Adoption is a wonderful way to build a loving, supportive family for a child who cannot safely return to their birth family. It gives children the chances, choices and opportunities they deserve to grow up in a secure home where they feel valued, understood and loved.

When you choose to adopt, you’re making a lifelong commitment and becoming a child’s legal parent. It’s a life-changing decision that can be incredibly rewarding. Adoption is about so much more than providing a home. It’s about helping a child understand their own unique story, supporting them through their experiences and giving them the care, stability and encouragement they need to thrive.

Could adoption be right for you?

At Caritas Care, we believe everyone has something special to offer and everybody is welcome. Our adoptive families come from all different backgrounds and walks of life. You don’t need to be married, own your own home or have previous parenting experience to adopt. What matters most is having the time, patience and commitment to help a child feel safe, build strong relationships and reach their full potential.

We’ll be with you throughout every step of your journey. With over 90 years’ experience helping children find loving families, our friendly and experienced team will be by your side from your first enquiry through to assessment, matching and beyond. We’ll provide guidance, support and reassurance as you take your first steps towards becoming an adoptive parent.

• Explore adoption with Caritas Care

There are several stages to becoming an adoptive parent. You don’t need to know everything before you start. Our adoption team will guide and support you throughout.

1. Find out more. Get in touch with us or attend an information event, ask questions and find out whether adoption could be right for you.
2. Register your interest. When you’re ready to take the next step, you’ll complete an application to register your interest in adoption.
3. Checks and preparation. We’ll carry out the necessary checks and you’ll take part in training and preparation sessions to help you understand what adoption involves.
4. Assessment. You’ll work with a dedicated social worker who will get to know you, your family and your experiences. They’ll assess your suitability to adopt and help prepare you for life as an adoptive parent.
5. Approval. Your assessment will be considered by an adoption panel, who will make a recommendation about your suitability to adopt.
6. Finding the right match. Once you’re approved, we’ll work with you to identify a child or children whose needs you’re best placed to meet.
7. Getting to know each other. You’ll have a planned period of introductions, giving you and your child time to build a relationship before they move in with you.
8. Starting family life together. Your child will move in with you, with support from our team as you begin your family life together.

How long does the adoption process take?

Every adoption journey is different, so there isn’t a single timescale that applies to everyone. The process takes time because it’s important to make sure each child is matched with the right family.

Our adoption process page explains each stage in more detail, including checks, training, assessment, panel, matching and introductions.

• Explore each stage of the adoption process

If you’re thinking about adoption, you might be wondering whether you’re the right person to become an adoptive parent.

There’s no single type of person who can adopt. People from different backgrounds, family situations and walks of life become adoptive parents. What matters most is being able to provide a child with a safe, stable and loving home and being ready to put their needs first.

Could adoption be right for you?

Adoption could be right for you if:

• You have a genuine desire to become a parent through adoption.
• You have the time, patience and emotional availability to support a child.
• You understand that an adopted child may have experienced loss, separation or difficult experiences before coming to you.
• You’re open to learning about your child’s experiences and how these may affect them.
• You have people around you who can provide support when you need it.
• You’re ready to commit to a child for life, including supporting them as their needs change and they grow up.

You don’t need to be a perfect parent. You don’t need to have all the answers. What’s important is being willing to learn, reflect and put your child’s needs first.

What if I’m not sure?

It’s completely normal to have questions or doubts. Deciding to explore adoption doesn’t mean you’re committing to becoming an adoptive parent.

Talking to an adoption agency is a good place to start. We can answer your questions, explain what’s involved and help you decide whether adoption is right for you and your family.

• Find out who can adopt
• Find an adoption information event

Thinking about adoption but not sure where to start? You don’t need to make any big decisions straight away. The first step is simply to find out more and have a conversation with us.

1. Start exploring

Take some time to learn about adoption and think about whether it could be right for you and your family. You might want to read about the children waiting for families, what adoption involves and the support available to adoptive parents.

2. Talk to us

When you’re ready, get in touch with our adoption team at Caritas Care. You can ask questions, talk through your circumstances and find out more about what becoming an adopter involves. There’s no obligation to continue — contacting us is simply the start of a conversation.

3. Come along to an information session

If you’d like to take things further or just find out more for now, you will have the opportunity to attend one of our information events. This gives you a chance to meet a member of our team and ask questions before deciding whether you’d like to apply.

4. Decide whether adoption is right for you

You don’t need to know the answer before you contact us. Finding out more will help you decide whether you’re ready to take the next step.

• Talk to our adoption team
• Find an information event
• Learn about children who wait

Choosing an agency is an opportunity to ask questions and get to know the people who will support you. Find out about Caritas Care as a voluntary adoption agency and our approach to working with families.

