Parenting is a wonderful experience but for
some it can present a number of challenges and difficulties.
Parenting an adopted child can bring particular difficulties and
here in Northumberland, we understand and appreciate this and we
provide an adoption support service.
Our approach is informal, focussed and
sensitive to your needs. It is aimed at formulating an
adoption support plan, which reflects your views and
experiences.
WHAT IS THE ADOPTION SUPPORT SERVICE?
You can contact us for help on any adoption
support issue including:
- Your child's behaviour, including
relationships with others
- Understanding their background
- Filling gaps in early life history
- To review a contact plan
- Education issues
- Mental or physical health matters
- Adoption records
- Post adoption contact
Some of our work involves liaising with
health and psychological services, education transport, local
social work offices and the Family Support day care
team. We have links with an independent agency which provides
a range of support services on our behalf - including adoption
fun days, adoptive parents support groups, services to birth
families, professional speakers etc...
WHO CAN USE THIS SERVICE?
Adoptive Parents:
If you adopted a child through Northumberland
County Council and live in Northumberland, we are the service to
contact.
If you live in Northumberland and your
adoption was arranged by another agency - they are responsible for
assessing your need for services for the first three years after
the adoption order was made. After three years, that
responsibility transfers to Northumberland.
If you have any queries about your entitlement
to receive a service, please contact us on the number or email
below.
We also provide an emergency evening and
weekend telephone service to adopters, which you can access by
ringing 01670 62 62 62. Our out of hours
contact centre will take your details, and our duty worker will
contact you.
Adopted Adults:
An adopted adult, who lives in Northumberland,
irrespective of where they were adopted, is entitled to receive
help in seeking information about the circumstances leading to
their adoption. An adult adopted through Northumberland, but
now lives in another area, is also entitled to a service from
us. However, it may be easier for them to go through their
local adoption agency.
Adopted Young People:
Northumberland young people can contact their Adoption Support
Co-ordinator, Angela Collings, for support and advice.
We would like to hear if you are an adopted young person and
are:
- Are interested in future workshops or events
- Would like to join our e-mailing list for future adoption
support communications
- Would be interested in joining our future online survey
panel
- Have any other suggestions for adoption support
Contact Angela on: 01670 62 62 62
Email: familyplacement@northumberland.gov.uk
Or you can write to: Angela Collings, Family
Support Service, Tweed House, Hepscott Park, Morpeth,
Northumberland, NE61 6NF
HOW TO CONTACT US
We would be very pleased to hear from you, if
you think that you may need adoption support services. We can
be contacted during office hours by:
Telephone - ask for Angela Collings or
Tony Thompson on 01670 62 62 62
Email - familyplacement@northumberland.gov.uk
(Marked for the attention of Adoption Support Services)
If you adopted a child through Northumberland
County Council, or you adopted a child from another local authority
3 or more years ago, you can access our evening and
weekend advice service
on 01670 62 62 62.
Further information on where we can help:
ADOPTION RECORDS
We provide a service to adopted adults who are
seeking information about the circumstances leading to their
adoption. An adopted adult, who lives in Northumberland and
irrespective of where they were adopted, is entitled to receive a
service. An adult adopted through Northumberland, but now
lives in another area, is also entitled to a service from us.
However, it may be easier for them to go through their local
adoption agency.
Whilst we are able to help find adoption
records, we are unable to assist with tracing birth
relatives. However, we can offer advice on how to do this or
refer you an appropriate agency.
POST ADOPTION CONTACT
Where it is in their best
interests, adopted children may maintain links with their birth
family. This helps them to understand their roots and why
they could not stay with their birth family. 
We offer a post box service where we act as a filter
between the birth and adoptive families.
If you have any further questions, please email us on familyplacement@northumberland.gov.uk or
call us on 01670 62 62 62.
