Fostering and adoption

Distinguish between fostering and adoption.

The principle distinction between fostering and adoption is that, while the former is theoretically a finite arrangement, the latter is permanent.

Adoption

Is a formal, legal process by which registered 'children in need' are taken into the permanent care of a family other than their biological one. Their adopters become their permenant legal parents

It can be arranged only through an adoption agency, either social services or a voluntary agency approved by the Secretary of State. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) regulates private adoption agencies and inspects social services.

Would-be adoptive parents are carefully vetted before a court makes a permanent order. Usually the natural parents are involved in the process, but where this is inappropriate the court can make a 'freeing order' and the parents take no further part in the procedure.

Recent reforms have extended their right to gay and unmarried heterosexual couples, as well as those that are married.

Fostering

Fostering can be arranged by a voluntary agency or privately. Social services use it for children in their care as an alternative to putting them in community homes. Official fostering arrangements must be approved by social services, who investigate the potential fosterers' family life.

The would-be fosterers are visited at home by social workers and they must agree to inquiries made with their doctor and the police.

Anyone convicted of harming a child or allowing harm to be caused to a child cannot be a foster parent. If such person is living in the house it cannot be used for fostering, even if that person is not him/herself the foster parent.

Social services can see fostered children regularly and can remove a child from foster parents at any time is they think it is in the child's interests. But fosters can apply to a court for a residence order.

Fostering can be short-term, just for a few days or weeks, or long-term up to years.

Private fostering is legal, but social services must be informed when child is looked after for more than 27 days by someone to whom he/she is not related.