What We Look for from You
You must be 21 or over to adopt a child. There is no upper age limit, but the age of the applicants will be one of the factors that is considered during the assessment and which may be relevant at the point where the family is being considered for a match with a particular child. You must be in reasonably good health and medically fit to undertake the parenting task. If you drink alcohol, we need to know that you drink moderately and responsibly. You cannot adopt if you use illegal drugs or have a record of offences against children. You must also declare if you have any firearms or hold a Firearms Certificate. Angus Council does not accept applications to adopt from people who keep dangerous pets such as Rottweilers or Pit Bull Terriers. We may need to seek further advice if you own a pet that we think might pose a risk to children
As an adoptive parent you need to ensure that any child placed with you has a positive understanding of their origins, religion and culture. It is important that adoptive parents avoid discrimination including issues such as race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability. It is Angus Council’s policy that the use of corporal punishment to physically chastise children is never acceptable. There is strong evidence that passive smoking can damage the health of children. We do not place children under the age of 2 with adoptive parents who smoke. We would ask adoptive parents of older children to do everything they can to minimise the impact of passive smoking on any children in their care.
We accept applications from single people and from couples who have been in a stable relationship for over two years. We would generally ask people to wait for a time before making an application if they have recently entered a new relationship, experienced the break-up of a relationship or lost a loved one. We accept applications from single people and from couples whether heterosexual or same sex who have been in a stable relationship for two years.
We strongly encourage prospective adopters to take their full statutory adoption leave entitlement (now equivalent to maternity leave). Time spent during the early stages of a placement helping the child make the adjustment to life in a new family can help to make what is sometimes a difficult transition as successful as possible.
Adopting a child is a major commitment for both parties. If you are applying as a couple it is essential that both of you attend the training course and are actively involved in the assessment process.