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.
The law in Scotland currently states you must be 21 or over to adopt a child. The practice in Aberdeen City Council is that we prefer applicants to over 23. 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.
Aberdeen Council does not accept applications to adopt from people who keep dangerous pets such as American Pit Bull terriers or other dangerous dogs. 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. In recognition of this Aberdeen City Council will not to place a child under the age of 5, or a child with a disability which restricts their movement or a child who has a respiratory condition e.g. asthma with adopters who smoke. We will not recruit adopters who smoke for these groups of children.
We don't usually accept applications from people who have been recently bereaved or who have recently 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, although the new Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 will extend this to embrace both partners, once the new legislation is implemented.
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, and in some cases this might be prolonged.
Adopting a child is a major commitment with life-long implications 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.
Back to the Adopting in Aberdeen home page.