• Get to know Caritas Care

You might be wondering whether you’re eligible to adopt and whether your circumstances could affect your ability to become an adoptive parent. There’s no single type of person who can adopt and we consider each application individually.

Our FAQs answer some of the most common questions about who can adopt, including questions about age, relationship status, sexuality, having children already, employment, home ownership and other circumstances.

• Read our adoption FAQs
• Ask about your circumstances

You may have relevant experience from other parts of your life. Our frequently asked questions explain how experience with children can help you prepare and how you can build on it.

• Read about parenting experience

The needs of every child in your family matter. Find out how we consider existing children, age gaps and your family’s individual circumstances.

• Explore adoption when you already have children

Our FAQs cover questions about age, health, previous relationships and convictions. Speak with our team about how your circumstances may affect adoption.

• Explore adoption questions and answers

We work with local authorities to find families for children waiting for adoption. Explore the different needs and experiences of children, and think about the family life you could offer.

• Learn about children who wait

Could you consider welcoming siblings into your family? Explore our information about adopting brothers and sisters and begin a conversation about what this could mean for you.

• Explore adopting brothers and sisters

There are many first experiences still to share with an older child. Discover Caritas Care’s perspective on offering love, reassurance and guidance as a child grows.

• Read about adopting children over four

Begin with our information about children with additional needs, then talk with our team about the needs you could meet and the support you would want to understand.

• Explore adopting a child with additional needs

Helping a child feel proud of who they are includes understanding their background. Explore how adoptive families can support a child’s faith, culture and sense of identity.

• Read about children from different faiths, cultures and backgrounds

Traditional adoption involves finding an adoptive family for a child whose legal proceedings have concluded that they cannot return to their birth family. Caritas Care explains this route and how it differs from Early Permanence.

• Compare routes to adoption

Early Permanence allows a child to live with carers who may become their adoptive family while the court decides their long-term future. You initially care for the child as a foster carer. Adoption is not guaranteed: the court may decide that the child should return to their birth family.

• Understand Early Permanence and its uncertainty

Our baby and toddler adoption page explains Early Permanence, also described as Fostering for Adoption, the training involved and the role of your social worker. It also provides an adopter guide and information about dedicated events.

• Explore baby and toddler adoption

Our adoption FAQs explain how we look at managing finances and debt, including completing a budget planner. This helps you consider providing for a child.

If you have questions about adoption-related costs or allowances, talk them through with our team as you explore your circumstances and the route you are considering.

• Read our finance and debt FAQ
• Ask about costs and allowances

Our Early Permanence guidance explains that carers are paid as foster carers when a child is placed with them in that role. It also mentions possible employer adoption pay, if eligible.

Read the guidance for this route and talk with our team about your circumstances and any other financial support questions.

• Read about Early Permanence financial support
• Discuss financial support with us

Our FAQs discuss taking time off work to help your child settle and considering flexibility when returning to work. Our Early Permanence page has information about adoption leave and possible employer pay for that route.

Use these as a starting point, and bring questions about benefits and employment to your conversation with our adoption team.

• Explore adoption and employment FAQs
• Read about Early Permanence and leave
• Ask our adoption team

As part of the adoption assessment, you’ll have a home study with your assessing social worker. This is an opportunity for them to get to know you, your family and your home environment and to understand what you could offer an adopted child.

A home study isn’t about having a perfect home or being judged on your housekeeping. It’s about making sure your home is safe, suitable and able to meet the needs of a child.

Your social worker will talk to you about things such as:

• Your family and your experiences.
• Your reasons for wanting to adopt.
• Your relationships and support network.
• Your home and local community.
• Your lifestyle, work and finances.
• How you would support a child who may have experienced loss, separation or trauma.
• The type of child or children you feel able to care for.

You’ll have time to talk openly, ask questions and reflect on what adoption could mean for you and your family.

The home study is an important part of the assessment process, but you won’t be expected to know everything or have all the answers. Your social worker will support you throughout and help you prepare for life as an adoptive parent.

• Find out about assessment and home visits

There is some paperwork involved in the adoption process. This helps us build a full picture of you and your circumstances and make sure we can provide the right support throughout your adoption journey.

You’ll be asked to provide information and complete forms relating to areas such as your health, finances, employment and personal circumstances. We’ll also need to carry out the necessary background checks and take up references.

Don’t worry if it sounds like a lot. Your social worker will explain what’s needed, why we need it and when you need to provide it. They’ll support you through each stage and give you plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

The information you provide is treated confidentially and handled in line with data protection requirements.

• Learn about the checks in the adoption process

As part of your adoption assessment, your social worker will visit you at home. These visits give you time to talk openly about your life experiences and your reasons for wanting to adopt.

