Adoptive children and families

We offer support to adoptive children and their families throughout their adoption journey.

Initial support

We here to help with very step, from the point a child moves in with their family up to the point they become an adult, this could be up to age 25 if the child had an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

Ongoing support

Once you have adopted, support for you and your child is available for as long as is needed — our support doesn’t just stop when the adoption order is granted; adoptive families can approach us at any time.

Getting in touch

If you would like to explore adoption support please get in touch by completing the form below:

Adoption support enquiry form

Levels of support

You can use the links below to see levels of adoption support we offer.

Core support

The core offer is open access and doesn’t require an adoption support needs assessment.

What’s included:

The Adopt South West News Letter – A regular newsletter sharing access to local activities, courses and resources and celebrating adoptive children and families
Adopt South West annual conference
Access to New Family Social Membership for LGBTQ+ adoptive parents
Access to CATCH Membership for early support resources
Access to ASW and partner positive activities, youth projects & community events
Regular face to face and virtual open access adoptive parent and family support groups
Focussed clinics and workshops (educational psychology, life story work, Keeping In Touch, transitions to adulthood)
Access to other parent universal provider courses (such as The Solihull Approach, DICE, YGAM)
Pre-Adoption Mentoring
Sign posting, advice and guidance to other relevant service providers

Tiered specialist support

Tiered specialist support can be accessed through triage or extended adoption support needs assessment completed with us.

Level 1:

On TRAC therapeutic parenting group course and membership to Adoption UK
Just Right State sensory integration and regulation parenting group course
Non-Violent Resistance therapeutic parenting group course
Other specialist therapeutic parenting group courses
Adoption Allowance only applications

Level 2:

Clinical Psychology Consultation as part of adoption support needs assessment
Short Term Direct Work with adoptive children and families (life story, identity, resilience building)
Funded 1-2-1 child and family therapies through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF)

Level 3:

Multi-agency Team around the Child/ Family approach
Natural Support Network meetings

Useful information

You can use the links below to access useful information about adoption support.

Please contact us to sign-up to our newsletter.

Email us to sign-up

New Family Social

Sign-up to the new family social group.

Sign-up to New Family Social

Activities and events

See our upcoming activities and events

View activities and events

Resources and download

You can use the links below to access resources and download for adoption support.

Other support

Please see the following sections for other types of support that might be available.

Mental health support

Cornwall: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Devon: Mental health – Children and Family Health Devon
Plymouth: CAMHS | Livewell Southwest
Somerset: Somerset CAMHS – CAMHS
Torbay: Torbay MERs previously known as CAMHS – Family Hub

Virtual Schools and SEND Support

Local Authority links for EHCP; Virtual Schools and SEND-IAS:

Cornwall

Devon

Plymouth

Somerset

Torbay

Addional information

For more information on the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF): Adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) – GOV.UK

For more information about support for adoptive children and parents: Adoptive Parents – Support | Adoption England

Get advice

For adoption support you can call our advice and support line on 03451 551 076, or send an email to:

adoptsouthwestsupport@devon.gov.uk