Adoption Order- what happens next ?

[Hotdogandmustard]

I've name changed for this one.

After a very very intense and beyond challenging 4 years with SW's we are expecting the Adoption Order (First Hearing) for my 8 year old daughter to be granted in a few weeks.

Can we exercise our full parental rights there and then in terms of dealings with the SW's, school and other Bodies after my daughter's SW rings to say the AO has been granted ?? Or do we have to wait for a letter from the Court, or even wait weeks/months for the new birth certificates to do this ? I know that we will have to wait a few weeks to get a new NHS no. too.

Also, I know that both sets of SW's need to finish things off before closing the cases but during this time do they have any ability to give 'advice' or ask for updates or to have meetings ??

After 2 years of Placement my husband and I desperately need to finally be able to be in charge and to do things our way without the interference of SW's. We have had more than enough of SW's but obviously understand that we need to continue to smile and nod for as long as we do need to.

I think that our daughter's SW would need to only visit just ONCE more - for a Goodbye Visit ?

If our SW requests a Goodbye visit either virtually or in person can we just write a goodbye email,
& say we are unavailable ?! Or is there a Statutory obligation to have an official goodbye visit?

We have had numerous (rubbish) SW's over the last 4 years and the current one for only 2 months. We won't be keeping in contact with any of them. But obviously will access PAS as and when needed.

We are just so tired of the whole thing now.

Wow, poor you going through such a long process before the adoption order was granted!
For us, the adoption order was granted. There is then 28 days to appeal from birth parents and then the final order is made. After the final order is made, we had our final visit from SW where the later in life letter was handed over.

Hmmm... we were told by the SW's that if birth parents do NOT Contest before or at the Hearing then the Adoption Order is Made there and then and that it... it's 100% official. Birth parents have been sent a letter giving the opportunity to ask to Contest.

We will be fuming (again) if the SW's have yet again told us misleading information.

Yes there’s a chance to appeal before the adoption order but there’s definitely a 28 day period before the final order (I only know because our adoption order was made in October and then the final order came through in November). Very rare that an appeal happens after the adoption order though because they have to contest the judge’s decision at the adoption order. I know our personal SW closed our case after the adoption order but our LO SW wanted to wait until the final order. As soon as you have that final order, that’s full parental responsibility to you. The letter tells you how to send off for the certificates. They only take a couple of weeks.

I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time!

It's so long ago for us but if I remember correctly there are two hearings, the first directions hearing, then one a month later, which would be the final opportunity for BPs to appeal.
My son had a new SW six months before court, I don't remember ever meeting her. Certainly no statutory requirement to have a goodbye meeting. If she is so new she is unlikely to push it anyway. Letters can be posted/emailed.
I recognise only too well that wanting to be rid of SWs. Hope it all goes smoothly.
The papers arrived quite quickly, I just cracked after the court hearing,the SW wasnt interested. (though she did try and stop us going on holiday in April - hearing was in May, therin lies a tale !)

Cracked on that is !

The birth parents have already been notified of the Adoption Application. The Court sent them paperwork.

I have received ONE letter about any kind of Hearing. It says that this Hearing will be the 'last chance to try to prevent the adoption taking place'. It goes on to say that if birth parents don't try to Contest it then at this Hearing referrrd to in the letter the Judge will 'make a final adoption order'.

Does anyone know what this means ?

I should have posted this under my normal mumsnet name - lol.

Thank you @Noimaginationforaun and @Ted27.

You and all the other regular posters have given so much valuable information and advice over the years.

Its really confusing. I looked at the gov.uk site and First4Adoption, both only mentioned 1 hearing.

We definitely had 2 but maybe that was to resolve issues or paperwork

My online research in the absence of anything from.the SW's said that there was a First Directions Hearing and then a Final Hearing.

The First Directions Hearing is apparently where the judge would have an initial look at the Paperwork. Then 1. Request the SW's to complete their paperwork and 2. Send a letter to birth family telling them about the application and giving them an opportunity to ask to Contest.

The Judge has already done all of this as I had a letter telling me they had.

The only letter I have that refers to any Hearing contains the excerpts above.

I have asked the Court about it all - they said ask the SW's. My SW said he has no idea. My child's SW was very wooley. So... I thought I'd ask my fellow Adopters!

yes thats it, we had the first directions hearing, I think thats the last point at which there could be an appeal, then the Final hearing after which we got the paperwork

Bp are send a letter of the court date & are asked to put in writing if they are going to contest plus the reasons why they think the adoption should not be granted. It says they have to do it before the court date but they can just turn up on the day & contest. This happened to our friends. In our case the bp didn't respond or turn up so the order was granted at the first direction hearing. They then have 28 days after the order has been granted to appeal it at the high Court.
After those 28 days we had a goodbye visit with both sw.
Good luck with the hearing I hope it all goes smoothly.

Post adoption order you are the child’s parents, if you don’t want to meet social workers you don’t need to - there’s no legal basis for them to be involved in your family life any more. You should already be able to deal directly with the school and other bodies as the you have parental rights to the extent needed to parent daily and make decisions for the child.

While there’s technically a right of appeal, the adoption order takes effect from the day it’s granted, the rights and powers don’t sit in limbo waiting for an appeal. So yes, finally you can leave social workers behind.

We also had a first directions hearing, followed by the final hearing. We didn’t get a goodbye visit after the adoption order was granted, we just exchanged some calls and e-mails.

Just remember not to burn any bridges with social workers, as you are likely to need things from them after the adoption order (for example, your daughter will probably have a bank account with some savings and they need to transfer that to you which might take some time. You may also need a letter from them while you wait for the adoption order and certificate to confirm the adoption).

The court application and social workers report can be submitted at the same time which removes the need for a directions hearing about timescales etc.
the order is usually made if BP don’t turn up at court and contest etc however all orders are subject to a 28 day appeal period.
The date of the order is when it’s made not 28 days later

Thank you for everyone's comments.

We were very confused.... The Hearing has now been held and the AO has been granted. There's no 21/28 day appeal period.

We absolutely understand about not burning bridges. We have remained incredibly professional and everything has been ended very well. The SW's are just finishing things off and my daughter will have a brief goodbye visit from her SW.

To clarify.. apparently LA's do the Adoption Court process differently. Our daughter's 'First' Court Hearing was actually the very last one. We dont understand it but it's not important now. The legalities are complete and we can move forwards ....

So pleased that it’s all sorted and legalised for you! It certainly sounded like a very complicated process you’ve been through!

Congratulations!

Many congratulations - go and enjoy being parents to your little one.

I should have asked where you are in the UK - the process in Scotland is how you describe, very often the first hearing is the only one and the order is granted there and then.

For my eldest, his SW wouldn’t provide life story letter etc and kept saying she needed to visit us to hand it over. My SW stepped in and stopped it but it took a further 6 months to get it off them despite my SWs constant chasing even though effectively her case was closed.

We could change names on everything bar the doctors, they said they had to wait for notification from court (?) to then give new nhs number and redact all old info on medical records, and that took a few months.

For youngest he has had a different social worker thankfully who has been fab so we want to do goodbye meetings with them and invite to celebration hearing (if we can have one).