February, had initial meeting with LA SW approximately two weeks later, it took approximately 5/6 weeks for our GP's to receive medical forms. Medicals took place within the week and forms sent back. They were delayed at councils business support and now delayed at their own medical assessor due to a back log. So 5 months later and still waiting to go to prep workshops before being allowed to officially apply.

I knew it was a long process but with the new legislation to speed things up I didn't think it would be quite this long to get the application!

Is this time frame normal?

Sorry for the rant.

Xx

[Velvet1973]

Very strange way of doing things. I've not come across anyone that's hadmedicals done before applying as that's part of the stage 1 checks.
The normal process now is 2 months for stage 1 and 4 months for stage 2 but not uncommon to have delays along the way.

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

My OH has bipolar so SW didn't want to cause stress of beginning the application process if we would be rejected due to this.

[researchbookworm]

Have you applied for your DBS check yet? It sounds a bit like you are already in stage one. You can't go on to stage 2 until the DBS is back and that is out of the hands of Social Services so it can cause a delay. It can be a frustrating wait but once all your checks are back and your on stage 2 you should find things move a lot more quickly. Good luck!

[researchbookworm]

Sorry- cross posted! It may be that the fact you have had to do things out of order has caused some confusion. That said, I think our Medicals took ages to be sorted too. SW said they had sent the forms 3 weeks before the GP said they received them!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Yeah probably and it seems so many different departments involved in processing the paperwork.

[odyssey2001]

Medicals can take ages and as you said it is because you are doing them pre stage 1, which is unusual.

However, look at it this way, if and when you get to stage 1, it should go a lot quicker without medicals to do.

Good luck.

[KumquatMay]

I feel your pain Choco - we started making enquiries back in January and five months later we've still not yet been accepted onto Stage 1 anywhere! And that's even before starting the potentially time-consuming part! Not sure if this is the norm for others, but it's not what we expected - really hoping we get some news soon.

anyway, sorry to de-rail the thread - hope you hear soon!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

It's so frustrating kumquatmay! And Odyssey great way to look at it actually that hopefully stage 1 will be a bit quicker without the medicals.

Hope you hear soon.

[Whatutalkinboutwillis]

It was 9 months for us from first phone call to starting a prep course. 11 months from phone call to stage 1. Then we were approved 6 months later and matched with our son 1 month after approval. It was worth the wait I promise. Stick in there

[floatyjosmum]

Tbh it looks like they aren't following the procedure.
Once you enquire they should provide initial info within 3 working days and then they have 10 working days to do the initial visit where they should give the registration of interest form .

When you send that in they have 5 working days to make a decision and the day they make the decision is the day that stage 1 starts which should be completed in 2 months .
stage 1 is police check,medical and references . Once back they make a decision about whether they will accept you into stage 2
You then go into stage 2 when you want after a 6 month break they can redo sone checks if the want .
Stage 2 is 4 months and is the assessment, it being written up, going to panel and getting a decision back .

I would chase them up. The guidance also says that of delays are due to medical advisor being busy they should have more!

[MoJangled]

Hi OP, it might be that no-one's rushing because of the situation with waiting children. It might be worth talking to your LA about the situation locally. Nationally, the picture is that the courts are not granting placement orders at anything like the same rate as even 18 months ago. The result is something like 50 adopters for every child that needs an adoptive home, in and around London at least (not sure of stats elsewhere). Those of us who are approved aren't getting any sniffs of matches, and some LAs aren't accepting new adopter applications. The fact that yours has started to progress you is a good sign, but even though all your instincts will be screaming 'hurry up!', there isn't really any rush until the courts manage to unclog the sytem. I'm sure that's no consolation to the frustration though!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Thanks for the info, it is helpful. Just thought it was a bit odd that the cogs would turn so slowly.

I'll keep you all updated.

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

So we finally got the long anticipated phonecall today to say the medicals have passed and the prep groups will be in September! Woohoo xx

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Yey!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Thank you

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Update...we have completed the prep groups in September and on the final day we were told that the LA GP has retired and new GP wants to ask DH's doctor more questions! Two whole months later we're still waiting again to hear if the doc is satisfied with our medicals. The process began in February and we are now in December and still not been given the official application form to adopt from LA. Frustrating as anything!