Adoption and permanent fostering - what is the difference?

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Adoption is a legal process that transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities from the birth parents to the adoptive parents. Once an adoption order has been granted it cannot be dissolved, unless the child is re-adopted by someone else. Although Social Work Services will continue to offer post-adoption support and counselling after an adoption order has been granted, it is at the discretion of the adopters and the child whether or not they accept it.

If you are interested in adopting a child in the birth to two years age range, and if you meet the conditions for a child of this age, you should contact the Glasgow and West of Scotland Adoption Services. This service coordinates the matching of approved baby adopters with children aged birth to 2 years.

The Glasgow and West of Scotland Adoption Service (GWSAS) is a partnership of the 10 local authorities who work together to recruit, prepare and assess adoptive parents for children birth to two years.

If you are interested in adopting a child 2 years or over, most of your enquiries will be answered by the frequently asked questions on adoption, check the right hand menu for this information. However if you would like more information or advice contact Renfrewshire Fostering and Adoption services whose details are also listed below.

Permanent fostering ensures that the family and child will continue to have regular support from the local authority. Although the day to day decisions that affect the child will be made by the foster carers some decisions such as a change of school, a trip abroad or written consent for a planned medical operation will require consultation with the birth family and social workers. In some situations the plan for the child may include contact with members of the birth family. The level of this contact will depend, to a large degree, on the needs and wishes of the child and will be arranged after full consultation with everyone involved in the care of the child. When a child is placed with a family on a permanent fostering basis it is anticipated that the child will grow up with the foster carers and remain there until the time is right to move on to independence.

If you would like more information or advice on this you can contact us by
email: childcare@renfrewshire.gov.uk

or telephone: 0141 842 5159

Alternatively you can call in or write to us at:

Renfrewshire Fostering and Adoption Services
Social Work, 3rd Floor
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley PA1 1TZ

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