Practical support available for adoptive families in England
It's helpful to speak to your adoption agency when you initially go through the adoption process about any practical support needs your family may have. Practical and financial support is considered on an individual basis and will often depend on the needs of the child(ren) you adopt and your own personal circumstances.
This can range from support when the child/ren are initially matched with you (e.g. to support with essential equipment and transport or housing to meet the needs of sibling groups) to any ongoing financial assistance to support the child/ren based on their needs. The regional adoption agency will help with discussions about these issues and will work with the local authority to provide practical and financial support to adoptive families.
Examples of practical adoption support that may be available to you:
'Settling-in grant' for Adopters:
Prospective adoptive parents, at the start of their journey may be eligible for a 'settling-in grant' to help pay for large items, such as beds or car seats for sibling groups in particular. The grant is discretionary and your adoption social worker can advise on how to make an application, taking into account whether the regional adoption agency or local authority are responsible for this budget in your local area.
Adoption Allowance:
Adoptive families may be eligible for a regular and ongoing adoption allowance, depending upon the needs of the child/ren. This allowance is intended to help with the costs associated with raising an adopted child, including day-to-day expenses. The allowance can help children with additional needs, who may require special care for a disability or behavioural difficulties involving extra expense. It can also help support families who adopt siblings together, or to meet recurring transport costs for contact with birth family, legal costs, adaptations to the home, or to ensure that the adopter can look after the child. You can find out more information here.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA):
Children with disabilities, including those with emotional and behavioural difficulties resulting from their early experiences, may qualify for the Disability Living Allowance. This financial support is not means-tested and is intended to help with the additional costs associated with caring for a child/ren with a disability. You can find out more information here.
Housing Support:
Adoptive families facing housing challenges may be eligible for housing support. This could include assistance with securing suitable and stable housing to meet the needs of the adopted child/ren or even help to fund the cost of expanding their current home to have enough room for the child/ren. You will need to talk to your regional adoption agency about arrangements in your local area for this support. You can make the adoption agency and local authority aware of the Statutory Guidance on social housing allocations for local housing authorities in England which states that authorities need to support approved adopters who need to move to a larger home to accommodate a child who was previously looked after by the local authority.
Approved adopters may also be entitled to priority access to council housing, although this will depend on each specific local authorities' housing policy. It's important to work with your adoption agency and local authority to check what support could be made available to help your family. Funding is provided on an case-by-case basis and your adoption agency can work with you to advocate for suitable support from the local authority.
Carer's Assessments:
Adoptive parents are entitled to a carer's assessment, which helps to identify their support needs and provide solutions. This assessment can consider factors such as respite care, counselling, and other support services that may benefit adoptive families. You can find out more information and complete and assessment here.
Respite Care:
Respite care services may be available to adoptive families, providing temporary relief and support to parents. This can be particularly helpful in managing stress and maintaining the wellbeing of the family. Your adoption agency will be able to advise on whether they have respite care services available and help you to access these.
Educational Support:
If your adopted child/ren has special educational needs (SEN) you can access support through the education system, including additional resources, assistance with educational plans, and collaboration with special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) in schools. Read more about the education support available to adoptive families here.
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF):
The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) is a government-funded program that funds therapeutic support for adopted children and their families. The ASGSF covers the cost of therapeutic services. Read more about the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund here.
Adoption England encourages adoptive families to contact their local authority and regional adoption agency to explore the available support options.