Quick question about matching

[snail1973]

When you go to panel to be matched, do you then have to wait a week for the agency decision maker to write to you to ratify the decision (as you do when you are approved)?

And how quick do introductions usually start after that ?

And finally, is Xmas an issue ? I thought I'd been td before that agencies don't like to ace a child with a new family too close to Xmas?

Yes, we had to wait a week for the decision to be ratified. This didn't stop us going ahead with arrangements, though, and introductions started 10 days after matching panel.

I don't know about Christmas, but I would be very surprised if a child would be placed in the Christmas period. I don't know how far either side of Christmas this would apply, though.

Are you getting matched, snail?

we were delayed getting dd2 last year because of christmas. things had to be sorted, intros etc at least 7 weks before and it wasnt.we ended up getting her home after intros mid feb.

Thanks, that's useful.

We've had a whisper of some news but nothing definate yet. Nonetheless my mind is working overtime on how it might pan out... :)

All fingers tightly crossed for you!

Hi, we had a matching panel in November, we heard the same day, meeting started within (I think - seems a while back now!) a week, with dd moving in with us in December. She was here for Christmas which was just fantastic - although as we were staying away at Christmas we had to give the full names of the people with whom we were staying, address, phone number etc.
Best of luck

We moved two children on for adoption in late November a couple of years ago.
Good luck for when you do get your LO.

Hi Snail - yes you will have to wait for a letter of confirmation, because the addoption panel can only recommend your approval for adoption. It then has to be passed to a senior manager for final approval and then the letter goes out. It is something of a formality really, because I have never known a senior manager not follow the recommendation of the adoption panel. How long it takes, depends on how much paperwork from the adoption panel (not just on you but all applicants) goes to the senior manager and how quickly he/she reads it all (well to be honest skims I think rather than reads)and then the letter goes out.

Christmas is a problem because there is a view (with which I agree) that christmas is not a "normal" time for families, greater excitement from your own children (if you have any) more relatives/friends calling in and all the hype of Christmas that it is impossible to get away from really, that it is best to delay placement until after Christmas, but I think most agencies would see end November as appropriate because there is time to settle before the "big day" - older children of course may not want to move from their foster carers before christmas, especially if they have been helping to prepare, making sweets and cakes etc.

Anyway hope all goes well for you and whether before or after 25th Dec, best wishes to you.