Adoption is a service for children unable to live safely and securely with their birth parents or birth family members on a permanent basis. Consequently if you put yourself forward to become adoptive parents to these children you will need to demonstrate that you:

• are able to provide children with love and security, and provide safe and effective care for the duration of childhood and beyond;
• can meet children's developmental needs;
• can help children develop a sense of identity and self-worth by valuing the children and their background and heritage;
• can support children in developing an understanding of, and in some cases a relationship with, their birth family by facilitating direct contact or by the sensitive provision of information through letters.

In order to ensure the safety of children in public care we will take up Criminal Record Bureau checks, local authority, health authority and financial checks, personal and employment references and require you to have a full medical.

We expect your full agreement and cooperation in undertaking these checks on you and everyone over the age of 18 years who either lives in your household, or has significant access to the child, or who directly cares for them.

We acknowledge that the process of adoption is one which is highly intrusive, but if you are committed to achieving this, it is both necessary and helpful to accept this at as early a stage as possible.

Read The Wandsworth Adopters' Charter.

If you wish to adopt a child within the United Kingdom the criteria are as stated below.

Adopting a child from overseas

If you wish to adopt a child from overseas there are some differences, and you need also to meet the eligibility criteria set by the child's country of origin.

But please note that all inter-country adoption enquiries should be made to:

Telephone: 0870 516 8742

This body undertakes this work on behalf of Wandsworth Council.