Checks
The legislation requires the Council to undertake a range of checks on people who are applying to be approved as prospective adoptive parents or permanent carers. The following checks are undertaken:
Disclosure Scotland Check
With your consent, we will ask Disclosure Scotland to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check. This will inform us of any convictions you have had in Scotland or elsewhere. If you have a criminal conviction, it does not necessarily mean that you may not adopt or become a permanent carer for a child, but it will mean that we will have to discuss your convictions with you. If you have any convictions, it would be best if you mentioned them to us when you begin the application process.
We will also carry out Enhanced Disclosure Checks on anyone else in your household over the age of 16.
Medical Reference
You will have to ask your General Practitioner to give you a medical examination. If you have been seeing a Health Visitor recently, we will also get in touch with them. Please let us know at the outset if you have a history of medical problems. Again, these would not necessarily preclude you from adoption or permanent care but would need to be discussed as part of the assessment process.
Anyone else in your household aged 16 or over will also be asked to agree to a Medical Records check with their GP.
Local Authority Check
We will check if you have had contact with social work agencies in the past, and whether this is relevant to your application.
Firearm and Health and Safety Checks
We will check if you hold a licence to hold a firearm and we will also carry out a health and safety check of your home and garden.
Employment History and Employer's Reference
We will talk to you about your employment history since you left school. We will also ask for written reference from your employer, if you are working. If you are no longer working we will ask for a reference from a previous employer.
Previous Partners and Older and Adult Children
If you have been married before or were in a long-term relationship, we may wish to contact your former partner and any adult children of the relationship. We understand that this might feel intrusive. If you’re worried about this, please talk to the Social Worker when he or she visits you at home to discuss your application.
Personal References
We will need to take three references from people who know you (and your family). We will visit two of these referees to discuss your application. In addition family members who will be involved in the child’s life will be interviewed.