Slow progress - is this normal ?

[BECKS21]

Hi, I’m hoping for some advice.
I contacted my local authority adoption team back in March to enquire about adoption. I’ve attended their info evening in April and answered their initial questions but I’m still at the stage of waiting to arrange a pre-stage 1 home visit.
This seems such a long time and when I have checked in with the adoption team by phone / email I just get a general I’ll hear back soon excuses. Latest one this week was they were having a new team member start and they would be in touch to arrange an appointment to visit in a couple of weeks. So I’m not likely to start the process till July.
Is this normal and am I being too impatient? Or should I contact another LA as we’re on the border of two ?

Thanks x

The whole thing is despairingly slow at every stage. Its awful! Waiting forever, it seems madness. I think its just complete understaffing?

It’s not uncommon and (I hate to say it) Covid is having an impact both in how quickly the process goes and on the number of applications outstanding. Social work departments have had to massively change their working practices, have staff self isolating, and have staff seconded to front line services so they’ll be running short at the moment. It’s frustrating but you’ll need to be very patient, it’s a slow process in normal times and these aren’t normal times.

You could try another authority but the chances are they’ll be in the same boat.

I think if you contacted another authority now, you wouldn’t get started any quicker than July anyway.

Local authorities are under a lot of pressure at the moment, many people encounter delays at some point. And July is only a few weeks away now.

Thanks - I will hold tight and try to be patient