Adoption and post-adoption support
We offer adoption and post-adoption services to people who have adopted a child from Hillingdon or adopted through another local authority and it is more than 3 years since the adoption order was granted.
Can I get support?
We can support you if:
- you adopted a child from Hillingdon and you live in the borough
- you adopted a child from Hillingdon but live outside of the borough and it is less than 3 years since the adoption order was made (after 3 years, the local authority/regional adoption agency where you live will provide adoption support) or
- you live in Hillingdon and adopted through another local authority and it is more than 3 years since the adoption order was granted (before that, the local authority that placed the child will be responsible for providing adoption support).
How we can support you
Our adoption team provides a range of adoption and post-adoption services, such as:
- family finding for children who have a plan of adoption
- advice, guidance and signposting to local and regional resources for adoptive families
- access to various types of therapeutic support via the Adoption Support Fund (opens new window) (subject to assessment of need)
- adoptive parenting guidance and support
- networking with other professionals who provide a service to the adoptive family
- mediation of contact between adoptive and birth families
- managing letterbox contact for birth families and adopters, and providing support with letter writing
- services for adopted adults, including access to birth records
- referrals to counselling provided by PAC-UK for birth parents affected by the adoption of their child
- additional services offered by Coram Ambitious for Adoption, including training, support groups and newsletters.
Letterbox contact support
This service is offered to all children and young people adopted from Hillingdon - regardless of whether they live in the borough.
If requested, we can continue letterbox contact support until the adopted person reaches 21-years-old.
For letterbox enquiries and contact support, email letterbox@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Access to records
We provide support to adopted adults who are currently living in Hillingdon and wish to apply to access their birth records.
Your social worker will guide you through the process.
We can also signpost you to services that can provide you with support to contact with birth relatives;
Contact us
To find out more about our services or to request support, email adoptionteam@hillingdon.gov.uk.