Your social worker will get to know you and your family and help you think about what becoming an adoptive parent could mean for you.

You’ll talk about topics such as your childhood and family experiences, relationships, lifestyle, support network and your understanding of the needs of children who may have experienced loss or difficult experiences.

These visits aren’t about judging or expecting you to have all the answers. They’re an important part of getting to know you, helping you prepare for adoption and making sure you’re able to meet the needs of a child.

Your social worker will guide you through the assessment, answer your questions and help you feel prepared for the next steps.

• Explore assessment and home visits

Preparation groups are part of the adoption process. They offer a chance to meet other prospective and approved adopters and learn together.

Our Getting Adoption Ready article also explores reflection, your circumstances and your home as you prepare.

• Learn about preparation groups
• Read Getting Adoption Ready

It’s normal to have questions about assessment and what you’ll be asked. You don’t need to have all the answers. Your social worker will explain the process and help you prepare.

Our FAQs are a starting point for practical questions. If something is worrying you, talk to our adoption team about your own circumstances.

• Explore common adoption questions
• Talk through a concern

During assessment, you and your social worker explore your life, family and experiences. The adoption panel considers your report and makes a recommendation about your suitability to adopt.

• Learn about assessment and panel

The people around you can learn too. Our support network training helps relatives and friends of adoption applicants understand children’s needs and how to support adoptive parents.

• Explore training for your support network

Once you’re approved, we’ll work with you to identify a child or children whose needs you’re best placed to meet. You can discuss children’s profiles with us and ask questions as you consider becoming a family.

• Learn about finding a match
• Explore children who wait

Family finding is individual to you and the children whose needs you could meet. Our FAQs discuss matching times and explain why these vary between families.

• Read about waiting for a match

You’ll have a planned period of introductions, giving you and your child time to build a relationship before they move in with you. Our team will support you as you begin family life together.

• Explore introductions and moving in
• Find support around placement

Your social worker stays in regular contact as you settle together, offering practical advice, emotional support and parenting guidance.

• Explore support after placement

Our training includes therapeutic parenting and Parenting with PACE. Explore opportunities to learn about building trust, understanding children’s experiences and caring for your own wellbeing.

• Discover adoption training

Our resources page brings together reading on subjects including sleep, eating, emotional difficulties, trauma and therapeutic parenting. Use it to explore topics you would like to discuss with your social worker.

• Browse adoption reading and resources

Family needs can change over time. Our adoption support team offers guidance as new questions arise, including help with school, relationships and emotional wellbeing.

• Explore ongoing adoption support

We can help you work with education settings around learning needs, behaviour concerns and understanding your child.

• Find out about support with school

Our Therapeutic Life Story Workshop explores conversations about children’s early history and how their understanding changes as they grow.

• Explore life story training

We offer guidance on understanding birth family relationships and navigating family time arrangements with your child’s needs in mind.

• Read about birth family relationship support

Our support page includes an e-Pack for secondary-school-age young people and information about family events where adopted children can meet others.

• Find young people’s resources and family activities

Adults placed through Caritas Care, formerly Lancaster Diocesan Protection and Rescue Society, can enquire about their history, birth records and searching for birth family. Our adopted adults page explains the service and where to start if another agency arranged your adoption.

• Explore services for adopted adults

Published 28 October 2026

Read this story from Caritas Care’s adoption service.

• Read the full story

Published 11 August 2026

Read this story from Caritas Care’s adoption service.

• Read the full story

Published 28 April 2026

Read this story from Caritas Care’s adoption service.

• Read the full story

Published 24 March 2026

Read this story from Caritas Care’s adoption service.

• Read the full story

Yes. We welcome single adopters and offer a peer support group. If you start a relationship, we would involve your partner in the process.

• Read our adoption FAQs

Yes. We welcome LGBTQ+ adopters. Our focus is finding loving, stable families for children, regardless of sexual orientation.

• Read our adoption FAQs

Yes. Renting does not prevent adoption. What matters is providing a child with a safe, secure home.

• Read our adoption FAQs

Yes. Our FAQs explain that a child needs their own space as they settle into family life.

• Read our adoption FAQs

Yes. We will discuss time off to help your child settle and your return-to-work plans. Flexibility may be needed around your child’s needs.

• Read our adoption FAQs

Every applicant has a medical. Our medical adviser considers your health and its impact on parenting, looking at each person’s circumstances individually.

• Read our adoption FAQs

We ask you to complete fertility treatment before applying to adopt. We will discuss your individual circumstances and readiness with you.

• Read our adoption FAQs

No. Work, volunteering or caring for children you know may be relevant. Building childcare experience can strengthen your application.

• Read our adoption FAQs