Adopting a child

Coronavirus update - Changes to our adoption information events

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, our adoption information events will be on hold for the time being. This is a really challenging time, but it is important that we all remember that the number of children who need us hasn’t changed - and we still need adopters to come forward.

If you were planning to come along to one of our events, we’d like instead to offer you an appointment using either Skype, Facetime or a 1-1 phone call with a member of the adoption recruitment team. They will be happy to give you all the information you would receive at the events and will answer any questions you may have. We are 100% still here to talk to anyone considering adoption and who wants to know more about the process. Please do get in touch with the adoption team on 01494 586 349 or by email at adoption@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Adoption is often the best outcome for children who cannot live with their birth family and will not be able to return to their care in the future.

Buckinghamshire Council's Adoption Team holds regular information sessions where you can come along, without commitment, to find out what's involved in becoming an adopter.

You will learn how the right match is made between parents and children, and how as an adoption family you'll then receive ongoing support which was considered by Ofsted to be a 'considerable strength' of the service in Buckinghamshire.

Book on an adoption information event Try our 'getting ready for adoption' tool

If you would like to speak to someone before coming, please call 01494 586 349 or email us at adoption@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Who can adopt?

Our children

Support for adoptive parents

"Bucks Adoption team and specifically our social worker were professional, efficient and really encouraging through our approval process and also when we were matched with our little boy."
- Buckinghamshire adopter

Who can adopt?

To adopt a child you need to:

be over 21
be able to provide space and time to meet the child's needs
have lived in the UK for at least one year, or one member of the couple must be a resident of the UK

We’ve created a helpful online tool to answer common questions about who can adopt and the adoption process.

Find out more

Our children

We need adopters who can parent;

sibling groups (2 children or more)
children with medical needs, enduring conditions and disabilities
children aged 3 to 7 years
children who have diverse cultural and ethnic heritage
sometimes we need adopters who can also act as foster carers for very young children - this is called Early Permanence (Fostering for Adoption)
children aged 0-2 years but maybe not sure about Early Permanence just yet. We still need adopters for this age group

For more information, please visit our 'The children who need adopting' webpage.