Post-adoption support
Action for
Children has helped placed many thousands of children and young
people with adoptive families.
We can provide information, support and intermediary services if
you are an adopted adult or the birth relative of an adopted adult
whose adoption was arranged through Action for Children (previously
National Children's Home or NCH).
Information and identification
The Adoption and Children Act 2002 allows adopted people and
adult members of an adopted person's birth family to ask for
identifying information once the adopted person reaches the age of
18. However, the Act does not give anyone the automatic right to
have this information without the consent of the people
involved.
It is the adoption agency's responsibility to carefully consider
certain issues, including the views of the person concerned, before
disclosing identifying information. Every case will be different.
The same rule applies whether the adopted person or a birth
relative is seeking the information.
Through the Adoption and Children Act 2002, adopted adults,
birth relatives and adoptive parents all have the right to have
their adoption support needs assessed by the local authority, an
adoption agency or an adoption support agency. Local authorities
and registered adoption support agencies may have tracing and
intermediary services to help reunite adopted people and their
adult birth relatives.
An adopted person over 18 and an adult birth relative can ask
for this service either from a local authority, an adoption agency
or an independent adoption support agency. Some agencies may charge
for a tracing and intermediary service. Some adopted people and
some birth relatives do not want to be contacted, either now or in
the future.
You can record this decision with the adoption agency that made
the placement, and with the Adoption Contact Register held by The General Register Office, Adoptions
Section.
Contact us
If you or one of your birth relatives was adopted through Action
for Children, you can request information, records and support. You
can also request help with searching for a birth relative if you
are an adopted adult, or you are a birth relative of someone
adopted through Action for Children. To speak to an adoption
support worker in confidence download, print and complete our
access to records request form and send it to the following
address.
We will try to arrange an interview for you within six weeks of
receiving your completed form. If you are living overseas, we will
ask you to contact an adoption counsellor near to you. We will send
relevant materials to that person and work with them to ensure that
you receive the services you need.
Action for Children
Business Admin Support Officer
Performance Improvement and Inclusion
Division
3 The Boulevard
Ascot Road
Watford
WD18 8AG
UK
Alternatively, if you have any questions or would like more
information, please don't hesitate to contact us.