Adoption is the legal process by which a child under 18 years gains new parents. An Adoption Order is made by the Families Proceedings Court which gives the new parents parental responsibility. The new legal relationship is as if the child had been born to the adopters.

The child is usually given the surname of the new family and gets a new certificate (like a birth certificate) identifying the child as a child of the family.

The Adoption Act 2002 says that each Local Authority must set up an Adoption Service to meet the local needs of:

• Children who may be or who are adopted.
• Parents or Guardians of those children.
• Persons who may or who have adopted a child.

The way in which the Local Authority meets these needs is called the "Adoption Service".

Those who provide the services are known as the "Adoption Agency".

As well as the services identified above, the Adoption Service also provides a service to step-parents and relatives who wish to adopt, to people who wish to adopt a child from overseas, and to those who wish to place a child for adoption.

Children in Sunderland need:

• Families (couples, including same sex couples or single people) who are patient, flexible, realistic and with lots of love to give;
• People from any ethnic background, employed or not, married or not, with religious beliefs or none.
• People who want to make a commitment to a child or children for life.

Don’t worry about your age or if you have a disability – this may not affect your application. Please talk to us if you think you could be a forever family for:-

• School age children (particularly older boys)
• Brothers and sisters together
• Children with disabilities

Most of these children have emotional difficulties resulting from their early experiences but they deserve the chance of a new family.
If you are interested, we will:-

• Respond quickly to your enquiry
• Visit and/or invite you to an information meeting
• If you apply, carry out your home study in three months, once references are received (unless unusual issues arise)
• Support you before, during and after adoption.

If you are interested in Adoption please contact us today! 

There are separate leaflets available about Adoption from the Adoption and Permanency Service. The Service can be contacted at:

Penshaw House
Station Road
Penshaw
Houghton-le-Spring DH4 7LB
Tel: 0191 566 3200
Email: servicesforlookedafterchildren@sunderland.gov.uk

Other useful information:

Information Events - for those interested in fostering or adopting a child ( 118 kb)

Adoptive Parents - Rights to Leave and Pay

Intercountry Adoption