Adopting after fostering

[drestel]

Hi , My husband and I have been fostering a child for about 20months through an agency. We then decided to adopt her, we are only approved as foster carers not adopters but we go to panel next week to be approved as adopters and to matching panel on the same day. My question is do I have the same rights to adoption leave and pay from my employment as other adopters and when should my leave start.

Is your job fostering? I'm a foster carer who has just adopted a baby I fostered. We have been awarded two years of our current pay and we are not allowed to start fostering again until Feb x

You are legally entitled to recieve your fostering allowance plus the child’s allowance for 2 years, you are also entitled to an annual assessment until your child reaches 18, or 21if still in full time education. IF you are working other than as a foster carer then you’d be entitle day To adoption leave. Probably best to get some clear advice from a family lawyer experienced in adoption so that you have an objective view of your families statutory entitlements and make sure they are accurately recorded in the adoption support plan.

Hi Thank you for your messages. Yes I do work and foster. I have sorted it. I am entitled to adoption leave and I meet the criteria for statutory adoption pay. Once the match is approved by ADM a placement plan is made and a date is proposed for the placement to change from one of fostering to an adoption placement. My leave and pay entitlement is exactly the same as any other Adopter using match date and adoption placement date.
This payment is not means tested and is my entitlement in its own right above any foster payment or adoption funding. Hope my experience can help others.