Thank you for your interest in adopting with us. These pages are designed to give you some introductory information about what is involved in making an adoption commitment with us.
We believe it is important those interested in adoption have every opportunity to access as much information and advice as possible. We provide a two stage process for enquirers enabling access to information and advice on adopting with us.
1. Attend one of our monthly Adoption Information Meetings. The meeting offers more detailed information on adopting with us presented by experienced adoption service staff. Registering your Interest in adopting with us is made at these meetings. For details of our Information Meetings, please see the 'questions and answers' page link below.
2. A staff visit to your home. This follows our receipt of your registration of interest and is designed to offer a relaxed, informal but important opportunity to consider your interest in more detail. Applications to adopt are discussed at this home visit.
For advice on your adoption interest please contact us at Leeds City Council, Adoption Services, Merrion House, Leeds LS2 8QB. You can call us on 0113 395 2072 (Office Hours: 9am – 5pm, Mon – Thurs. 9am - 4,30pm Fri).
National Camapigns: Adoption Week and Give a Child a Home
We support and participate in the annual National Adoption Week (organised by BAAF) and the recently launched Government campaign ' Give a child a home'. Both campaigns ask more people to come forward to consider adoption and help meet the needs of a wide range of children who urgently need permanent families. More details on both campaigns can be found by accessing the campaign website links on this page.
Leeds City Council and New Family Social (LGBT)
Leeds City Council and New Family Social will be co-hosting a Lesbian,Gay and Bi-Sexual Fostering and Adoption Open Evening in February (2012) as part of LGBT awareness week. The evening meeting is taking place at:
South Leeds City Learning Centre, Gipsy Lane LS11 5TT, 21st February, 7.00pm - 8.30pm. Come along and find out more - you can register at the venue from 6.45 pm - no need to confirm attendance in advance. For more information on this event, please contact:
benjamin.whitehead@leeds.gov.uk Information on the LGBT awareness week can be accessed via the website link on this page.
About our adoption service
We are the second largest local authority adoption service in the UK meeting the adoption needs of around 80 children every year. As an approved adoption agency we need to secure adoption placements for an increasing number of children age 0 - seven years, sibling groups and children of Black and Asian Muslim heritage. For more details please use the 'questions and answers' page link below.
We have an established commitment to prioritising adoption and raising awareness about the importance of securing children’s adoption needs. We achieve this via a range of advertising and publicity,locally and regionally. The work of our staff and adopters in Leeds has been featured in local and national media, including a major BBC TV documentary series about the adoption process.
We have established links with other agencies and adoption providers via the Yorkshire Adoption Consortium and take an active part in promoting family finding initiatives via the National Adoption Register and BAAF.
Our adoption services are developed and supported by a staff group experienced in advising, preparing and supporting adopters so you can expect a comprehensive range of support and advice.
We have an established post adoption support service (rated 'Outstanding' by the most recent Ofsted inspection) including a specialist staff team providing assistance for Leeds adopters and their children. We also have close links with other organisations helping to develop and deliver a range of initiatives assisting adoptive families. We also enjoy the support and involvement of experienced adopters with a great deal of our work.