Dozens of new families needed to adopt Sunderland children who are desperately in need of a good home

A new plea has been launched to find dozens of new families to adopt children.
Together for Children's Jill Watson is appealing for more families to adopt youngsters in the Sunderland area.Together for Children's Jill Watson is appealing for more families to adopt youngsters in the Sunderland area.
Together for Children's Jill Watson is appealing for more families to adopt youngsters in the Sunderland area.

Together for Children, which delivers children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council, is holding a series of events over the coming months as it seeks to find at least 25 suitable applicants.

A leading member of the service’s adoption team has spoken about the qualities required to succeed while dispelling some of the myths surrounding candidates’ backgrounds.

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A woman who has adopted three siblings with her partner through the service has also spoken about the joys that adoption can bring.

Together for Children is hoping to recruit another 25 families to adopt youngsters over the next year.Together for Children is hoping to recruit another 25 families to adopt youngsters over the next year.
Together for Children is hoping to recruit another 25 families to adopt youngsters over the next year.

Jill Watson, Together for Children adoption team’s assistant team manager, said: “People need to be determined, committed, have a good sense of humour with empathy to put themselves in the shoes of the children because the children who are being placed for adoption have experienced trauma and neglect.

“However, there will be a lot of support from our service.”

That support begins with a two-stage assessment process lasting around six months in total.

Stage one involves applicants attending a preparation to adopt course to learn more about the procedure and the children waiting for adoptive families.

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The adoption team allocates a social worker to work with potential adopters at this point.

Police and medical checks are carried out during this period and references are requested.

Miss Watson added: “We need to undertake DBS checks and while some offences will prevent you adopting, such as violence and offences against children, not every offence will.

“We are required to undertake a number of checks, these include DBS checks, employers’ references and personal references.

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“We will need to check your finances to understand how you will support yourselves and any child that is placed with you.

“You do not have to own your own home, be in employment or have a clean bill of health.”

Applications are welcomed from all corners of society whether they are single or a same sex couple. Ethnicity and religious background hold no barriers either.

Miss Watson said: “Anyone over the age of 21 can apply. If you are in a relationship we ask that you have been in a relationship for two years so there is a sense of stability already established in your relationship.”

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Stage one also involves homework with applicants asked to answer a series of questions on areas such as their own upbringing, experiences of education and their family lifestyle.

Miss Watson added: “Miss Watson added: “We do ask a lot of questions; however, we make no apologies for that we need to be certain that prospective adopters are able to provide a safe and secure environment for the

vulnerable children with whom we work.”

Stage two lasts a further four months and involves the allocated social worker visiting an applicant on a regular basis to compile a prospective adopters’ report.

Once this is complete, an adoption panel will consider the report and make a recommendation about suitability.

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Together for Children’s adoption support will then continue for as long as necessary for adoptive parents living in Sunderland.

Should successful applicants live outside the city then the support will continue for up to three years and then transfer to their local authority.

Assistance includes support groups, confidential advice and counselling plus events for families and their adopted children to enjoy.

Miss Watson said: “We hold a summer party and a Christmas party where all of the children and their families can come.

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“It is absolutely lovely to see the children again to see their progress and to see the family as a unit.

“We understand that like any parent There will be difficult periods but people who adopt find it a very rewarding experience.”

One parent has echoed Miss Watson’s comments.

The Sunderland mother, who cannot be named to protect the identities of her three children, adopted three primary school-aged brothers with her female partner around two years ago.

She said: “It is the best thing I have ever done and sometimes it is the small things which make you so happy.

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“Watching them riding a bike for the first time or taking part in a Christmas production.

“It is so amazing, so rewarding.

“My youngest one is reading his first book, we have had our first holiday together in Blackpool, there are just so many things as you are watching them grow up and develop.

“Going to a party and hearing other people praising them for how they have behaved.

“You feel as though you want to cry.”

On the length of the six-month adoption process, the Sunderland mum added: “It can be very full on. You have to go to courses and be 100% sure.

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“Only by the end of it can you see exactly why the process is the way it is.

“You need to get on the children’s level as much as possible to try to understand them and what they are going through.

“My oldest is asking a lot of questions about the process and there are certainly highs and lows, just as there is for any parent.”

Miss Watson praised the Sunderland couple for the progress the boys have made since they were adopted, adding: “The boys have come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time in terms of their communications, learning and friendships.”

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As part of its post-adoption support, Together for Children also manages a post box contact scheme in which youngsters can exchange information to find out what is happening in their birth family.

Families can also ask for a financial assessment should their circumstances change.

Should the children require extra therapeutic support then an can be made to the Adoption Support Fund in order to provide the child and family with the most appropriate service.

Together for Children is hosting drop-in information evenings on the following Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm at: Belmont Community Association, Gilesgate Moor, Durham, on March 4; Grace House, in Bardolph Drive, Sunderland, on April 1 and at the Hetton Centre, in Welfare Road, Hetton, on May 6.

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Coffee and chat mornings also take place on Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, April 18, from 11am-1pm at Costa Coffee, in Broadstairs Court, Sunderland.

The adopter added: “I would encourage anyone thinking of adopting to get as much information as possible from one of the evenings or coffee mornings because it is the best thing you can do.”

Further information is also available by contacting the adoption team on (0191) 5612221, by emailing [email protected] or by logging on to www.togetherforchildren.org.uk/adoption

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