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Adoption

Moving home

10 replies

Cassie9 · 03/02/2018 08:54

Hi I started a foster to adopt placement in June. I wasn't originally approved for foster to adopt just a standard adoption due to having a birth son. However the agency approached my husband and I with this boy and retrospectively approved us for foster to adopt. Baby came to live with my family at ten days old straight from hospital. He is now almost eight months. Mum was relinquishing and no family were able to take him so we were told it would be straight forward and relatively quick. Our social worker delayed panel three times. We eventually made it to panel in January and were approved. Social worker said we don't have to wait the ten weeks to apply to court and court should take under three months because mum has signed to say she does not want to be notified.
Then we saw a house we really wanted and bought it thinking it wouldn't all go through until after the adoption order. We only rent at the moment so wanted to buy for more stability. Baby is settled and has made attachments. It seemed sensible at the time. Now social worker has said we have to wait for a planning meeting which she has scheduled for a month's time. The house sale might go through before the adoption order and I'm panicking. What will the social workers say about us moving? Have we done something stupid?

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StylishMummy · 03/02/2018 10:12

I'd be very surprised if they look at it negatively as you've provided a safe and stable home and purchasing a house rather than renting is only going to improve on that

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insmithereens · 03/02/2018 10:39

Sure you'll be fine. Wouldn't mention it until you really have to but shouldn't be a problem

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donquixotedelamancha · 03/02/2018 13:09

Now social worker has said we have to wait for a planning meeting which she has scheduled for a month's time.

I assume that's the first LAC review after placement? That's often a more convenient time for the SW, but it's not a requirement. If you've been placed with the child for 10+ weeks, you can apply.

I'm fairly certain that there is no requirement to wait 10 weeks after panel. SW systems are not part of the legal adoption process. You could ring the court to double check if needed.

Have we done something stupid? No.

Before baby is 1 is a good time for moving house. Put the application in now, if it suits you; though as PPs say, moving house is not going to affect the AO. You are the parents, these decisions are yours now.

court should take under three months

Yeah, I wouldn't rely on that. If it's true, the family courts are pretty fast on your area.

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Alljamissweet · 03/02/2018 13:55

Thinking about it a different way, what if your landlord ended you rental agreement? You'd have to move!
Personally SW's don't need to know the circumstanaces of the move Wink but should see it as a massive positive that you are buying a forever home for your forever baby.

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Cassie9 · 03/02/2018 19:48

Thank you so much for your replies. I'd convinced myself the social worker would look at such a big change during the adoption process in a negative light. You've all our my mind at ease.

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Cassie9 · 03/02/2018 19:53

It's definitely a planning meeting the adoption placement review meeting is scheduled for the following week. I really don't understand why we need a planning meeting when he's already living with us and has for over seven months. Thank you for your help

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skysparkle1 · 03/02/2018 23:50

At our Matching Panel, they thought we had moved recently and wanted to know about local support networks and childcare/activities. (We hadn't moved but explained what was around us, which was exactly the same as in all the paperwork)

I wouldn't have thought it would matter too much but do some research to show what there is for baby/child and the networks/links you have.

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Mrscollydog · 04/02/2018 11:11

We moved before the adoption order. There was no issues at all. DD had been home 7 months at the time.

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Cassie9 · 05/02/2018 05:40

Brilliant. That's so reassuring. Thank you

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OlennasWimple · 06/02/2018 12:38

Unless you're moving to a remote island where there are limited opportunities to access support and child-appropriate services, I cna't see that there would be any problem with this at all

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