Supporting Adoptive Families
When placed with their prospective adoptive parents, all children will have an Adoption Suport Plan, which will identify their needs and services that may be needed to meet them. This is an important document that adoptive parents should keep accessible. Adoptive Parents can ask for a assessment of need/review of support plan as needed.
Adoption West supports adoptive families across our area as children grow through childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Our team helps families with children under 18 by offering advice, training, activities, and groups where you can connect with other families and our workers.
If you’re not sure what support you need, or just want to talk things through, our Adoption Support Helpdesk is here for you. Please reach out early with any questions or concerns. If your family is in crisis, we can guide you to the right help, whether from Adoption West or other services.
Our Adoption Support Team is made up of experienced and approachable social workers and support workers across the Adoption West region. Many of whom have completed additional and relevant training, for example DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Levels 1 and 2), Theraplay, NVR (Non-Violent Resistance), Life Story Work, and, AFDiT.
Adoption West supports families with children placed by our six partner authorities: Bristol, North Somerset, B&NES, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, and Gloucestershire. We have strong local knowledge of services and resources.
If your child was placed by a different local authority but now lives within our area, Adoption West takes on responsibility for their support, after three years.
Supporting prospective adopters in their journey through to Adoption Order and continuing this through childhood, is integral to Adoption West. Parenting through adoption is unique, different and can at times be complex. The Adoption West Support Team aims to support you and your family navigate adoptive parenting and help you with the challenges of managing identity, loss, sharing histories, and the impact of early life experiences. As a family you will need services from other agencies and we can provide support, information, advice, and signposting.
Tip: Please reach out early—before challenges feel overwhelming.
It’s really important that adopters remain connected with Adoption West, as their adoption agency, that’s why we offer:
- The Adoption Support Helpdesk provides advice and support.
📞 Phone: 03303 550333
📧 Email: adoptionsupporthelpdesk@adoptionwest.co.ukHelpdesk is open Monday to Friday, 10 am–2 pm. We aim to respond to all enquiries within three working days.
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A calendar of events throughout the year
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Access to peer support through It Takes a Village (ITAV)
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Groups and activities for children and young people
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Training and workshops for parents
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Webinars from our Virtual Schools team, tailored to different stages of your child’s development
Come along, meet our staff, and share your ideas with Adoption West and ITAV.
Your first point of contact will be our Adoption Support Helpdesk.
Our team can:
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Answer your questions
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Share useful resources
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Talk through parenting challenges
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Carry out an initial assessment, to better understand your families needs and the possible next steps
- Identify, and refer you, for a more detailed assessment of need/review support plan if this is required
Depending on your family’s needs, we may:
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Offer a group activity, specific to your current needs
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Connect you to other adopters
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Identfiy other services that maybe able to help e.g. Virtual Schools, health services (including your GP)
- Supporting you to ensure the services you may need can be joined-up
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Allocate a social worker or support worker to work alongside you
We often work closely with education and health services. Navigating these systems can be tricky, so we:
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Help you understand what you’re entitled to
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Offer guidance on accessing the right services
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Support you with a “team around your family” approach
The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF), provides funds which can be used to access therapeutic support, if your child’s needs this.
How it works:
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We are required to complete an assessment of need with your family
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This may identify an appropriate therapy
- If so, we then need to find an available therapist, and develop a therapeutic plan
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We then apply for ASGSF funding to pay for the therapy
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Once approved, therapy can begin
The ASGSF is subject to DfE funding and we have been notified of this in one and three year cycles.
If you feel you are in crisis, please contact the Adoption Support Helpdesk immediately. Include number
In urgent situations, as any family in our communities, adoptive families can contact their local authority children’s services, out-of-hours services.
Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and BATHNES use a shared Emergency Duty Team service – 01454 615165
Gloucestershire Out of Hours Service – 01452 614194
Wiltshire Out of Hours Service – 0300 456 0100
The Emergency Duty Teams should only be used where a child or young person is identified as being at immediate risk of harm and where concerns cannot safely wait until the day service is available.
Peer-led Support for Adopters
Adoption West and ITAV continue to work closely together, including the provision of grant funding.
ITAV is an organisation run by adopters for adopters offering support and connections for adoptive families and prospective adopters. Its purpose is to nurture peer-led communities that grow local adoption networks, enabling families to support each other.
ITAV’s primary aim is to support and empower adopters to establish local groups that meet the needs of adoptive families in their area. They are focussed on making strong connections to reduce isolation and improve mental well-being.
Membership is free and once your adopter status has been confirmed, by Adoption West, you will have access to all events and activities that on offer. If you are interested, please visit https://ittakesavillage.uk/.
Support for Adopted Adults
Adoption has lifelong implications and at times individuals may need support and advice from professionals.
Being adopted may not always be easy and there might be things you would like help with. Follow this link to find out what support is available to adopted adults.
Support for Birth Families
Birth Links is a service for adopted adults and birth relatives affected by adoption. It aims to provide advice, support, information and guidance.
Birth Links understands that adoption has lifelong implications for all involved and at times individuals may need support and advice from professionals who understand adoption.
