Advice on approval process when adopting a new sibling?

[Rufus27]

We've just received the Adoption Order for our year old son and finally feel like the pressure of SS on our backs (lovely though our SWs were) has been removed.

Then days later, we were told BP are expecting another! It's too early for us to make any decisions, obviously, but 'if' we were ever to adopt the new sibling, would we have to go through the entire process again? It seems nuts, given that much of the home study would be the same (obviously the massive difference being that we now have DS1 - I can see that a lot of discussion would need to focus on how we would cope with two etc etc - but would we need to do all the other stuff again: essays on our beliefs and values, experiences etc, referees interviewed, reading lists, medicals etc etc?). Just dont know how we'd fit it all in now we are back at work and have a baby to care for?

What makes it harder this time is that the BPs have moved from the local area where they previously had their other DCs removed and are now at the opposite end of the country. Not sure how this would work with the matching process? Would it (the distance) work against us from the perspective of the new DC's SW? And if they chose F2A, how on earth would that work when we and the BP are hundreds of miles apart?

Any advice/experiences appreciated!

[Alltheusernamesaretaken321]

Not experienced this (obvs, you responded to my last post) but I know from an old friend who's waiting to adopt a younger sibling of their son and from the bumpf in the pack of info from a recent open evening that it's a 'fast track' approval process. At least in our area and the old friends area at the other end of the country. HTH

[flapjackfairy]

I think that you can adopt another one within 2 yrs without the need for reapproval . At least that is the rule with our local authority.
Dont know if they all have the same rules though!

[bostonkremekrazy]

we had to go through it all again just 4 months. it was quick and condensed though...4 visits.
referees had to be done
medical - GP just had to write to confirm no changes in our health.

[Rufus27]

Thanks so much - this is really reassuring. It's so hard as at present, there isnt a child to adopt even ... but we just cant help dreaming thinking!

[Bitchfromhell]

A social worker on our team had very similar happen with one of her family's and got the assessment done in 3 months and did all visits in the evenings when their current baby was in bed. She totally went above and beyond and the family are eternally grateful.
Regarding the move of the birth family, that means they will have to have their assessments with the new local authority, it won't change things too much for you though. Your la will still look after things from your end.
tentative congratulations

[donquixotedelamancha]

"I think that you can adopt another one within 2 yrs without the need for reapproval"

I don't think that's possible in any LA. Having a recently adopted child would be a huge change from the original approval report and the panel approval only lasts until the adoption goes through.

@OP, we did exactly what you are describing. You've got a lot more notice than we did :-). Some random thoughts from our experience:

1. Two tiny ones is really hard. Much harder than one. Totally worth it.
   

1. If you want FtA you need to get approved before birth. If you decide to go for it speak to the child's SW to make clear your interest and get pushing through approval ASAP.
   

1. As PP it took us 3 months to get approved and we were placed in 4 months. We had a fab agency who pushed hard to get the child out of FC while still a young baby. Doing this with the crap LA would have been much harder.
   

1. Much of the paperwork was used again, so approval itself wasn't too onerous. Even so, don't underestimate how bloody draining going through two adoptions in quick succession is.
   

1. Having DD2 has been fab for DD1. She looks after her little sister and they have both helped each other develop. It's been a really tough couple of years, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[Rainatnight]

Rufus! What amazing (tentative) news. Is this where our parallel lives diverge? I'll be watching with interest and wishing you all the best.

[Rufus27]

BitchThat's helpful to know. Was forgetting that for the BP, the change in LA will be more significant than us.

Donquix Thanks so much for such insightful comments. Really helpful. The extra work with two under two scares the pants off me, especially as we are older parents, but thinking longer term, I think it would be great for DS to have a similarly aged sibling in his own home (his other siblings are all adopted in pairs).

Rain Such early days, I am too scared to think too hard. I do know that what's happened to us isnt unusual, so maybe our paths will meet again still


Think we are going to have to learn to be patient, as there is very little info available at present. So many possible variables/outcomes that it makes my brain ache!

[flapjackfairy]

I stand corrected then on the 2 yr rule . I was told that by someone whose son adopted from our la 5 yrs ago so she may have got the wrong end of the stick.
Apologies for misinformation !

[tictoc76]

I think a lot of the documentation is valid for two years i.e. Medical, crb etc. In our case we just did an update so dealt with how life has changed since first adoption and how we would practically manage with another. This covered how we would manage day to day so went through our daily timetable and also how we would have time to cover another child's emotional needs.

From what I recall it was 1 or 2 visits to update our PAR but we did have to go to panel again.

[Rufus27]

Tictoc Thanks - that makes sense and I am hoping it'll be the same for us (if we are offered the sibling and if we decided to go ahead ... lots of ifs!). We had to get our CRB and medicals redone as there was more than a year between the initial ones for Stage One and applying for the Adoption Order.