Author: Coombs, Amy - SC SCS

'If you are reading this leaflet first of all congratulations, we truly hope your journey ahead is as fulfilling and magical as ours.
The reason this leaflet has been created is, as recent adopters ourselves, it soon became apparent that there was no one place to refer to for advice, tips and general information once your child has been placed with you. So with this in mind, Kent County Council approached a number of recent adopters who had first hand experience of this, and we collectively shared our experiences and together came up with the below leaflet.
We truly hope you find it helpful and from all of us once again a huge congratulations.'
Vicky Whatley, Kent Adopter.

Adopters Guide –
What To Expect At The Time Of Placement

Authority to consent to routine medical and dental treatment;
Copy of the child’s last child in care medical
The parent-held child Health Record / carer held child health record (‘the red book’);
Letters, photographs or mementos from the birth family and the first part of the life story book to be given to you at the time of placement. The 'Later Life' letter and the completed Life Story Book will be given to you at the adoption celebration hearing.
The child's birth certificate
The child's passport (if applicable)
A copy of the Care Order (if applicable), Placement Order (if applicable) and any other Court Orders that exist.
A copy of the Parental Consent to the Placement and Advance Consent to Adoption (if applicable)
Date of next child in care review
The Adoption Placement Plan including arrangements for support and visits by the child's social worker and your own social worker
Any other relevant information, including specialist reports (subject to the courts consent).
A written plan of the contact arrangements pre and post adoption order with the birth parents and any previous carers; for more details contact: Barnardo’s CAFIS Unit 10, Jubilee Way, Faversham Kent ME13 8GD. Tel.01795532081: CAFISKent@barnardos.org.uk
The Adoption Support Plan; signed and dated.

Documents and Information to expect from the child’s social worker prior to child’s placement with you:

Handy Tips from adopters for new adopters:

Check the ‘red book’ has the information you will need, such as details about milestones, e.g when the first tooth came through and illnesses the child has had such as chicken pox.
When registering with the General Practitioner - the ‘pink form’ will be passed on to the health visitor services DO NOT leave any information blank, as they will then access the NHS records - which (assuming registration pre-adoption) will have birth family details and can cause confusion.
Seek support from other adopters you have already met or ask your adoption assessment social worker to link you up with other adopters.
Do not be afraid to ask for support from professionals working with you and the child.
Do not deviate from the formally agreed post placement contact between yourselves and the foster carers. This arrangement is made at the introduction planning meeting with your adoption social worker and will ensure everyone is clear on expectations and arrangements.
Once the child has been with you for 6 weeks a settling in letter is required from you for the birth parents. Ask your social worker to provide you with an example.
If you are having any delays in accessing child benefit or passport application, speak to the child’s social worker as they can help speed things up.
When your adoption order is granted you will only receive the short version of the adoption certificate, apply for the longer version straight away as you will need this for applying for future documents such as passports. (www.nidirect.gov.uk/order-an-adoption-certificate)
Do not use a different name for the child; as explained to you throughout your adoption assessment and matching process.
Speak to the social workers about the child’s bank account and ensure you have all the details of this and any money which might have been saved for them by the foster carer.

Details of support available and helpful contact links:

Claim your child benefit: https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit/how-to-claim
For Learning and Development or Support Group information, please call Kent Post Adoption service on 03000 420 508 or email:
Adoption.Training@Kent.gov.uk
Your child will also be entitled to the Pupil Premium – an additional £1900 for state-funded schools to help meet their needs. You will need to let the school know that your child is adopted so that the school can claim the pupil premium. For support regarding educational issues such as school admission or additional academic support: contact Virtual schools Kent http://www.virtualschool.lea.kent.sch.uk/contact-us
If your child is 2 years old you can take up the offer of a free early years place at a nursery. In Kent this is called the Free For 2 (FF2) Scheme. For more information: http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/free-childcare/free-childcare-for-2-year-olds
For more information regarding post adoption support available please see our Kent adoption website: http://www.kentadoption.co.uk/support-after-youve-adopted/resources-after-youve-adopted
If you have any questions about the process or feel you have not been given all the paper work and information contact your adoption
social worker or their manager.