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Adoption

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Original poster

Time from meeting to placement?

14 replies

StupidMistakes · 20/02/2014 19:23

Was just wondering how long it took from meeting your child for the first time til they came to live with you full time?

Was just curious to know tbh

OP posts:

Exellis · 20/02/2014 20:31

Hi we met our two wee ones on 25 March last year and they moved in on 5th April (approx ten days). Brought forward by one day now approaching our first year anniversary scary!

cosmos239 · 20/02/2014 20:51

It depends on the age if the child really. For Unger two's it's usually a week or so for older children can be weeks. What she if child are you thinking about?

Exellis · 20/02/2014 20:57

Ours were aged two and three at the time but all going so well and the children were getting confused. Originally only ever pencilled in for two weeks.

Exellis · 20/02/2014 20:57

Ours were aged two and three at the time but all going so well and the children were getting confused. Originally only ever pencilled in for two weeks.

Original poster

StupidMistakes · 20/02/2014 21:03

Just a little concerned that my ds from court granting a placement order to him living with them it was just ten weeks. I was wondering how long it takes to match a child and them meet the potential adopters and move in really. He was just turned 3

OP posts:

Devora · 20/02/2014 22:28

It really depends, SM. For an infant (under one) it can be very quick: dd moved in with us just six days after meeting us for the first time, and that was just a couple of weeks after matching panel. For an older child, like your son, I would expect it to take longer - because the child has more comprehension and needs it to take longer. I don't see anything unusual in the timescale you describe.

Hels20 · 21/02/2014 08:26

Hi SM - it wasn't that quick for our DS - but I think if the relevant SS are on the ball and after placement order is made they already have a local couple already approved - then it can be that quick. ALthough I would have thought this was exceptional - especially with a 3 year old.

Is your concern that the LA had already assumed that they would get the placement order and so had a couple already lined up? I suppose if that is the case, that must really hurt you and be painful - but please think of your DS and try to think that that was the best for him.

Original poster

StupidMistakes · 21/02/2014 09:02

I just want my questions answered. Ss were assuming he was being placed for adoption before court by trying to reduce contact etc. I think they had already a couple lined up and it concerns me that social services are being dishonest about it. I have met his new parents and would never do anything to unsettle him however I do have questions that I need answers to.

I understand he was going to be easier than some to place as he has no sn and is perfectly healthy

OP posts:

Hels20 · 21/02/2014 09:53

SM - have you asked this question directly to the SS?

Original poster

StupidMistakes · 21/02/2014 13:19

I have, more than once however they haven't been able to give me an answer and I just get told they will "find out for me" but nothing ever comes of it.

OP posts:

FamiliesShareGerms · 22/02/2014 03:41

DD was matched with us formally a month after the placement order was granted ie at the next monthly panel, but she had been linked with us for the best part of four weeks by then. Intros started almost straightaway and she was home with us ten days after.

I think often a couple is being lined up by SS ahead if the court hearing, although that doesn't mean that everyone is in cahoots - we didn't know anything about DD until we were approved but they had been working towards the batch for a little while.

floatyjosmum · 22/02/2014 12:30

Social workers can start looking before the placement order - one question that is often asked at final hearings is the possibility of an adoptive placement.

If the local authority had approved adopters for a child 3+ then the matching process could have been started immediately after.

There are some meetings and paper work that need doing before adoption panel but nothing that can't be sorted in a few weeks.

It also depends on how often they have adoption panels - some have them fortnightly etc.
once the match has been to panel intros can start maybe a week or two later and I wouldn't expect introductions for a 3 year old to go beyond 10 days.

Italiangreyhound · 25/02/2014 00:01

SM I am so sorry that you have not got the answers you need and deserve. I really hope you will get the answers.

TeenAndTween · 28/02/2014 11:32

SM if a child is in care and the SW are going for a placement order, they will at the same time be looking at their approved adopters thinking if any might be a good match. I honestly think this is right and proper. They are not pre-empting the court decision, but are planning ahead.

This means that literally the day after placement order they could be contacting potential adopters and setting up meetings. Say from there it takes 6 weeks for them to be officially matched at the adoption panel, introductions could then start the next week, and for a little 3 year old intros would take 7-14 days.
So yes it can all happen within 10 weeks.

If a child is going to be adopted it is in that child's interests to be placed as soon as is practical. So actually in a way you could view the quick placement as a beneficial thing for your child, not a negative.

(We had 4 weeks of 'getting to know' our girls. This was for the benefit of the elder one who was 8 at the time. But it was way to long for our little one aged 2.5, she just got really confused by all the to-ing and fro-ing.)

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