Foster Carers who Adopt

The overarching goal for every Looked After Child is to achieve permanence. For some children, this may be best achieved through adoption. A decision must be based on a thorough assessment of the carers’ potential as adoptive parents and the child’s long‑term best interests.

This policy sets out procedures for foster carers who wish to adopt, in line with:

• Adoption Act 2021;
• Isle of Man Children and Young Persons Act 2001;
• Adoption Minimum Standards.

While foster carers may be highly skilled, adoption requires additional competencies, including:

• Commitment to providing a permanent home regardless of challenges;
• Understanding that adoption support differs from foster care support;
• Ability to manage birth family contact with reduced professional support;
• Willingness to assume sole parental responsibility, with lifelong financial and emotional commitment, including managing without fostering allowances;
• Capacity to appoint a testamentary guardian to ensure the child’s care in the event of incapacity or death.

A foster carer may be considered for adoption only if:

• The child has lived with them continuously for at least twelve months; and
• The child’s care plan specifies adoption, as agreed by the Permanence Panel and endorsed by their Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO).

Foster carers wishing to adopt must formally notify the Assistant Director of Children and Families by submitting a letter of intent.

A joint visit will be arranged with the supervising social worker, the child’s social worker, the Adoption Team Manager, and the child’s family finder (if applicable). This meeting will:

• Explore the potential match;
• Explain the adoption assessment process;
• Decide whether to proceed with assessing suitability.

If positive, the Adoption Team Manager will convene a Linking Meeting with relevant professionals. The meeting will consider:

• The child’s plan, wishes, and feelings;
• The child’s needs and the carers’ ability to meet them long‑term;
• Availability of other adopters;
• Explore risks of delay;
• Viability of placement long term;
• The carers’ motivation to adopt;
• Contact arrangements both pre and post adoption and whether they should be revised;
• Risks from birth family knowledge of the placement;
• Implications for sibling contact;
• The carers’ future fostering intentions and impact on permanence for an adopted child;
• Eligibility for adoption allowance (see Section 5, Adoption Allowance).

The child’s social worker must ensure the placement meets long‑term needs. Supervising and adoption social workers must ensure carers have considered the impact on themselves and their family.

Not all elements of a “good match” may be present (e.g., carers may be older than ideal). However, the benefits of an established relationship and existing support networks must be weighed against risks.

If the Linking Meeting supports proceeding, the adoption social worker will plan the assessment process and coordinate panel timelines.

The child’s social worker will inform the IRO of the carers’ interest.

If the match is not in the child’s best interests, the child’s social worker will provide written reasons. Foster carers may still apply directly to court for a “non‑agency adoption” (see Section 3, Non-Agency Adoption).

Foster carers may, in certain circumstances, pursue adoption without the direct involvement of Manx Care. In such cases:

• There is no requirement for a post‑adoption support plan;
• Adoption allowances are not payable;
• Adopters are not required to undergo assessment as prospective adopters;
• If the child is not subject to a Placement Order, there is no need to return to court for one;
• Adoption may be secured more quickly, particularly where no Placement Order exists;
• The child cannot be removed without court permission once an application is lodged. Immediate legal advice should be sought if carers apply to prevent removal.

A decision about suitability must be made within four months of carers registering their interest.

Phases 1 and 2 of the adoption process must be completed. The adoption assessment and proposed match will then be presented to the Adoption Panel by both the adoption social worker and the child’s social worker.

Information gathered will usually cover:

• The carers’ reasons for adopting;
• The child’s wishes and feelings;
• The carers’ age, health, and ability to provide care into adulthood and beyond;
• Their understanding of adoption as a lifelong commitment;
• The views of family members;
• The views of the child’s birth family;
• Risks linked to the placement (e.g., birth family knowledge of carers’ residence);
• How long the child has lived with the carers and the strength of attachment;
• The carers’ plans about continued fostering and its impact;
• Any issues around siblings and sibling contact.

Additional training should be provided if needed, or evidence included that carers have considered the transition from fostering to adoption.

Since the child will already have lived with the carers for twelve months or more, carers are expected to submit their adoption application immediately following approval of the match by the Agency Decision Maker (ADM). At this point, the child is officially “placed for adoption.” The adoption social worker and child’s social worker will prepare the court report to secure permanence quickly.

Prospective adopters should be informed about adoption allowance procedures. Regular financial support may be provided where:

• The child requires special care due to illness, disability, emotional or behavioural difficulties, or the lasting effects of neglect, and the condition is serious and long‑term;
• Manx Care must make special arrangements to support the placement or adoption, for example due to the child’s age, ethnic background, or the need to place siblings together.

The level of allowance is determined using the same financial assessment process applied to all adopters.

Any allowance awarded must be included in the adoption support plan and reviewed annually.

Fostering fees will end once the ADM approves the adoptive match. Any agreed adoption allowance will then be implemented in line with the child’s needs and the adoption support plan.

Once the ADM approves the adoptive match, foster carers become prospective adopters. They and the child will be supported by an adoption social worker until the Adoption Order is granted.

During this period, no new foster children should be placed with the carers, to allow a smooth transition into adoption.

The supervising social worker must consider whether a change of approval is required. If so, the matter should be referred back to the Fostering Panel, with the carers’ annual review report presented.

If carers are unable to continue fostering (e.g., due to stability of adoptive placement), they may need to resign. Any resignation must be presented to the next available Fostering Panel by the supervising social worker.