Supporting adoption: vision and priorities - statement

5. Supporting Adoption: Recognising Needs

Every child needs ongoing care, love and support. This section gives details of the needs of those impacted by adoption, recognising that everyone’s journey and experiences will be unique and personal to them.

There are common themes in what personal testimonies teach us about the power of adoption. Adoption can offer children a secure and loving environment outside of the care system. This can support their legal, physical and emotional safety and security, including a sense of belonging in a family, as well as their psychological health and wellbeing.

Family who adopted two children separately

“Our decision to become a family came with uncertainty as all life’s major decisions do. No one in our wee family of four shares DNA. However, the love and attachments we share are absolutely no different to biological families. This is adoption’s biggest gift. We will be forever grateful for our wonderful children and creation of our family.”

Adoption can also provide long-term stability through lifelong attachments and a consistent network of support, including into adulthood. This can in turn bring intergenerational benefits, for example, lifelong family can be a huge support at different stages of life, such as if an adoptee becomes a parent themselves.

Research^[1] has shown that whilst adoption can improve children’s stability and emotional wellbeing, ongoing support is needed to achieve positive, long term outcomes. The Permanently Progressing longitudinal study explores children’s experiences, their progress to permanence and outcomes at key life stages, highlighting the importance of stability and continuity in relationships. Furthermore, CELCIS’s (Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection) focused mapping review explores different aspects of adoption support across the UK, to assist with understanding what is needed in Scotland to meet the needs of all involved.

All families require support throughout a child’s life, and as part of this all parents will need support throughout their parenting journeys. For some of our adoptees and their families, there may be specific needs, because adoption journeys can involve particular challenges. Whilst adoption can bring significant benefits, it is important to recognise adoption journeys involve early life trauma, grief and loss. This can affect our children and young people, birth and adoptive families and carers in different and long-lasting ways. It is normal for everyone involved to need support to address these challenges.

Supporting birth families

Where adoption is being considered for a child, their birth parents and wider birth family may have specific needs. We have heard that parents at risk of their child coming into care and being adopted are usually navigating multiple challenges, such as poverty and trauma.

Evaluation of services aimed at reducing repeated child removals from parental care highlight that success relies on a combination of sustained emotional and practical support. This support is most effective when delivered flexibly by practitioners who treat parents with compassion and respect.

We also have much to learn from the experiences of birth families to inform and shape proactive, preventative care and earlier intervention.

Our birth families need timely, non-judgemental therapeutic support to navigate the impacts before, during, and after a child or young person is adopted. Birth families may also need support around any keeping in touch arrangements and guidance on managing this and navigating complex emotions and maintaining healthy relationships.

Scotland’s Plan 24-30 highlights we must recognise that all families with experience of the care system may need ongoing, intensive support. This means:

“Scotland will not abandon families if children are removed from the care of their parents. Families will continue to be provided with therapeutic support, advocacy and engagement in line with principles of intensive family support.”

Supporting adopted children and young people

Early life experiences prior to adoption (pre-birth, as babies and beyond) continue to have significant impacts on our children and young people long after they are adopted. These early life experiences can include the trauma and/or neglect that babies and children may have experienced prior to their adoption, as well as the separation and loss that can be experienced during the adoption process.

Our children and young people may require particular support from primary services, such as health, education and mental health services. They might also need appropriate intervention – including timely, specialist support, to help them address trauma and thrive as they grow. We know that positive early life experiences can shape future health and wellbeing. Early intervention can bring lasting benefits for physical, mental and behavioural outcomes.

Sibling relationships must be considered prior to adoption, and where siblings do not live together, these lifelong relationships should be promoted and nurtured. As part of this, time should be given to ensure views from children and young people about the relationships important to them are gathered in a meaningful way.

Adopted young person

“I like learning from people who understand what I am going through. Spending time with other adopted young people means I can help others too. I love meeting other people just like me!”

Supporting adoptive parents

Our adoptive parents may require comprehensive support to help them navigate the unique journey of adoption, at different points in their child’s life. This includes thorough preparation for the emotional and practical aspects of adoption.

It also includes supporting them to be open to the uncertainties of their children’s future needs, which may not be evident at the beginning of the adoption journey.

It also means support to be able to respond to children’s needs in a therapeutic and trauma informed way, especially at key transition points in a child’s life.

Supporting adult adoptees

There are some of our adult adoptees for whom adoption has been a predominantly positive experience. Even for adult adoptees whose adoption has given them the stability they needed, there can be additional challenges to navigate.

Some of our adult adoptees may have had a particularly difficult adoption journey. This may include people who were adopted during the time of historic forced adoption practices, and people who were adopted when it was less common to support adoptees to know their origins, and maintain relationships with birth family, former carers and siblings.

These circumstances can lead to adult adoptees having unique needs and considerations, including: support around identity and self-understanding; search and reunion; help to access records; and tailored emotional and therapeutic support.

Addressing these needs calls for skilled practitioners with expertise in adoption, including an awareness that support might be necessary at any life stage. An understanding of the social and psychological effects of adoption, and the circumstances leading up to it, is also important.

Adult adoptee

“Adoption has brought me love. I know that the love in our families is real. Adoption needs love to survive, but that isn't enough. Parenting traumatised children is highly complex and challenging. It is also rewarding, real and of value to individuals and to society.”

The evidence that we have gathered on the needs of those impacted by adoption has informed – and is reflected in – five strategic priorities which are outlined in the next section.