What We Look for from You
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. The use of corporal punishment to physically chastise children is totally unacceptable.
You must be 21 or over to adopt a child. We do not have an 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 of good health and medically fit. If you drink alcohol, we need to know that you drink moderately and responsibly. You can not 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 rotweillers 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.
There is good 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 don't usually accept applications from people who have lost a loved one in the last two years, or entered a new relationship, or recently experienced the break-up of a relationship. It's important that you have the emotional resilience (stability) to cope with the challenge of adopting a child.
We accept applications from single people and from couples who are married for over two years. If you are an unmarried couple, or a single sex couple only one of you can apply to adopt.
If you want to adopt a child under school age then at least one parent must be at home for the child full-time. Supporting a child to feel part of the family can be a long and intensive process. Many companies and employers now recognise these early demands and may offer a period of "Adoption Leave". It is important to spend as much time with the child as possible in the early days of a placement.
Adopting a child is a major commitment for both parties. If you are applying as a couple it is important that both of you attend the training course and are actively involved in the assessment process.