Crossing agency boundaries
If you don't live in this area and apply to adopt a child from Wigan Borough, we usually expect you to already have been approved as an adopter by your own Council or Local Authority. There are a few exceptions, for example, if you respond to a particular recruitment campaign, or if you are an employee of your own Council or Local Authority.
Medical investigations - treatment for childlessness
If you have a fertility problem, we usually expect you to have already sought medical advice, and completed any treatment or investigation processes. As with other traumas or life crises, a period of adjustment is necessary. It is important that you make a positive choice in favour of adoption.
Age of applicants
Your age is linked to your general health, fitness and emotional well-being. It is important that you are able to meet the many and varied demands of children in their growing years, and be there for them into adulthood.
The difference in age between you and the child placed with you will also be taken into consideration, so you should make realistic choices based on this.
Health
You will have to have a full medical examination, that will be considered by our medical adviser and, where appropriate, the Adoption Panel.
Smoking
Given the evidence about the effects of passive smoking on babies and young children, if you, or someone in your household smokes, we will need to know more about the extent of the smoking (both in and outside of your home).
Marital status and single applicants
Adoption law says that only married couples can jointly adopt children. And subsequent guidance from the Department of Health has clearly stated a presumption in favour of married couples.
But that is not to say that single applicants or unmarried couples can't adopt. When we look at potential adopters, we focus on their personal qualities, their individual skills and their understanding of the needs of adopted children.
We welcome applications from single people and unmarried couples because they are likely to be able to meet the needs of some children when a married couple is not available.
If you are a couple, married or not, you must have been living together for enough time to be able to demonstrate the stability of your relationship.
Previous marriages
If you have been married more than once, this will not exclude you from adopting a child, but we will need to look into any previous significant relationships you may have had.
Children in the family
In most cases, already having a child, or children, living with you won't prevent you from adopting.
If you have a child, or children, from a previous marriage who are being cared for by your former husband or wife, you can still apply to adopt. But we will need to take custody arrangements into consideration.
Age difference of children already in the family
We normally expect there to be an age gap between any children already in your family and the child you are adopting. Research suggests that this should be around three years. There may be exceptions to this, for example, if you adopted siblings.
The reason for the age gap is so your existing children won't feel as threatened, or feel they have to compete with a child their own age. It's also to increase attachments between the children.
Race, religion and culture
We usually place a child with a family of the same racial, religious and cultural background. If we can't find a family who can meet the child's needs, then we have to strike a balance between a potential delay in adoption and the benefits of placing the child with other approved adopters.
Financial considerations
We usually expect that you are in a position to support a child financially.
But there a small number of families who will say they can adopt, but only with the support of an adoption allowance. This inevitably means that these families can only be linked with a child who 'qualifies' for the payment of an adoption allowance.
Criminal offences
Everyone that applies to adopt a child must complete a disclosure application form, which asks for details of criminal convictions. We pass the completed form to the Criminal Records Bureau for checking. We will take into consideration any offences you tell us about - some offences won't automatically prevent you from adopting.
Working arrangements
Many children placed for adoption come with complicated histories and have considerable needs when they are placed with adoptive parents. We need to be sure that you can meet their needs.
For babies and very young children, the wishes and feelings of the birth parents will also be an important consideration. This may mean that they expect that the child is mainly cared for by you during the early months, rather than by a childminder or at a nursery.
For older children, we will need to consider how proposed child care alternatives will work, the degree of pressure this may create and also what would happen if the alternatives didn't work.
