Agencies?

[Shannonlynn]

Hi all,

I have now been in contact either via phone with a social worker or open events with all three agencies in my area, Families for children, South west council & Barnardos.

Although they all have the same goal, what is apparent is that all three are different in what they do and the children they hope to place. They also differ with how they pride themselves, whether that be the after help or trying their upmost to ensure we have one sw all the way through the process.

What I’m asking for is opinions and experiences on these? To help us make that big decision as to who to have help us make our family.

Thank you :)

Personally having one social worker would not be my issue. I had three in the end and it took almost two years from start to finish, so some flexibility is going to be helpful.

What sort of child are you hoping to adopt? Pick the local authority or agency best able to place this type of child And provide best support during and crucially after adoption.

IFA's just have children placed from LA's, Where as things have changed with LA's in Larger District's such as Manchester/ London many LA's are now joined up so when applying in Manchester for example will include several LA's and even extend too Cheshire,

After Adoption services would be the same. There would be no Guarantee as too same social worker as is the profession.
Wish you the best of luck.

@Shannonlynn that's why I asked what type of child you are hoping to adopt.

Voluntary agencies will have harder to place children since local authorities will place their own, then voluntarily agencies may find adopters for those children in local authority care.

Hi,

Thank you both for your responses. :)

We are looking for a child between the ages of 2-5, we would consider siblings and open to what we could cope with right now, male, female it doesn’t matter. However we are only at the very start of this journey. I know that the ‘harder to place children’ really range. We are leaning towards either families for children or barnardos at the moment over the local authority.

I just wanted to hear what people’s experiences are of any of the above, so that we make the right decision when filing in the application.

Thank you :)

@Shannonlynn can I ask you why you'be come to the conclusion not to go for LA but go for voluntary agency?

I think as you are quite open to age etc and siblings then this could be good for you but just wondered why.

Hi, I think because when I have spoken and met with each of these. I got a better vibe off of barnardos and FFC compared to LA. Not that they were not nice, because they were, I guess it was just a feeling I had.

I think it is good to trust your gut feelings.

My LO came from one of the councils in South West Councils, and I have to say their appalling OFSTED is well deserved, and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

"Hard to place" is a fairly meaningless phrase. We went through a VA, and adopted a healthy baby. Friends went through the LA, had a 'hard to place' child, and disrupted.

You're in this for life, or at least for up to 18 years. Make sure the support is going to be there, and trust your gut. The LA I have experience of couldn't support a bookshelf, for 18 seconds, let alone a family for 18 years.

Congratulations on your baby son :)

Thank you for your honest opinion, we have actually asked barnardos to come to our home now, I hope that they are positive & can give us all the support me need. We may also ask FFC to do the same, because we liked them too. :)

Thank you

Hi there. We have just been matched with our LO, and we have been through the process with Barnardos.

We have been really happy with our experience. Everyone we have come into contact with has been highly professional, and genuinely kind and sensitive. They have been caring, and with us every step of the way on what has been a really tough process at times.

It's correct that they officially have access to the 'harder to place children, but we looked at many little ones who do not have a particularly high level of need. Obviously depends on your individual situation, and what you feel able to manage.

If we adopt again further down the line we'll go back to them.