Fostering then adoption query

[FosterMamaScot]

Name changed for privacy.

Hi all,
We’re foster carers in Scotland, working with an independent fostering agency (IFA), and we’ve found ourselves in a bit of an uncertain situation.

The child in our care has been with us for a while now, and the decision has been made that adoption is the only plan — long-term fostering isn’t being considered. We have a strong bond with them and would love to offer them a forever home, but because we’re with an IFA that doesn’t deal with foster-to-adopt or concurrent care, we’re unsure how this might affect things going forward.

The local authority and social workers are supportive of the idea of the child staying with us long-term, but we don’t know what’s possible under the circumstances. We’re really hoping to hear from others who may have gone through something similar — fostering through an IFA when a child’s plan became adoption. Were you able to adopt? Did the child have to move to an LA carer first? How did it all unfold?

I’ve also posted this on the adoption board to try and reach as many people as possible who might have relevant experience — apologies for the cross-post.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, experiences or advice you’re willing to share — we just want to do what’s best for the child.

I hope you are able to adopt this DC. I'd be asking their SW if they will recommend the DC is adopted by you.

Have you looked up the LA's fostering & adoption pages as a starting point? Some of the LAs have really informative pages about what their local policies are, even though you foster through an IFA.

Are there rules about this in Scotland ?
iirc In England FCs can apply to adopt if the child has been with them over a year (or something).

In England you would be able to transfer over to your local authority for the duration. You wouldn't be able to foster again for a while/ever after adopting so it would be worth making the move for that purpose.

I’ve spoken with their SW and they believe it would be the best outcome for them.

Thank you, I’ll have a look and hopefully it’ll calm my nerves!

I have no idea - adoption was always something we’d considered further down the line but life has a funny way of working out.

With our little one it’d be unlikely we’d be able to foster for quite some time due to the level of care they need.

Unless things are very different in Scotland it is possible for an IFA foster carer to adopt. You should seek your own independent legal advice regarding this as part of this process too. Hope it works out.

Have you approached the local authority to discuss moving over? You could discuss it with the child's social worker.

I'm caveating this by saying I’m in England, but where I work (IFA) we’ve supported 3 sets of carers in adopting their children over the last few years. They’ve remained with us throughout.

Some have returned to fostering after adoption leave, some have then stopped fostering.