Support for adoptive families

We recognise that as adoptive parents there may be times when you may welcome the opportunity to feel listened to and reflect on family life. Equally you may wish to access support to meet the changing needs of your family.

As parents you may need support to look beyond your child’s presenting behaviour and have a greater understanding of the impact of their early trauma and life experiences. You may welcome the opportunity to reflect on your child’s attachment needs and how as parent you can support them to build safe, trusting, long term relationships with their family and friends.

Dependent on the needs of your family, we may advise you to contact one or more of the following universal services:

In line with Adoption Regulations, ACE has an Adoption Support Services Adviser (ASSA).

ACE is pleased to be able to offer a wide range of support services, i.e. from newsletters and social activities to extensive therapeutic interventions all provided by a Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) informed staff team. ACE resources - Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP)

Depending on your situation, an adoption support social worker may visit you and your family to complete an Assessment of Need to understand your circumstances better. You have the right to request an assessment under Section 4 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.

In the regulations (Adoption Support Services Regulations, 2005) ‘Adoption support’ is defined as potentially including the following, with the table designed to support you to understand which elements of adoption support are delegated to ACE and which remain the responsibility of the local authority:

Adoption support services responsibilities
Service	Provided by/Responsible
Priority access to social housing	Remains with the relevant Local Authority
Priority admission for school places/designated teachers/virtual school	Remains with the relevant Local Authority
Services to enable groups of adoptive children, adoptive parents and birth parents to discuss matters relating to adoption	Delegated to ACE – get in touch!
Assistance, including mediation, with contact arrangements between adopted children and their birth parents or others with whom they share a significant relationship	Delegated to ACE – get in touch! (NB direct face to face contact remains the remit of the relevant Local Authority)
Therapeutic services for adopted children	Delegated to ACE – get in touch! (NB if you wish to access therapeutic intervention through the ASGSF ACE will undertaken an Assessment of Need as above).
Assistance to adoptive parents and children to support the adoptive placement and enable it to continue, including training to understand and meet the needs of your child, respite care, financial support	Collaboration between ACE and the relevant Local Authority (NB respite care and financial support cannot be accessed via ACE)
Assistance to adoptive parents and children where a placement disrupts or is at risk of disruption	Collaboration between ACE and the relevant Local Authority
A range of adoption support services, including access to counselling, information and advice for both adoptive parents and their children, who may have complex needs	Delegated to ACE – get in touch!